Why are Blacks suffer racism? They always suffer a lot and the disdain of everyone in life. Racism has been a worldwide problem, not except in the United States, a multi-ethnic land. In the reading book ‘The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness’ by Michelle Alexander outlines related to the multi-color community issues through drug war. In 2010, the book was produced and received much praise from readers by the clear outline of the old Jim Crow era. This essay will discuss the caste division, court injustice, and racial inequality in education against African Americans which the author strongly mentions of the story in the old Jim Crow society.
Firstly, social stratification was observed in Alexander’s book. The lower level class and high-class level are formed in Jim Crow social that distinguishes Black and White people. The division of society includes economic status, political status, education, and housing. African Americans in a color blindness society are in the lower-class people. They must not live in a free environment, without a developed facility, without any support from the government. Meanwhile, Whites, who have higher living status in both work and society, are high classes. Another point is that the inequality in all areas which lead to unequal distribution and created a series of difficulties for the lower classes.
When the war on drugs broke out, we could see the inequality of the law against African Americans. According to the researchers, ‘people of all colors use and sell illegal drugs at remarkably similar rates’, but the number of people arrested was blacks and Latinos. This leaves millions of black people behind bars because of drug convictions, forcing them to accept harsh sentences. Another thing is that many African Americans are under the supervision of the prison system, they suffer brutal punishment, and they are in control of everything. Until when the prisoners were acquitted, the court did not explain any solution, to help prisoners integrate into society after they took the time to pay for the crimes they committed or not cause. They also have a difficult road ahead such as housing, money, and jobs but the government makes it almost impossible for them to succeed in life. In the end, they are forced to return to drugs or similar crimes that lead them to prison because it is almost impossible to return to normal life.
In the old Jim Crow-era, racial discrimination against prisoners in drug wars has resulted in countless consequences for African Americans. According to Alexander, ‘Once you’re labeled a felon, the old forms of discrimination employment discrimination, housing discrimination, denial of the right to vote, denial of educational opportunity, denial of food stamps and other public benefits, and exclusion from jury service’ (Alexander 263). Blacks will not be kept in a key position in the administrative facility or the government apparatus because they believe that Blacks are only worthy of being slaves. When Blacks demand social and life benefits, they are always rejected by the authorities. For example, children will not go to good schools, they will be forced to attend poor schools or be treated badly until they drop out of school. On another hand, if blacks were to receive social support, it would not certainly be adequate as others. The consequences of the war on drugs are really brutal and cruel for Blacks and Latinos.
In conclusion, class division and court inequality have caused disadvantages for African Americans. Alexander’s book succeeds in showing the reader all the suffering of blacks in an age of colorblindness. After reading this book, I think color blindness doesn’t mean a good thing. If we are the same in red blood, the same in human organs, so we all deserve in the same treatment. I hope today’s society needs decisive policies and actions to address racism.
