foreword to "incarceration generation"

FOREWORD In that silence and in those cries lies a truth that we, as a nation, have been unwilling to face. Millions of Americans have been locked in cages and then, upon release, stripped of basic civil and human rights. Young people living in segregated, ghettoized communities are shuttled from decrepit, underfunded schools to brand new, high tech prisons. Upon release, they’re stripped of the basic civil and human rights supposedly won in the Civil Rights Movement, including the right to vote and to serve on juries, as well as the right to be free from legal discrimination in employment, housing, access to education and public benefits. Millions find themselves trapped in a permanent second-class status—a closed circuit of perpetual marginality—as they cycle from impoverished, jobless ghettos to prison and then back again. People of all races and classes have been impacted by the race to incarcerate. But some communities have been literally decimated—communities defined largely by race and class. If there is reason to hope that light flickers at the end of this dark tunnel, it is because of the scores of individuals, advocates, grassroots groups, churches, foundations, and organizations—like the Justice Policy Institute—that refuse to give up. For 15 years, JPI has challenged overincarceration and our failed juvenile justice system. They have researched and offered promising alternatives to prison and jail. At the end of the tunnel, they see a system that could actually work. They see a system that actually cares and rehabilitates. They see a system that provides resources that can help communities heal and recover from the brutal system of mass incarceration. Incarceration Generation is a trip down that tunnel, showing the who, what, why and how of this nation’s 30-year prison boom. The book is an anthology of essays written by experts, advocates, and practitioners in the field of social justice. It reflects an attempt to understand and explain how adults, children, and families have been affected by our nation’s zeal for punishment. It describes the good work that is underway to dismantle the system of mass incarceration efforts to build new, more compassionate alternatives to cages for human beings. In short, this book is like a flashlight, helping to lead us through and out of the dark tunnel of unrelenting punitiveness to a brighter future for us all. Several months ago, I spoke to several hundred high school students in Richmond, Virginia. The audience was primarily black youth from urban schools. The man who introduced me began his remarks by asking a simple question: “How many of you have ever spent time in jail?” A stunning number of black boys rose to their feet. Murmurs could be heard throughout the auditorium as everyone turned to look around them at the young men standing. Another question followed: “How many of you have had a family member who has spent time in prison or jail?” Roughly two-thirds or perhaps three-quarters of the young people were now standing. The murmurs in the audience turned to rumblings, and they started stamping their feet, expressing their pain and anger. Some were shouting out names: “My father, Reginald Johnson.” “My brother, Michael Adams.” “My mother, Charmaine, just got out.” And then the final question: “How many of you know someone, a friend or relative, who has done time?” By now, all the students were standing, stamping their feet and calling out names. The walls shook and then stopped. A silence followed. MichELLE Alexander LEGAL SCHOLAR AND AUTHOR OF THE NEW JIM CROW: MASS INCARCERATION IN THE AGE OF COLORBLINDNESS 2

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An excerpt from "Incarceration Generation," a book of essays that catalogs the 40 year rise in incarceration in the US. To receive the full version, follow link: http://www.justicepolicy.org/news/7973Legal scholar and justice reform advocate Michelle Alexander (author, "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness") opens "Incarceration Generation" with an anecdote about the harsh realities of today's imprisonment epidemic.

TRANSCRIPT

FOREWORDIn that silence and in those cries lies a truth that we, as a nation, have been unwilling to face.

Millions of Americans have been locked in cages and then, upon release, stripped of basic civil and human rights. Young people living in segregated, ghettoized communities are shuttled from decrepit, underfunded schools to brand new, high tech prisons. Upon release, theyre stripped of the basic civil and human rights supposedly won in the Civil Rights Movement, including the right to vote and to serve on juries, as well as the right to be free from legal discrimination in employment, housing, access to education and public benefits. Millions find themselves trapped in a permanent second-class statusa closed circuit of perpetual marginalityas they cycle from impoverished, jobless ghettos to prison and then back again. People of all races and classes have been impacted by the race to incarcerate. But some communities have been literally decimatedcommunities defined largely by race and class.

If there is reason to hope that light flickers at the end of this dark tunnel, it is because of the scores of individuals, advocates, grassroots groups, churches, foundations, and organizationslike the Justice Policy Institutethat refuse to give up. For 15 years, JPI has challenged overincarceration and our failed juvenile justice system. They have researched and offered promising alternatives to prison and jail. At the end of the tunnel, they see a system that could actually work. They see a system that actually cares and rehabilitates. They see a system that provides resources that can help communities heal and recover from the brutal system of mass incarceration.

Incarceration Generation is a trip down that tunnel, showing the who, what, why and how of this nations 30-year prison boom. The book is an anthology of essays written by experts, advocates, and practitioners in the field of social justice. It reflects an attempt to understand and explain how adults, children, and families have been affected by our nations zeal for punishment. It describes the good work that is underway to dismantle the system of mass incarceration efforts to build new, more compassionate alternatives to cages for human beings. In short, this book is like a flashlight, helping to lead us through and out of the dark tunnel of unrelenting punitiveness to a brighter future for us all.

Several months ago, I spoke to several hundred high school students in Richmond, Virginia. The audience was primarily black youth from urban schools. The man who introduced me began his remarks by asking a simple question: How many of you have ever spent time in jail? A stunning number of black boys rose to their feet. Murmurs could be heard throughout the auditorium as everyone turned to look around them at the young men standing. Another question followed: How many of you have had a family member who has spent time in prison or jail? Roughly two-thirds or perhaps three-quarters of the young people were now standing. The murmurs in the audience turned to rumblings, and they started stamping their feet, expressing their pain and anger. Some were shouting out names: My father, Reginald Johnson. My brother, Michael Adams.

My mother, Charmaine, just got out. And then the final question: How many of you know someone, a friend or relative, who has done time? By now, all the students were standing, stamping their feet and calling out names. The walls shook and then stopped. A silence followed.

MichELLE AlexanderLEGAL SCHOLAR AND AUTHOR OF THE NEW JIM CROW:

MASS INCARCERATION IN THE AGE OF COLORBLINDNESS

2