Michelle Alexander's "The New Jim Crow" challenges us to confront the shame of our criminal justice system in the pursuit of real justice.
For anyone who has read Ohio State University law professor Michelle Alexander's deeply disturbing book, "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness," the conviction last month of a Brooklyn detective for planting drugs on Yvelisse DeLeon and her boyfriend, Juan Figueroa, should be a welcome one.
"Before announcing the verdict, Justice [Gustin L.] Reichbach scolded the department for what he described as a widespread culture of corruption endemic in its drug units," The New York Times reported.
"I thought I was not naïve," Reichbach reportedly said. "But even this court was shocked, not only by the seeming pervasive scope of misconduct but even more distressingly by the seeming casualness by which such conduct is employed."
I've been reading Alexander's book at bedtime, and it's not a comforting read. She contends that mass incarceration of people of color like DeLeon and Figueroa represents a new "racial caste system," and nothing short of a social revolution can dismantle it.
I heard Alexander speak at the Princeton University "Imprisonment of a Race" conference earlier this year and something she said there has been nagging at me since I picked up her book again. She said the civil rights era strategy of shining a light on model black citizens and distancing ourselves from those with criminal records was a tragic mistake and is no longer viable.
"People of color are no more likely to use or sell drugs than whites. The color blind veneer of the system has made us blind to how racial bias permeates the system. We have to deal with the shame and stigma that keeps people silent," said Alexander. "We've got to make safe places in churches, schools, etc."
When I was a drug-using teenager, I was arrested two or three times for nonviolent crimes that were committed when I was under the influence. I spent a couple hours in a jail cell after one arrest and a life-transforming month in a juvenile shelter after a parental conflict over my incorrigibility. Both experiences convinced me that I never wanted to be locked up again.
I'm fortunate that I surrendered my life to Jesus when I was 17, because if it had been another year or two, and I had gotten into the same kind of trouble, I, like other members of my family, would have been saddled with an arrest record that could have limited my choices for far longer than justice would demand.
One of these loved ones spent eight months in prison, and became a Christian there, after police coerced his "friend" into falsely testifying against him. He went straight to Bible College when he was released and has been, for 25 years, a Bible teacher, elder and pastor. But he still can't work in certain industries because he has a felony conviction on his record.
Another was stopped by California police, ostensibly because of a broken tail light on the car someone else was driving, and was arrested for possession of a hash pipe. No drugs, just a pipe. Bail was set at $20,000. This young man spent two days in jail and never used drugs again, but still isn't sure if the felony conviction was dropped or not after he completed a diversion program and probation.
Alexander said, "Felon is the new N-word" and we should stop labeling people with it. She also disavowed "repeat offender" and "career criminal," saying these terms mask the struggle of cycling in and out of an unjust system.
The members of my family with arrest records have managed to learn from and overcome their histories, in part because of the support of our middle class families and in part because we are white.
In a CNN column about the decline of black political conservatism, Baptist preacher and former Atlanta Journal editorial board member Frederick Johnson said that he used to tell his son that if a racist cop pulled him over because he was black, that was the cop's fault; but if the cop found drugs in the car, that was his son's fault.
"Unlike some conservatives, I don't wish to let either party off the hook," said Johnson. Amen to that.
According to Alexander, if we were to return to the days before the war on drugs, we would have to release four-out-of-five prisoners who are currently incarcerated. That's unlikely to happen, she said, because 1 million people are employed by prisons.
"This system is so deeply rooted now that it's not going down without a major fight," Alexander said.
She advocated movement building that includes the work of artists, students and law enforcement personnel, and said there needs to be consciousness raising within the black community and an eradication of class divisions that keep middle class blacks from advocating for poor ones.
"Activists take the risks, while advocates are professional tinkerers with the system," she said. "What's necessary is for those who are advocates to support those who are activists and to envision themselves as activists."
I've taken a small risk here by announcing that there are drug arrests in my personal and family history. I don't enjoy doing it, but as a Christian I'm so deeply, personally unsettled by the injustice of "mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness" that I feel compelled to confront disabling shame by admitting that I too have been a criminal.
A slightly different version of this article originally appeared at UrbanFaith. It is republished with permission.
Follow Christine A. Scheller on Twitter: www.twitter.com/cascheller
Ari Hart: Prison Reform: An American Spiritual Crisis
Responsibility starts in the home, with both parents.
Don't blame everything on race. In my profession some of the smartest, nicest people AT THE TOP OF THE PROFESSION are black. They did everything right. Too many black kids and young adults do everything wrong, often because they do not want to be accused of "acting white."
