A free, downloadable pdf of the guide is available to groups that have read or are planning to read the new jim crow together, and to educators and students using the book. Chapter 5 the new jim crow states of denial how it works nothing new. This book will change the way you think about criminal and judicial systems in the us. Chapter 2 of michelle alexanders the new jim crow focuses on how the system of mass incarceration works. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness the premise of the the new jim crow. Seldom does a book have the impact of michelle alexanders the new jim crow. The new jim crow the new jim crow by michelle alexander chapter 2 the lockdown we may think we know how the criminal justice system works. Chpt 3 in the old jim crow, blacks banded together in a society where they were not wanted. Racial bias permeates the american criminal justice system, affecting.
Once in a great while a book comes along that changes the way we see the world and helps to fuel a nationwide social movement. The new jim crow author michelle alexander, george e. University of louisville anne braden institute for. Since its publication in 2010, the book has appeared on the new. Penguin presents the audiobook edition of the new jim crow, written by michelle alexander, read by karen chilton. The new jim crow is a stunning account of the rebirth of a castelike system in the united states, one that has resulted in millions of african americans locked behind bars and then relegated to a permanent secondclass statusdenied the very rights supposedly won in the civil rights movement. Introduction of the new jim crow by michelle alexander. Must read for the high school and freshman college levels. Praised by harvard law professor lani guinier as brave and bold, this book directly challenges the notion that the election of barack obama signals a new era of colorblindness. Alexander calls the devastating impact that the war on drugs has inflicted on african american families, the new jim crow because, she believes, its policies target black men and institutionalize discrimination, as was the case during the segregationist jim crow. It landed on bestseller lists, was discussed in the media endlessly, made alexander an. The new jim crow introduction and chapters 12 summary. Since it was first published in 2010, it has been cited in judicial decisions and has been adopted in campuswide and communitywide reads.
Find a summary of this and each chapter of the new jim crow. Building a new jim crow community reading tool kit. The new jim crow questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on the new jim crow. The community read is creating community read tool kits to distribute to local libraries, schools and other organizations. The warehousing of innercity youths, she writes, is a new form of jim crow under which drug offendersin jail or prison, on probation or paroleare denied employment, housing, education. They dont have sufficient knowledge about the outside world plus have to deal with a constant red tape. The book discusses racerelated issues specific to african. Chapter summary for michelle alexanders the new jim crow, chapter 2 summary. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness by michelle alexander will pick up your everyday white liberal guilt, tie it in knots, and leave you wondering how you could have ever been. In chapter 1, alexander provides a brief history of race and racism in america. The way television portrays the criminal justice system is misleading. Plot summary the new jim crow is a political book that advocates for racial justice, especially for african americans.
Chapter one of the new jim crow by michelle alexander. For those readers less familiar with the narrative of american history, this tour through slavery, bacons rebellion, reconstruction, jim crow, populism, the end of jim crow through board, and the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s is very instructive. I gave birth to three children in four years, and in the middle of this burst of joyous activity in our. Michelle alexanders the new jim crow chapter summary. Reprinted in his book the insecurity of freedom jewish publication society, philadelphia 1966 chapter 1 describes the historical transition from slavery to jim crow to the new jim crow. The new jim crow chapter 4 summary freebooksummary. Enabling arrests with this highlevel impetus for enforcing a form of social control, how was it concretely implemented on the ground. Alexander concentrates on the war on drugs, because convictions for drug offenses are the single most important cause of the explosion in incarceration rates in the united states.
We may think we know how the criminal justice system works. Perhaps more than any other point in the book, this passage proves how arbitrary and unjust the law can be. It will shine a light on a new form of segregation based on race. Since it was first published in 2010, it has been cited in.
Watch michelle alexanders address to general assembly 2012 andor arrange for a showing in your congregation or group. The new jim crow, a bestselling book about how mass incarceration has ravaged the black community, is banned by prisons in two states and can be. During the war on drugs, law enforcement has been used. After reading michelle alexanders extraordinary book, just read americas massacre. The new jim crow was an undeniable phenomenon when it came out. This book should be on every school and law library shelf. Alexanderch5, the new jim crow university of warwick. Alexander begins the chapter by recounting the stories of two young.
The new jim crow chapters 2 3 summary and analysis. Michelle alexanders brave and bold new book paints a haunting picture in which dreary felon garb, postprison joblessness, and loss of voting rights now do the stigmatizing work once done by coloredonly water fountains and legally segregated schools. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness by michelle alexander. The new jim crow introduction and chapter 1 summary and. However, i felt that the many redundancies in chapter 5 marred the overall work, so i will give. The new jim crow chapter 2 summary freebooksummary. It presents arguments and evidence that the civil rights movement in the united. After looking at a pamphlet, proclaiming that drug war is the new jim crow, the author ignored it as a theory promoted by a bunch of conspiracy guys. With dazzling candor, alexander argues that we all pay the cost of the new jim crow. Study questions for introduction and chapter 1 the questions are divided into questions that focus on the content of the book and discussion questions.
Chapter 6 the new jim crow as we near the end of the book and we see michelle alexanders argument for mass incarceration becoming the newest form of jim crow america today. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness, by michelle alexander the new press, new york, n. In the first chapter the author writes that in an effort to appeal to the white. Find out which partners in your local community you might work with to bring information about the new jim crow.
The new jim crow study guide and call to action is designed as a companion to the new jim crow. This chapter describes the difficulties faced by the former felons after they get out of jail. After looking at a pamphlet, proclaiming that drug war is the new jim crow. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness et des. The structure of mass incarceration is described in some detail in chapter 2, with a focus on the war on. Find summaries for every chapter, including a the new jim crow chapter summary chart to help you understand the book. Table of contents title page dedication acknowledgements preface introduction chapter 1 the rebirth of caste the birth of slavery the death of slavery the birth of jim crow the death of jim crow the birth of mass incarceration chapter 2. Having spent a lot of time behind bars, most people find it complicated to adjust to new rules and conditions.
The new jim crow audiobook chapter two volume fixed youtube. The explosion of incarceration rates is due to convictions for drug crimes. Alexander argues that the impression of the criminal justice system. Download and keep this book for free with a 30 day trial. How is the old jim crow similar to the new jim crow different. The new jim crow it was no ordinary sunday morning when presidential candidate barack obama stepped to the podium at the apostolic church of god in chicago. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the new jim crow, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness is a book by michelle alexander, a civil rights litigator and legal scholar. Alexander starts this chapter by emphasizing the role of television and media in general on the public attitude towards the war on drugs system. Since it was first published in 2010, it has been cited in judicial decisions and has. The new jim crow summary and study guide supersummary. If you would like to donate your copy of the new jim crow. Abi book discussion kit 2 introduction on thursday, nov. Alexander begins the chapter by recounting the stories of two young africanamerican parents who were wrongly implicated in a drug bust, andalthough neither end up actually being sentenced to prison timelose.