by
In a very articulate manner, Michelle Alexander presents shocking facts about what is happening in our nation's poor neighborhoods between the covers of The New Jim Crow. This book is an important work that should be read by everyone. I disagreed with some parts of the book. For example I do not think that we arrived where we are today by a systematic plan by those in power. And I have had personal accountability too ingrained in my psychic not to think that there are some choices made by at least some of the victims in this situation. Nevertheless, the facts remain and speak for themselves and splitting hair over fault or pointing accusing fingers does not solve our current crisis. There are innocents caught up in the system and there are great costs in human potential that is being wasted. One can't argue with the reality that, even though I think we arrived where are more of a result of an evolution of events rather than a plan, our current economic system is tied to sending people to prison. Many people are employed by our nations private prison system. It is big business. A great deal of federal money is poured into police departments as rewards for arrest numbers. And property in the form of cars and houses along with cash, are confiscated by police departments with the cost of getting them back exceeding the value, causing many to loose their property. As a nation, we have a lot of work to do to repair the damage being done and to dismantle the system that is currently in use. With our current events in recent years involving events in our cities to not read this book and educate ourselves about this problem amounts to poor citizenship. As I indicated, one does not have to agree with all parts of an opinion in order to learn from the facts presented. Please click on the author's name and book title above to learn more. And watch the video that follows.
No comments:
Post a Comment