Recommended by
- Bill Gates: "An eye-opening look into America's criminal justice system. The New Jim Crow will help you understand the history and the numbers behind mass incarceration." source ↗
Summary
Michelle Alexander argues that mass incarceration in the United States functions as a system of racial control comparable to Jim Crow, targeting Black Americans through the War on Drugs and discriminatory law enforcement practices. First published in 2010, the book traces the legal and political mechanisms that created a permanent second-class status for millions of people. It became a foundational text in racial justice discourse and criminal justice reform.