Answer:
Michelle Alexander argues that mass incarceration in the United States is a modern form of racial control that disproportionately affects African American communities. She argues that the War on Drugs, which began in the 1980s, has led to the mass incarceration of black men, stripping them of their voting rights, job opportunities, and access to housing.
Alexander suggests that this system of mass incarceration is maintained by racial profiling and selective enforcement of drug laws, leading to high rates of imprisonment for African Americans. She argues that the private prison industry and the profit motive behind mass incarceration further perpetuate this system.
To address this issue, Alexander calls for a fundamental shift in how society views drug addiction and crime. She argues that we must move away from a punishment-based system and towards one that emphasizes prevention, rehabilitation, and community-based solutions.
Specifically, Alexander recommends the following steps:
End the War on Drugs: Alexander argues that the criminalization of drug use has been a major driver of mass incarceration. She suggests that we decriminalize drug use and treat it as a public health issue rather than a criminal one.
Invest in Communities: Alexander argues that many of the underlying causes of drug addiction and crime are social and economic. She suggests that we invest in education, job training, and affordable housing to address these root causes.
Reduce Sentencing: Alexander suggests that we reduce sentencing for non-violent drug offenses and eliminate mandatory minimums. She argues that this would reduce the number of people in prison and help to restore families and communities affected by incarceration.
End Private Prisons: Alexander argues that the profit motive behind private prisons perpetuates the system of mass incarceration. She suggests that we eliminate private prisons and move towards a system that is publicly funded and focused on rehabilitation.
In conclusion, Michelle Alexander's argument is that mass incarceration is a form of racial control that perpetuates inequality and perpetuates cycles of poverty and crime. She calls for a fundamental shift in how we view drug addiction and crime and suggests a range of policy solutions to address this issue.
Step-by-step explanation: