Exam 2 Flashcards
Michelle Alexander suggests that the modern “criminal label” applied to people of color might be worse than the “slave label” applied before the Civil War or the “race label” under Jim Crow. How is the criminal label similar to the slave/race label?
Similar political origins - white elites exploiting resentment, both legalizing forms of discrimination, both creating political disenfranchisement, closing courthouse doors, and symbolic production of race.
Why might the criminal label be worse?
It might be worse due to multiple factors, one being that in some cases, Black people support the idea of discrimination due to the label. Also, this label is not explicitly a race-based system, which makes it harder to challenge.
What is “civic death?”
consequences/rights taken away because of the “criminal” label; not considered punishment but can be the most damaging part of the conviction (all the fallout from it)
What does it mean for mass incarceration to have “collateral consequences?”
Collateral consequences of mass incarceration refer to the lasting negative impacts beyond the initial sentence
Discuss some different kinds of collateral consequences of mass incarceration.
Employment - jobs/occupations are restricted based on criminal history.
Social support programs: Food security - created restrictions for people with a record and housing - leasing agreements can restrict felons
Education - cannot get a student loan or Pell grant
voting - strip voting rights for felons
Discuss similarities and differences between the race label under Jim Crow and the criminal label under the New Jim Crow as they relate to collateral consequences.
The similarities between criminals and then people of color during Jim Crow are jobs and occupations. During Jim Crow they were restricted based on race, now they are restricted based on criminal history. Housing - Jim Crow you had redlining, now, lease agreements can restrict felons. Voting - Jim Crow - restricted amount class and race lines, Now - strip voting rights of felons. Stigma - Jim Crow - the stigma of racial minorities, Now - the stigma of criminals.
One strategy some locales use to improve employment prospects for people with felony records is to “ban the box” on initial job applications. What does it mean to “ban the box?” Does it do what it was intended to do? Why or why not?
“ban the box” is a policy that delays employers from inquiring about an applicant’s criminal history until after a conditional job offer has been made. It was intended to help people with criminal records access the labor market, but it leads to companies increasing racial discrimination based on stereotypes, and going around the rules, and they will still reject applicants later once they find out they have a criminal record.
The U.S. is unusual in the world in that it still makes use of broad-based felon disenfranchisement laws. This practice violates international human rights laws by which most developed countries abide. Why do you think the U.S. continues these practices when most other countries don’t?
The U.S. continues these practices due to the historical roots in racial discrimination, federalism, decentralized election laws, and tough-on-crime ideology.
What is a “minstrel show” and what is its purpose? Why would people of color participate in minstrelsy?
A popular form of entertainment where white people in blackface would mock African Americans. They would participate due to the limited economic opportunities available to them.
Can you think of any modern-day examples of a minstrel show? Any related to mass incarceration?
Some modern-day examples will be stereotypes about African Americans in the media. Tv shows/movies will portray a criminal as a black person. Also black women being classified as “welfare queen”. These show how mass incarceration is still targeting minorities and dehumanizing them.
Michelle Alexander argues that mass incarceration is the New Jim Crow, a racialized caste system akin to slavery or the Jim Crow South, and that society is in denial. Debate both sides of her argument.
One side of her argument discusses that there are racial disparities in incarceration, the drug war targeted black communities disproportionately, and formerly incarcerated individuals lose voting rights, employment opportunities, and access to public benefits, creating similar Jim Crow-era restrictions.
The other side of her argument is that there is a need for policies specifically in certain Black communities due to higher crime rates, and the disparities reflect deeper socioeconomic issues rather than the racial caste system.
Also, are we in denial? If so, why? If not, why not?
I believe yes we are in denial because we refuse to acknowledge the racial disparities in the justice system, instead attributing mass incarceration to “law and order” rather than systemic bias.
Presumably, civil rights activists care deeply about racial injustice. Why have they been slow to recognize the New Jim Crow or focus on mass incarceration as a critical driver of racial inequality?
They have been slow to recognize the New Jim Crow due to the political focus on crime control. The increase of “tough on crime” and the public perception of crime. Also, the issue of defining mass incarceration as a civil rights issue.
Michelle Alexander argues that it’s a mistake to make “colorblindness” a societal goal. Why? What
does she recommend instead?
She argues that it is a mistake to make colorblindness a societal goal because it does not address systemic racism and perpetuates racial inequity. She recommends that we acknowledge race, address the system inequalities, and change social reforms by dismantling the system.
What makes her proposals “radical” like those of radicals during Jim Crow?
Her proposals are seen as radical due to the critique of the system, she says that mass incarceration functions as a racial caste system. Instead of reforming it, she wants to abolish it.
Is affirmative action as currently practiced a racial bribe?
Michelle Alexander believes it is currently practiced as a racial bribe due to selective inclusion. The only people who benefit from it can get jobs, education, etc, The “elite” Blacks, while those who are poor or have criminal records receive no support.
The sociology of punishment examines the social determinants and consequences of punishment to better understand the functions and forms of punishment that societies use. Please name the authors of the four theoretical traditions we discussed in class
Durkheim, Marx, Michel Foucault, and Elias
What are the traditions of Durkheim, and how do they differ from those of other authors?
Functionalist; believes that punishment serves as a way to reinforce social solidarity and moral order. Sees that punishment is a social necessity rather than a tool of oppression.
What are the traditions of Marx, and how do they differ from those of other authors?
Conflict perspective; Believes that punishment is a tool of class domination used by the ruling class to maintain control over the working class. Sees that punishment is a reinforcement of economic and class differences.
What are the traditions of Michel Foucault, and how do they differ from those of other authors?
The big concept of technology; Modern punishment shifts from physical brutality to psychological control and surveillance. Sees how institutions (prisons, schools, and hospitals) shape and discipline individuals beyond economic factors.
What are the traditions of Elias, and how do they differ from those of other authors?
Society changes through a long-term civilizing process. Public sensibilities dictate punishment by limiting applications and privatizing disturbing events.
In class, I made the argument that the jail is critical to our understanding of mass incarceration and yet remains misunderstood by the public. Why is the jail important? Why is it misunderstood?
The Jail is important because it is highly discretionary, invisible, and local. Freedom based on money, larger unconvicted, and economically constricted. It is misunderstood because jails are invented to manage society’s rabble.
What is the official function of jails? Who’s in jail?
The official function of jails is to hold people awaiting adjudication and for serving short sentences. It is a collection of dangerous people.
Who are the “rabble?” How did urban deindustrialization and neoliberalism in the 60s and 70s contribute to the growth of a rabble class?
The rabble refers to the urban poor, particularly Black and Brown communities that became increasingly criminalized. Deindustrialization contributed to the growth of a rabble class because it removed many jobs, increasing unemployment. Neoliberalism is an economic ideology emphasizing free markets, privatization, and cutting social welfare programs. This caused a dismantling of the social safety net.
