The Confederacy was founded to preserve slavery. Secession documents stated it explicitly, speeches affirmed it, the Confederate constitution protected it, and leaders openly described slavery as the cornerstone of their government. These facts weren’t hidden or disputed at the time. What followed wasn’t confusion or forgetfulness, but deliberate replacement.

In 2010, Michelle Alexander published the influential book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. This work has since sparked crucial conversations about race and the criminal justice system in America. Its main argument is striking: “We have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it.” This bold statement questions our understanding of race and justice today.

The idea of broken windows policing has erupted into discussions across the country. This policing strategy, which began gaining traction in the late 1970s and was popularized in the 1990s, aimed to address minor offenses to prevent more serious crimes. However, as we examine the current state of broken windows policing, it is evident that its consequences are significant and often harmful.