A felon used to mean you did something, but now, $3.00, a couple of DUI's, or spousal abuse, will make a felon. We do not rob big, most African American crimes are petty theft. So, the system created away to make more African American felons. In order to create more Black felons states like CA. Lower the amount of money that has to be stolen to be a felony down to $3.00 dollars in cash or property. They put decoys in the streets to act like passed out drunks with $3.00 dollars in their hands. Mostly petty repeaters, other drunks, and mental people would go for this entrapment so now the system Graduates these types to felons, which lines them up for 3 strikes.
I'm not sure of the exact percentage but for this case I'll just say 11% of the population is African American. Statistics say African Americans commit more crimes 'per capita,' which means, "for the number of African Americans." Of course the victor rules the media so It equates to; not oppressed and suppressed peoples commit more crime, but that African Americans commit more crimes than Whites. Even If African Americans which includes babies and old women are 13 percent of the population, could there really be more Black felons than White felons? And consider that a lot of White felons, Are Not Felons, because they could afford a good lawyer. You mean to tell me it's 'us' colored folk keeping all those lawyers in those big houses and fancy cars? Or is it for the kind of stuff Whites fill the court rosaters and rooms with everyday.
I can certainly appreciate a certain empathy for a poor kids selling drugs. However, if you think one should let their guard down around someone convicted of rape you are sorely mistaken (I know that is not what you are claming). Violent offenders should be treated with suspicion.
So if your friends tell you that the police are your enemies why call them about a break-in?
No Dr., lawyers, Dentist... policeman, school teachers..... what does he do?
They left because of life style and money with transportation.
Who and What does he see?
How do I know? Look at how downtown of any cities have changed.
Love you sweet you heart, really do.
Study the book...God has answers. And I do literally mean that. I know..
How people of color vote decides the disproportionate numbers of black people being incarcerated. We have a reputation of living without power! If we stop allowing other people to take advantage of us politically and as consumers and if we speak out against injustice, then and only then will we have some personal and worldly respect a/k/a power to make a difference.
LAMAR C. CHAPMAN III
Oak Brook, Illinois
It's too bad that there's a whole government-dependent economy right now that is wrapped up in carrying out this crazy agenda of treating some abused substances as crimes and others as lifestyle choices.
They don't care in rehab if you're addicted to cocaine or to alcohol or to both at the same time. In rehab they treat all abused substances equally.
Maybe it's time for the law to do that too.
that was enforced by police officers. Todays "LAWS are similar like the crack cocaine law that is 18 times more harsh than powder cocaine just because blacks are more likely to carry crack, as opposed to whites carrying powder. What about the number of whites who do the same crimes as blacks, but are not labeled felons because they can pay an expensive lawyer to get them off. most blacks dont have the financial ability to hire expensive lawyers, due to discrimination in the job force the history of slavery etc.
What is unjust is found in the fact that black men will not stand up and be real men!
In 1998, I petitioned the Clinton Administration to address the issue of a segregated federal court down town Chicago. Image that! In the heart of Chicago a segregated court in the 21st Century! Almost one million black people live in Chicago and no one saw that all of the judges in the Seventh Circuit were white and no one else cared enough to address the issue!
Two years to the date of my letter, President Clinton integrated the court. After twelve years and even after a black president there is still only one of us sitting in that court! I was punished and went to prison for writing that letter. Again! And Again! And Again!
Where are the real black men? Bias is not the issue. Listen! Can't you hear it? The world is laughing at us!
LAMAR C. CHAPMAN III
Oak Brook, Illinois
L
Even knowing this way to many people don't beleive the "Stove is hot", and continue to "test it", there comes a time when you cease to be a "VICTIM", and simply become a fool. It is MADDNESS" to continue to do the same thing(s) and hope to get a different result.
L
MS :Todays "LAWS are similar like the crack cocaine law that is 18 times more harsh than powder cocaine just because blacks are more likely to carry crack, as opposed to whites carrying powder.
L
Now I'm not a genius, but knowing this, I wouldn't (a) Use drugs, (b) wouldn't use or carry "crack"
wouldn't transport "friends" or associates who do use the stuff. There's enough crap in life, I see no reason to make my life harder by adding another "label", that being FELON. Hmmm
You say that you can't fix stupid in your micro biography. Then why try to rationalize it? Whether or not you are imprisoned in this country is a matter of "discretion." This discretion is racially motivated and contingent upon a quota. My post indicating what this quota is never was censured and never posted.
Government agencies imprison people in this country for "sport"! Knowing that we the people should not make it so easy to be the inventory for injustice.
LAMAR C. CHAPMAN III
Oak Brook, Illinois - USA