In her article “ The new Jim Crow ,” Alexander highlights the racial aspects of the w ar on d rugs in the United States (U.S) . The article describes the targeting of the black community by the government in a bid to address the challenge posed by drugs. Subsequently, this group is held accountable for drug-related offenses resulting in the keeping of a vast number of active , black men in a cycle of rehabilitation and correctional facilit ies. The author argues that i t is not crime rate but rather the war on drug s that accounts for th is comprehensiv e system of control . As a result, she blames the rising crime rates on the new regime . She says that “racism caste is not dead” and that it is alive in America. “ Mass incarceration of the poor people is an equivalence of the Jim Crow ” and “ is stunningly comprehensive and well-disguised system of racialized social control that functions in a manner strikingly similar to Jim Crow” (Alexander, 201 1 ).
Alexander takes note of that the separation confronted by African-American s is pervasive among different minorities and socio- economically distraught groups . She cites that for instance, i n Chicago in the year 2002, African-American s, majorly men ha d a criminal record of almost 80%. Consequently, s ome laws denied the m the right to elect and participate in the voting process based on race (Alexander, 201 1 ). S he argues that mass incarceration is actively becoming the New Jim Crow . Further, t he use and sale of the drug are blamed on the poor communities who are of “ color.” The act is considered a “ghetto activity though in the actual sense people of all class are involved .” Additionally, Alexander believes that the war has resulted in people of color being rounded up “en masse” for small non-violent drug related offenses . Further, she says that “ w hite people are more likely to commit drug crimes than the youth of color .” (Alexander, 2011 ).
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The most noteworthy instigator of mass incarceration is the w ar on d rugs, and it has served as a planned procedure to control non-white individuals and expel them from the legislative method , which is in both application and configuration. Alexander proposes that the w ar on d rugs and mass incarceration constitute a "resurrection of station" in America. Additionally, she believes that the current criminal justice system is being and has always been used in a manner that draws back the caste system in America as opposed to controlling crime. Further , sh e emphasizes that America has the highest number of mass incarceration in the world . In support of this , she quotes that, “a ccording to data provided by the Sentencing Project, in 1972, the total rate of incarceration (prison and jail) was approximately 160 per 100,000 .” (Alexander, 2011).
I support Alexander’s thesis that there is a new regime of racial discrimination or “ The New Jim Crow ” as she puts it. Her statement that “America racism is highly adaptable” can be supported by a number of occurrences in America. Likewise, I support her position that the war on drugs has established a new era where the “white people” tend to camouflage in it , le aving the poor colored people to be blame d for the sale and use of drugs majorly in the “ghetto.” Most of those apprehended are most often in possession of drugs worth insignificant amounts. Given that the success of the multi-million dollar drug business requires the hands of different players some in positions of power, this argument holds. Notwithstanding, I disagree with the idea that the rise in criminal activity is solely dependent on the war on drugs. I n the wake of such incidences as indiscriminate police killings, increased terror activities amongst other vices in the U.S, I believe that there is more to rise than drugs.
References
Alexander, M. (201 1 ). The new Jim Crow . Ohio State Journal Of Criminal Law, 9 (1), p. 7- 26
