Pages 151-200
In this section of The New Jim Crow––split up between two chapters––there wasn't nearly as much new information. However, to briefly catch those up who have not been reading, Alexander discussed more of the cultural aspect of mass incarceration. This included the implications of having to check the "felon box" on job applications, the shame felt by families whose members were sent to jail, black culture and its tendency to glorify illegal behaviors, the answer to the question, "Where have all the black men gone?" and a brief recap of how the system works as a whole and its parallels to the history of oppression.
For me, the highlight of this section was the reference to theorist Iris Marion Young's "birdcage" metaphor. Alexander paraphrases the theory as such: "If one thinks about racism by examining only one wire of the cage, or one form of disadvantage, it is difficult to understand how and why the bird is trapped. Only a large number of wires arranged in a specific way, and connected to one another, serve to enclose the bird and to ensure that it cannot escape" (Alexander 184). Though Alexander introduced this quote by noting its fame, it was new information for me (I would be interested in seeing if I am alone in this fact), and it immediately struck me in its ability to so simply describe such a complex system. I felt as though even though the specifics from this section are not the main focus of this blog, this reference deserved a bit of a spotlight.
Due to the lack of substantial evidence and small volume of arguments in this section, I decided to take this opportunity to do some of the research I have been wanting to do for the past two blog posts. One thing that stood out to me, particularly in earlier chapters when Alexander used more statistical information, was that many of the "recent" statistics were from 2010 or earlier. This makes sense, given that the first year of publication was 2011, though I was still curious to see whether these statistics still hold true almost a decade later.
After some research from the U.S. Department of Justice's "Prisoners of 2016" report, I found several notable trends. As a whole, incarceration rates increased from 2006 to 2010 but have been on a steady decline ever since (Carson). Though there is not significant change, it is still worth noting. Per 100,000 residents age 18 or older, the rate of incarcerated African-Americans has seen a small decrease every year, down 3.7% from 2006 to 2015 (Carson). It was also specifically pointed out that there was a 4% decrease from 2015 to 2016 (Carson).
I am not so naïve as to think this small drop in incarceration rates somehow means a miraculous end to the system of oppression. I fully recognize that far more work must be done in order to create equality in its truest sense. It is painfully clear after reading The New Jim Crow that prison itself is only a very small piece of the puzzle. Thus, fewer people in jail might not improve the lives of very many African-Americans. However, it does provide a bit of hope that 3.7% fewer people possess the detrimental "felon" label than they did a decade ago. On this final note, I would like to ask what you think the effect, if any, the decrease of incarceration rates will have on the system of oppression as a whole. Once again, thank you for reading, and I welcome any thoughts you may have on this topic!
Carson, E. Ann. Prisoners of 2016. Government Printing Office, Jan. 2016. Bureau of Justice Statistics, www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p16.pdf. Accessed 7 Apr. 2018.
For me, the highlight of this section was the reference to theorist Iris Marion Young's "birdcage" metaphor. Alexander paraphrases the theory as such: "If one thinks about racism by examining only one wire of the cage, or one form of disadvantage, it is difficult to understand how and why the bird is trapped. Only a large number of wires arranged in a specific way, and connected to one another, serve to enclose the bird and to ensure that it cannot escape" (Alexander 184). Though Alexander introduced this quote by noting its fame, it was new information for me (I would be interested in seeing if I am alone in this fact), and it immediately struck me in its ability to so simply describe such a complex system. I felt as though even though the specifics from this section are not the main focus of this blog, this reference deserved a bit of a spotlight.
Due to the lack of substantial evidence and small volume of arguments in this section, I decided to take this opportunity to do some of the research I have been wanting to do for the past two blog posts. One thing that stood out to me, particularly in earlier chapters when Alexander used more statistical information, was that many of the "recent" statistics were from 2010 or earlier. This makes sense, given that the first year of publication was 2011, though I was still curious to see whether these statistics still hold true almost a decade later.
After some research from the U.S. Department of Justice's "Prisoners of 2016" report, I found several notable trends. As a whole, incarceration rates increased from 2006 to 2010 but have been on a steady decline ever since (Carson). Though there is not significant change, it is still worth noting. Per 100,000 residents age 18 or older, the rate of incarcerated African-Americans has seen a small decrease every year, down 3.7% from 2006 to 2015 (Carson). It was also specifically pointed out that there was a 4% decrease from 2015 to 2016 (Carson).
I am not so naïve as to think this small drop in incarceration rates somehow means a miraculous end to the system of oppression. I fully recognize that far more work must be done in order to create equality in its truest sense. It is painfully clear after reading The New Jim Crow that prison itself is only a very small piece of the puzzle. Thus, fewer people in jail might not improve the lives of very many African-Americans. However, it does provide a bit of hope that 3.7% fewer people possess the detrimental "felon" label than they did a decade ago. On this final note, I would like to ask what you think the effect, if any, the decrease of incarceration rates will have on the system of oppression as a whole. Once again, thank you for reading, and I welcome any thoughts you may have on this topic!
Works Cited
Hi Myah!
ReplyDeleteI liked your discussion about the birdcage metaphor. I agree, it really summed up such a complex system that is hard to wrap your mind around. But this simple birdcage metaphor made a lot of sense.
Additionally, I also wondering if the statistics had changed or stayed the same, since most of her facts are from the early 2000s. I really liked how you included your own research. I am surprised to see a 3.7% decrease in incarcerated African Americans. I wonder why that is? But nonetheless, if it continues this way, it is a step in the right direction.
Great post!
Ellie M
Thanks so much for reading! Based on the data from the report, I think the decline can be attributed to an overall decline in incarceration rates. It seems as though fewer people in general are going to jail, and subsequently fewer African-Americans. Hope this helps!
DeleteHi Myah-
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog. It was interesting to see the connections between ideas in your book and modern-day statistics. You mentioned that in recent years, the rate of incarcerated African-Americans has been continually decreasing. I agree that these numbers do not necessarily mean that this problem has been solved, but it may indicate progress. Do you have any idea why these numbers are decreasing?
Thanks for the comment, Meg! To answer your question, as I said to Ellie as well, I think the drop in incarceration rates for African-Americans is merely the result of a decline of overall incarceration rates. Perhaps this is a cut to law enforcement budget or less focus on incarceration and crime, but either way, fewer people are being sent to jail in general, including African-Americans.
DeleteThe fact that you wondered about some of the statistics in the book shows your critical reading of the book. The stats you've included make me wonder whether there is also a decline in the population of African Americans; in other words, do the numbers take into account the percentage of African Americans in the population?
ReplyDelete