Prisons banning books particularly, within americas penitentiary communities, there has been a lot of dissention over. Aclu blasts unconstitutional book ban in new jersey. Aclunj had initially received multiple complaints from people in jail and their families over the ban of the book. W hen i heard that the new jim crow a book by michelle alexander about how mass incarceration in america is a new form of racial control. I shared this, and the fact that the new jim crow had been banned in new jersey prisons and it led to long discussions in class. Jan 08, 2018 the ban on the bestselling book the new jim crow. New jersey prisons ban the book new jim crow the aclu. The warehousing of innercity youths, she writes, is a new form of jim crow under which drug offendersin jail or prison, on probation or paroleare denied employment, housing, education and public benefits. New jersey prisons back off ban of the new jim crow, but censorship behind bars is still. Acclaimed book the new jim crow banned in some new jersey prisons. With a little reflection, it isnt hard to see the bitter irony of banning prisoners from reading a book like the new jim crow, a book that argues that mass.
A new york directive prevents families from sending loved ones books purchased outside five approved vendors, who offer a total of 77 books, 24. Civil rights book banned in new jersey prisons, along with. The aclu of new jersey learned that the new jim crow was banned as a matter of official policy in at least two prisons. For the first time in years, inmates at prisons in new jersey and north carolina can read the new jim crow, a bestselling book critiquing mass incarceration in the united states. While researchers at pew research center have recently claimed the number of black americans imprisoned has declined substantially within america, almost by 25 percent since 2009, a general fear seems to exist in prison systems when the term new jim crow is used. New jim crow banned in nc prisons, aclu challenges book. The announcement came on monday after the state chapter of the american civil liberties union questioned why at least two prisons had banned the new jim crow by michelle alexander, an acclaimed. New jim crow tim bonnemann with a little reflection, it isnt hard to see the bitter irony of banning prisoners from reading a book like michelle. The aclu of new jersey firmly believes that decarceration efforts cannot be successful unless they also address systemic racism. Some prisons in new jersey have, as official policy, banned the book the new jim crow, which deals with the systemic discrimination leading to mass.
As alexander told the times, some prison officials are determined to keep the people they lock in cages as ignorant. Aclu blasts unconstitutional book ban in new jersey prisons. The new jim crow details the ways in which the racial disparity of mass incarceration black men are six times more likely to be imprisoned than white men has allowed the country to continue to control and surveil people of color. For the first time, all prisoners across new jersey can read her words. North carolina doesnt want people in prison to read this book. The american civil liberties union is amassing a small but impressive track record on a particular issue.
The new jim crow lands on banned books lists in new. Jan 08, 2018 s ome new jersey prisons added michelle alexanders book the new jim crow to their list of banned publications, the guardian reported. Over,000 adults combined in florida and north carolina are banned from reading the new jim crow, michelle alexander s awardwinning book about the effects of mass incarceration, according to a report by the new york times. The north carolina department of public safety will immediately remove the new jim crow. New jersey doc lifts ban on the new jim crow essence.
Aclu reverses prison bans on the new jim crow non profit. Her book on mass incarceration, the new jim crow, has been banned by prisons in north carolina and florida. The aclu discovered the book was banned in two new jersey prisons through a public. Jan 08, 2018 aclu blasts unconstitutional book ban in new jersey prisons the new jim crow, a book on systemic racism in the criminal justice system, is also banned in north carolina shares. Americas jails and prisons have long since banned and censored books that the institutions determined posed a material danger to the safety of inmates and employees. S banned n 2017 alexander, michelle the new jim crow. Prisons slammed for banning book on racist legacy of mass.
With a little reflection, it isnt hard to see the bitter irony of banning prisoners from reading a book like the new jim crow, a book that argues that mass incarceration targets african. Aclu blasts unconstitutional book ban in new jersey prisons the new jim crow, a book on systemic racism in the criminal justice system, is. Officials are concerned that the books powerful message. The new jim crow and should the incarcerated be exposed to a book claiming it is. Jan 09, 2018 michelle alexanders the new jim crow, which recently reached the eighth anniversary of its original publication date in 2010, was banned from new jersey state prisons by its department of corrections even though by their own admission the book was being used in prison curriculum. New jersey prisons have now banned the new jim crow by michelle alexander. Jan 23, 2018 new jim crow was banned from nc prisons in the morning. The new jim crow has been banned in both florida and north carolina prisons. The new jim crow, a bestselling book about how mass incarceration has ravaged the black community, is banned by prisons in two states. The book was later removed from the list of prohibited books after the american civil liberties. When at least two new jersey prisons banned michelle alexanders bestselling book about racial bias in the criminal justice system, they presumably believed the answer to. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness from its list of books that are banned in state prisons, a. The american civil liberties union aclu, which obtained the banned book lists in response to a public records request, called for the ban to be. Just as the garden state lifted its ban on the new jim crow, its neighbor across the river implemented a new program restricting prisoners access to books.
Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness, after a letter from the new jersey aclu challenged the ban. Florida, among other states, has censored michelle alexanders the new jim crow, which highlights how african. The north carolina department of public safety announced on january 23 that it will remove the new jim crow. Ban on book about mass incarceration lifted in new jersey. Jan 08, 2018 civil rights advocates denounced new jerseys prison system on monday after learning that the book the new jim crow, about race and mass incarceration in the u. Recently, it was revealed that the new jersey department of corrections placed a ban on the reading of the book, the new jim crow, by michelle alexander, which focuses on impact of mass. New jersey prisons lift ban on acclaimed book the new jim crow prohibiting prisoners access to titles like the new jim crow is an ironic act to keep them imprisoned. North carolina banned the book from its prisons as it was deemed likely to provoke confrontation between racial groups. Jan 10, 2018 w hen i heard that the new jim crow a book by michelle alexander about how mass incarceration in america is a new form of racial control had been banned by new jersey prisons, i was. The american civil liberties union aclu, which obtained the banned book lists in response to a public records request, called for the ban to be lifted and said it. New jersey prisons lift ban on acclaimed book the new jim. A memo obtained by the new york times said the book had been banned because it was a security.
The book, the new jim crow by michelle alexander, was not allowed in at least two new jersey state prisons, according to prison documents obtained by the aclu of new jersey and released monday. The book discusses racerelated issues specific to africanamerican males and mass incarceration in the united states, but alexander noted that the discrimination faced by africanamerican males is prevalent among other minorities and socioeconomically. Jan 23, 2018 we will fight until the same is done in north carolina. New jersey corrections criticized for banning new jim. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness from the list of books banned in state prisons. New jersey prisons reverse course on banning the new jim. Praised by harvard law professor lani guinier as brave and bold, this book directly challenges the notion that the election of barack obama signals a new era of colorblindness. New jersey prisons lift ban on acclaimed book the new jim crow. Once in a great while a book comes along that changes the way we see the world and helps to fuel a nationwide social movement.
Jan 09, 2018 new jersey prisons back off ban of the new jim crow, but censorship behind bars is still. The renowned book, the new jim crow by michelle alexander, is not allowed in two new jersey state prisons, according to prison documents obtained by the aclu of new jersey and released monday. This month, the aclu has overturned bans in new jersey and north carolina, although a. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness, was written by michelle alexander.
Controversial new jim crow ban lifted the new press. The book discusses racerelated issues specific to africanamerican males and mass incarceration in the united states, but alexander noted that the discrimination faced by africanamerican males is. The new jersey department of corrections has lifted a ban on the book the new jim crow at two of its prisons, following a complaint from the state chapter of the american civil liberties union. This book taught me an amazing amount about the facts and results of what the author calls the new jim crow the war on drugs, and the changes in legal and policing procedures that followed upon it. Last week, prisons in trenton and delmont, new jersey, banned michelle alexanders 2010 nonfiction book the new jim crow. Jan 10, 2018 the aclu of new jersey firmly believes that decarceration efforts cannot be successful unless they also address systemic racism. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness 2010 banned in north carolina prisons in february 2017 because it was considered likely to provoke confrontation between racial groups.
Some prisons in new jersey have, as official policy, banned the book the new jim crow, which deals with the systemic discrimination leading to mass incarceration of black men, according to records. New jersey corrections criticized for banning new jim crow book. New jersey prisons back off ban of the new jim crow, but. Jan 08, 2018 the banning of a particular book such as the new jim crow as compared, for example, to a ban on hardcovers represents contentbased censorship on publications, the aclu. The new jim crow, an awardwinning book by michelle alexander published in 2010, appears on lists of publications that inmates in. The new jim crow banned in some new jersey prisons. Every american should read the new jim crow, which brilliantly illustrates how mass incarceration functions to reenslave black people and to dupe americans into believing that racism and jim. Cornel west, a champion for racial justice, described alexanders work in a foreword to her book as the secular bible for a new social movement in early twentyfirstcentury america. The new jim crow is a masterpiece work on the racism of mass incarceration. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness at a pair of state prisons was made by officials at those facilities, and there was no departmentwide ban. Ben garvin for the new york times by jonah engel bromwich jan.
