Question

It gets worse: Lady Justice is far from colorblind. Michelle Alexander memorably labeled mass incarceration "The New Jim Crow" in her landmark book of the same name. African Americans constitute nearly 1 million of the 2.3 million persons incarcerated and are incarcerated at nearly six times the rate of whites. One in three African Americans"

What does this passage highlight regarding mass incarceration?
a) Mass incarceration is colorblind and affects all racial groups equally.
b) African Americans are underrepresented in the prison population.
c) Mass incarceration disproportionately impacts African Americans.
d) Mass incarceration is a solution to racial inequalities.

Answer 1

The passage explains that mass incarceration significantly affects African Americans, who are incarcerated at substantially higher rates than whites, undermining claims that the system is colorblind and indicating racial disparities within the system.

Step-by-step explanation:

The passage provided highlights that mass incarceration disproportionately impacts African Americans. It states that African Americans constitute nearly 1 million of the 2.3 million incarcerated population and are incarcerated at nearly six times the rate of whites. The term 'The New Jim Crow,' used by Michelle Alexander, suggests that the current system of mass incarceration operates as a contemporary system of racial control, mirroring the discrimination of the Jim Crow era. This systemic issue is compounded by the fact that the colorblind assertion is a misnomer as the criminal justice system exhibits clear racial biases. For instance, Angela Davis critiques the 'prison-industrial complex' for perpetuating racial disparities, indicating that the system is not merely a reflection of law enforcement efficiency but also ingrained societal inequities.