the strange career of the new jim crow

Overview of The New Jim Crow

  • Title: Toward Détournement of The New Jim Crow

  • Author: Joseph D. Osel, Alumnus, Seattle University Graduate Department of Psychology

  • Context: Critique of Michelle Alexander’s book "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness."

  • Key Quote: Corrections Corporation of America highlights concerns about the impact of changes in law enforcement and decriminalization on incarceration rates.

Introduction

  • Initial Presentation: Osel presents critical observations regarding Alexander's work, arguing against its acclaim.

  • Key Statistic: More black men are incarcerated than were enslaved in 1850, indicating significant mass incarceration.

  • Responses: Osel received harsh criticism from progressives and reflective questions from scholars.

  • Claims of Ineffectiveness: Critics assert the book, despite its popularity, lacks substantial insights.

Critiques of The New Jim Crow

  • Conventional Critique:

    • Misleading Discourse: Alexander’s narrative could mislead advocates of social justice.

    • Limited Insight: Greg Thomas claims little can be learned from the book, suggesting it only appeals to a specific demographic (white, middle-class liberals).

  • Omissions in Analysis:

    • Exclusion of Key Voices: Voices from the black community and anti-capitalist perspectives are marginalized.

    • Carceral System Ignored: The book fails to analyze systemic factors like capitalism that shape mass incarceration.

The Strange Career of The New Jim Crow

1) Critical Systemic Immunity

  • Lack of Structural Critique:

    • Ignores systemic violence tied to socioeconomic structures.

    • No significant inquiry into roles of judiciary, police, and elected officials.

    • Fails to incorporate economic discussions surrounding incarceration.

2) Black Out / Operational Whitewash

  • Exclusion of Salient Voices:

    • Dismisses radical perspectives from black and brown activists and inmates.

    • Historical context and significant figures in African American history are overlooked.

3) The Counterrevolutionary Protest

  • Function of Misleading Framework:

    • The text appears critical of mass incarceration but excludes radical solutions and maintains the status quo.

    • Accused of mediating outrage while upholding comfort for its readers, thus preventing disruptive change.

The Call for Détournement

  • Necessity for Critical Analysis:

    • Osel emphasizes the danger of accepting The New Jim Crow as a definitive text on mass incarceration.

    • Argues the need for a thorough critique that acknowledges the systemic roots of injustice.

  • Future Actions:

    • Suggests a détournement approach to regain focus on genuine issues surrounding racial and social justice.

    • Advocates for reconstructing the analysis of mass incarceration to reflect the complex realities of oppression.

Conclusion

  • Scholarly Implications:

    • The critiques of The New Jim Crow highlight critical contradictions in its discourse.

    • Osel calls for a concerted effort to redirect the conversation and reconstruct understandings of mass incarceration to foster genuine social change.