Valuable books are still banned at many prisons nationwide. That question was front and center this week after news that two new jersey prisons had banned michelle alexanders book the new jim crow. New jersey state prison and southern state correctional facility. When at least two new jersey prisons banned michelle alexanders bestselling book about racial bias in the criminal justice system, they presumably believed the answer to be no on both counts. Most students had never heard of the book, and when i explained, as alexander does, that black and white people use and sell drugs at the same rates and that, numerically, that means way more white people use and sell. The new jim crow has been banned in both florida and north. I dont think mein kampf would make a large percentage of the inmates quite as angry as the new jim crow would. It makes me ashamed for the evils my country has inflicted yet again on its black population. For the first time in years, inmates at prisons in new jersey and north carolina can read the new jim crow, a bestselling book critiquing mass incarceration in the united states around the time. On january 10th, the new jersey prisons reversed a ban on michelle alexanders the new jim crow. The new jim crow lands on banned books lists in new jersey. New jersey prisons lift ban on awardwinning book the new.
Civil rights advocates denounced new jerseys prison system on monday after learning that the book the new jim crow, about race and mass incarceration in the u. New jersey prisons ban the new jim crow the intercept. New jersey prisons lift ban on awardwinning book the new jim. The landmark book about race and mass incarceration is banned in a state with the highest racial disparity in its prison population. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness is a book by michelle alexander, a civil rights litigator and legal scholar. Mass incarceration in the age of colorblindness, her bestselling book that examines how racial injustice fuels the epidemic of mass incarceration in the united states, michelle alexander writes, i am writing this book for all those trapped within americas latest caste system. New jim crow banned in nc prisons, aclu challenges book ban. As new jersey prisons lift ban on the new jim crow, new.
Jan 25, 2018 on january 10th, the new jersey prisons reversed a ban on michelle alexanders the new jim crow. New jim crow was banned from nc prisons in the morning. The banning of a particular book such as the new jim crow as compared, for example, to a ban on hardcovers represents content. That the very prisoners who experience the worst racial disparity in incarceration in the country should be prohibited from reading a book whose precise purpose is to examine and educate about that disparity adds insult to injury. Aclu says nj prison ban of the new jim crow book is. Rather than being banned, the book should be recommended reading for all state officials. Texts that are critical of the criminal justice system are sometimes targeted.
S ome new jersey prisons added michelle alexanders book the new jim crow to their list of banned publications, the guardian reported. However, a couple of prisons in new jersey dont feel this way, proven by the fact that the new jim crow appears on the banned reading list, along with magazines like the source and xxl. Jan 16, 2012 once in a great while a book comes along that changes the way we see the world and helps to fuel a nationwide social movement. The book discusses racerelated issues specific to africanamerican males and mass incarceration in the united states, but alexander noted that the discrimination faced by africanamerican males is prevalent among other minorities and. By anne blythe and ames alexander january 23, 2018 03.
The new jim crow book, which describes the vast racial disparities in sentencing policy and the way that mass incarceration has ravaged the africanamerican population, is banned in prison in north carolina and florida. Amid aclu protest, nc prisons will remove the new jim crow. Feb 01, 2010 the warehousing of innercity youths, she writes, is a new form of jim crow under which drug offendersin jail or prison, on probation or paroleare denied employment, housing, education and public benefits. In a letter to the department of corrections, the american civil liberties. By anne blythe and ames alexander january 23, 2018 01. After being called out by the aclu for banning an awardwinning book about mass incarceration, new jersey said that it has lifted the ban on michelle. The new jim crow, an awardwinning book by michelle alexander published in 2010, appears on lists of publications that inmates in state correctional facilities may not possess. The new jim crow, a bestselling book about how mass incarceration has ravaged the black community, is banned by prisons in. They filed an open public records act request and in response received a letter which indicated new jersey state prison and southern state correctional facility banned the book as a matter of policy. Jan 08, 2018 the renowned book, the new jim crow by michelle alexander, is not allowed in two new jersey state prisons, according to prison documents obtained by the aclu of new jersey and released monday. In the book, alexander describes the way that institutional bias has allowed for the legal system to act as a means of racial and social control and decimate africanamerican.
New york times the american civil liberties union is amassing a small but impressive track record on a particular issue. New jersey officials say theyll lift ban on book the new. Its a ridiculous reason to ban the book from a prison, but im assuming thats the reason. Jan 08, 2018 the new jim crow, an awardwinning book by michelle alexander published in 2010, appears on lists of publications that inmates in state correctional facilities may not possess. Acclaimed book the new jim crow banned in some new jersey. Jan 12, 2018 that question was front and center this week after news that two new jersey prisons had banned michelle alexanders book the new jim crow. The new jim crow chronicles how people of color are shut out of society by mass incarceration, the letter states. This month, the aclu has overturned bans in new jersey and north carolina, although a florida. The new jim crow has been banned in new jersey prisons. The prisons in question are new jersey state prison in trenton and southern state correctional facility in delmont.