Bekah U Lang Blog

In this next section of the book that I read, Michelle Alexander brings up predominately the shame and stigma surrounding the felon label as well as other things that happen to African-Americans when they get out of prison, particularly regarding recidivism rates. Towards the end of the section we were assigned to read, she gives an overview of all the arguments she's introduced so far, and it really helped me see clearly all the arguments she has made through her analysis of the entire process of the criminal justice system in regards to African-Americans. Through the first stop to the plea bargains and convictions, to prison time and aftermath, she provides an entire overview of the almost hopeless situation facing African-Americans. Her overarching thesis or argument of this book is that America has a racial caste system that has adapted from the times of slavery to the Jim Crow Laws, and now to this period of mass incarceration and war on drugs that disproportionately affects...

The New Jim Crow  is a very powerful, persuasive, and thought-provoking novel. The facts and passages have frankly shocked me, and are very empowering and insightful. Michelle Alexander seamlessly weaves together facts, anecdotes, and argument/opinion pieces to thoroughly develop her argument, and it's very convincing. Part of the reason that this book is so powerful is not only because it's argument is strong and valid (in my opinion), but also because of the way she writes it. She very thoughtfully uses various rhetorical strategies and appeals in order to make her argument as effective as possible. Overall, the way she structures the book contributes to its argument's effectiveness. Typically she starts a chapter with an overview of the topics that lay out what will be proven in the following chapter. The chapters are strategically organized and all have one central theme which makes the book comprehensive and easy to follow. After she provides the layout of the entire...

I have just finished the second reading (up to page 97) and am very interested in the topics Michelle Alexander is bringing forth. In the section that I just read she primarily discusses the criminal justice system and how racist motives led to a shift in politics and law changes that led to a period of mass incarceration that is still going on now. Despite crime rates actually lowering, our prison populations and sentences are increasing, particularly for people of color or minorities. She discusses in this section the various ways that this era of mass incarceration that we are living in right now came about. She discusses how the beginnings of the period of mass incarceration were associating African-Americans with criminals, particularly during the civil rights era. As she describes, "The articles typically featured black "crack whores," "crack babies," and "gangbangers," reinforcing already prevalent racial stereotypes of black women as irrespo...

For my first reading of The New Jim Crow, I read the introduction and started the book. The introduction gave a very insightful overview of the arguments that Michelle Alexander makes in her book, and also allude to her purpose in writing the book. She gives in-depth analysis of many topics she will discuss further throughout the book, but even in this brief introduction points out the many problems and injustices our country fosters through law and practice. Her overarching argument throughout the book as can be seen from her introduction is that we have a racial caste system in our country that has adapted and evolved from racial institutions such as Jim Crow Laws and slavery. We are simply in another adaptation of the same systematic racism that has encompassed our country since it's start. Although the lives of many African-Americans have improved since times of slavery, the issues are still there. As she says in her introduction, "Like an optical illusion-one in which...

For our most recent topic in my AP language class, we chose to discuss issues of race. I was very excited about this unit because I think that it's tremendously important to educate myself on these issues as I will have very little personal experience in them. I chose to read The New Jim Crow  by Michelle Alexandra, and here's why. As a white person born in Hopkinton New Hampshire, my experience with prejudice and racial problems is slim to none. I am probably the definition of white privilege, yet until maybe a year ago, I wouldn't have been able to describe how. White privilege has given me a tremendous amount of opportunities that I have done nothing to earn for myself, and yet I was still grievously ignorant about the ways in which I have benefited because of my race, and also how others have not. While this may lead some to shy away from the issue of race, I feel that I must do the opposite. Because of how little exposure I've had to race and diversity in my li...