In The New Jim Crow, the author discusses how mass incarceration and race are interrelated issues. Alexander uses Jarvious Cotton to show how African Americans were repeatedly kept from voting and even though they have more opportunities today, they still face oppressing factors that try to keep them marginalized. Instead of using more obvious forms of racism, society uses other ways to discriminate against minorities, specifically African American individuals. The author argues that the criminalization and marginalization of people of color is the new Jim Crow because it still allows for a racist caste system to exist (just in another less obvious way). Although there is racial justice programs and civil rights organizations that raise awareness to the injustice that people of color face on a day-to-day basis, there is still a lot of progress to be made in an effort to diminish the large caste of racism that still exists.
I wish these topics were discussed during grade school. Instead, these topics were considered inappropriate or too sensitive. I feel like in order to stop people from participating in acts of oppression, they need to be taught about its effects at a young age. I come from a marginalized community so I have some experience with knowing what it’s like to not have a lot of opportunities, but our opportunities aren’t as limited as the opportunities of African Americans. A lot more people need to be educated on mass incarceration and who is considered a target and why they are considered targets. This would be the first step in changing the way people view minorities in today’s society.
When do you think is appropriate to teach school-age children about our current society’s forms and effects of racism?
Graciela Rivera 