The New Jim Crow

Michelle Alexander

The New Jim Crow

14min

14min

Download offline

Add to library

Buy the book

The New Jim Crow is an interesting read that offers much food for thought. Written by Michelle Alexander, an African-American lawyer committed to the recognition of equal rights for blacks in America, this is still an important source of reference ten years after its first publication. In her book, Alexander asserts the need for all people to be treated equally, regardless of the colour of their skin. It does so by analysing the limits and contradictions of the current American justice system, a system that promotes a veiled racism, and highlights the differences in treatment between blacks and whites. Instead of everyone being equal in the eyes of the law, we learn that there are enormous differences. The penalties are harsher for blacks, and the consequences of any kind of involvement with the justice system in their lives are irreversible. This is how an underclass made up mainly of blacks and other minorities was created; a class which lives in the shadows of a parallel life that was only intended for whites. According to Alexander, it's time for a change.

read more

read less

0:00
0:00

Analysis and key concepts

01.

What is meant by “the new Jim Crow”?

02.

The war on drugs has had a significant impact on society and highlighted the differences between people

03.

Equality is a political matter but even more so a social one

04.

The current American justice system is very limited

05.

The real problem for those who are affected by the new Jim Crow era is integration

06.

Quotes

07.

Take-home message

Unlock this and thousands more with 4books Premium!

You'll have 7 days free, and if you're not satisfied after 30 days, you can get your money back.

Many useful tips to:

  • Examine the American justice system to understand where disparity between blacks and whites comes from.
  • Delve into the subject of social injustice in America.
  • Understand why blacks are so much more likely to end up in prison than whites.

Michelle Alexander, is an African American lawyer, and has always fought for the recognition of the rights of blacks and other minorities. A member of the Ford Foundation and Soros Justice, she worked in partnership with Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, and directed the ACLU of Northern California's Racial Justice Project. Alexander also teaches at Union Theological Seminary, and is a columnist for The New York Times. Her book The New Jim Crow has received numerous awards, and is considered ground-breaking in the field of black rights.

Publishing house:

The New Press

Year:

2020

Pages:

352

ISBN:

978-1620971932