The New Jim Crow. Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colourblindness

The New York Times bestseller, famously praised by Ibram X. Kendi for igniting the Black Lives Matter movement, has been recognized as a pivotal work in nonfiction by notable outlets such as Entertainment Weekly, Slate, and Literary Hub. Occasionally, a book emerges that profoundly reshapes our understanding of key political issues and catalyzes social change—such is the case with The New Jim Crow. Crafted by lawyer and activist Michelle Alexander, the book delivers a compelling narrative on the resurgence of a caste-like system in the U.S., which has led to the mass incarceration of African Americans, subsequently subjecting them to enduring second-class citizenship, despite the gains of the Civil Rights movement. The New Jim Crow confronts the flawed assumption that Barack Obama's presidency marked the beginning of racial equality in America. Instead, it exposes how systemic racial discrimination persists under the guise of colorblind policies. This meticulously designed system surveils and targets black men, using the War on Drugs as a pretext, thereby decimating communities of color. It underscores the modern criminal justice system as an instrument of racial control, confining millions to a status of perpetual inferiority. As a powerful call to action for those invested in social justice, The New Jim Crow stands as a seminal work on race discourse in the contemporary era.