The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

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The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander is a comprehensive analysis of the U.S. criminal justice system, focusing on mass incarceration and its disproportionate impact on communities of color. Published in 2010, the book argues that the criminal justice system has created a new racial caste system, akin to the historical Jim Crow laws, which enforced racial segregation and discrimination. Alexander contends that while Jim Crow laws were abolished, a new form of racial control emerged through mass incarceration, particularly targeting African American men. Alexander highlights the War on Drugs as a key factor in this system, leading to increased arrests and incarceration rates among minorities. She challenges the notion of a post-racial society, arguing that the system perpetuates racial inequality under the guise of colorblindness. The book emphasizes the collateral consequences of incarceration, such as voting rights loss and employment barriers, which perpetuate poverty and marginalization. Alexander calls for a new civil rights movement to address these issues, arguing that mass incarceration is a racial justice issue rather than merely a criminal justice problem.