Wednesday, November 20, 2013

The New Jim Crow: Chapter 6

Haley Scholars Fall 2013 Reading Groups
Dealing with this system on its own terms is complicated by the problem of denial. Few Americans today recognize mass incarceration for what it is: a new caste system thinly veiled by the cloak of colorblindness (223). --Michelle Alexander
In chapter 6 of The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander mentions that "any racial justice movement, to be successful, must vigorously challenge the public consensus that underlies the prevailing system of control" (223). She makes several other observations about the new and necessary awareness that people must develop in order to make substantial changes.

Of the observations she made, what stood out to you? Why? As always, identify the page number(s).

4 comments:

Jamal Sims said...

"Given the magnitude-the sheer scale-pf the New Jim Crow, one would expect the war on that the War on Drugs would be the top priority of every civil rights organization in the country" (p224). This point Alexander pointed out was noteworthy because it is true that there is not much attention given to convicted individuals of color. I thought her point that these organizations will be embarrassed on how long it took them to bring this to attention to be valid, because to this day, it continues to go unnoticed.

Robert F said...

Michelle Alexander mentioned how affirmative action was used as a way to prevent people of color to try anything radical. A way to make things look better on the surface by giving them jobs of little relevance to society. Affirmative action is usually viewed as a step forward, but it also can be used as another way to keep people of color in line. (pages 244-245)

Nichols M. said...

"Affirmative action, particularly when it is justified on the grounds of diversity rather than equity, mask the severity of racial inequality in America" (246). Like Robert mentioned, the use of affirmative action is a way to make things look a little more equal on the surface. When in actuality, things are far from being equal. Racial equality should be applied to all aspects on life, not just in the workplace.

Terry Taborn said...

What stood out to me was the phrase were Alexander mentions the "awkward silence of the civil rights rights community" (p.223). I find this phrase particularly interesting because it best describes the state of affairs today. If Dr. Martin Luther King was here today I'm sure he would be proud of the progress we have made as a race in that the President of the United States is a man of color, but our youth is severely lacking. For the civil rights movement to continue and for true equality of races the next generation needs to step up and take responsibility. Dr. King made noise nationally and brought about change, while today we have "awkward silence".