The New Jim Crow: They Banned the Truth About Justice

Banned Book Series

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 New Jim Crow Quote

The book has faced significant backlash, resulting in its banning in numerous settings, including schools, libraries, and prisons. Why is that? It dares to expose uncomfortable truths about the criminal justice system and how it perpetuates racial caste under a new guise. Alexander lays bare how policies like the war on drugs and mass incarceration have taken the place of segregation as key forms of societal control, all wrapped in the language of law and order.

The Historical Context of Racial Control

Understanding Alexander's arguments requires a grasp of America's historical context regarding racial control. From the horrors of slavery to Jim Crow laws, and from voter suppression to today's sentencing laws, the tools of racial control have shifted but never truly vanished.

For example, following the end of slavery, discriminatory laws were enacted to maintain a system of social control. Despite the progress made during the civil rights movement, many feel today's incarceration rates, where over 2.3 million people are behind bars, still reflect these deeply ingrained patterns of oppression. The banning of Alexander's book mirrors past efforts to mute uncomfortable truths, reminiscent of earlier struggles during Reconstruction and the civil rights movement when vested interests sought to conceal racial injustices.

The War on Drugs and Its Consequences

A critical aspect of Alexander's argument is her sharp critique of the war on drugs, which began in the 1980s. This policy disproportionately targeted communities of color, leading to staggering incarceration rates.

Between 1980 and 2019, U.S. prison populations grew by over 500%, with African Americans facing incarceration rates nearly six times higher than their white peers. This reflects a systemic approach that goes beyond addressing public health, it has become a means to control marginalized populations. Harsh sentencing laws, coupled with the criminalization of drug use, trap millions of individuals in a cycle of poverty and disenfranchisement, further entrenching systemic inequality.

Colorblindness and Its Implications

Another major point in The New Jim Crow is the idea of colorblindness. In a society that claims to be post-racial, the belief that we no longer see color is a harmful myth. This mindset allows systemic racism to persist under a false pretense of neutrality.

Colorblindness becomes a protective shield for the privileged. It enables society to ignore race-based disparities that inform punitive policies, maintaining hierarchical structures of race and class. By pretending that race does not exist, these disparities can continue without challenge.

The Threat of Accountability

What does the truth in The New Jim Crow pose to those who prefer denial? In exposing the mechanisms of racial control, Alexander confronts narratives that label punitive policies, immigrant detention, protest arrests, and welfare cuts as necessary for societal “order.”

This issue is not just about recognizing past injustices; it calls for confronting ongoing realities of racial oppression. The book serves as a rallying cry, encouraging readers to acknowledge the systemic issues that afflict marginalized communities. The discomfort sparked by these truths threatens those who wish to maintain the status quo.

The Role of Education and Awareness

Education is essential in dismantling the oppressive systems Alexander highlights. Engaging with groundbreaking texts like The New Jim Crow helps individuals grasp the complexities surrounding race and justice in America.

Banning such literature only reinforces ignorance. Schools, libraries, and communities must support discussions about race, justice, and mass incarceration's implications. For instance, various organizations have implemented reading groups and workshops aimed at fostering understanding and dialogue around these critical subjects, highlighting the transformative potential of education.

The Continuum of Racial Control

Racial control is not just a relic of the past; it evolves alongside society. The tools of oppression may change, but the underlying structures remain intact.

For example, the transition from overt Jim Crow laws to modern-day policies like stop-and-frisk and voter ID laws highlights this disturbing continuity. Alexander's work reminds us to stay vigilant in the fight against racial injustice. The banning of her book underscores how rising discomfort with the truth can threaten those in power, but it also emphasizes the need to keep the dialogue on race and justice alive.

Facing Uncomfortable Realities

Ultimately, The New Jim Crow is more than just a book; it serves as a powerful critique of the criminal justice system and its role in maintaining racial caste in America. Banning this important work is not an act of censorship against falsehoods; it is a desperate attempt to silence undeniable truths.

As Alexander powerfully argues, recognizing and confronting these truths is essential for meaningful change. By engaging with the ideas in this book, we can take crucial steps toward dismantling the long-standing systems of oppression that have held too much power for too long.

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-Smart Brown Girl