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This extremely readable book explores how the policies put in place in the 1970s and 80s that led to mass incarceration were largely supported by the black community, including voters, politicians, and members of the justice system. He focuses in on majority black DC and gives a little hint on efforts made more recently to turn things around. Really interesting read.

Informative. Well-written. Thought-provoking.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For those who follow me, you may have noticed I‘ve been reading a lot of books related to civil rights and prison reform. This is the first one I‘ve read about DC, where I live. It was very interesting to learn about DC history, where the Black community was and where it is now.

Forman divides his book into two sections—origins and consequences. As you can imagine, the first is history of legal and police policy from Reconstruction until recently. The second is the impact those earlier decisions, like the war on drugs, have had on communities of color. Very illuminating.

Full review http://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2020 #nonfictionchallenge2020 #criminaljustice #massincarceration #readblackauthors

If you scroll down under this book‘s posts, you‘ll see that this has been on my TBR for **2 years.** It‘s high time I give it a listen! #readblackauthors #blacklivesmatter #aboutincarceration #nonfictionchallenge2020

A fascinating look at the incremental steps that led to some of the completely wrecked lats of today‘s criminal justice system, from the particular angle of the African American community - and, more hopefully at the end, a look at some of the baby steps that might possibly help fix it. Highly recommend, and the audio was well done too.

Depressing and intriguing study of the policies and actions that led to our current situation of mass incarceration particularly in Washington DC.

Here are the physical books on my #MayTBR. Two from TBR Pulitzer winners. One for my friend Barbara who just published her second book. My #ravenmail book, although I don‘t know how I‘ll feel about it. And more Alexia just because.

Should be a good month! #readingresolutions

Got this on standby while I apply for jobs! Fingers crossed I find a better job and I can move on from my current position!

#PulitzerPrize for #Nonfiction

Necessary reading on how the American War on Drugs (including mandatory minimums for sentencing and stop-and-frisk policies at the law enforcement level) have resulted in such high rates of incarceration for black Americans. Really fascinating to find so much of the book focusing on DC, which has gentrified at a ridiculous pace in the last 20 years.

This is really well-done and an excellent companion to books like The New Jim Crow. I was impressed by the level of research and detail. Heartbreaking how so many well-intentioned responses to violence, drug addiction, and crime in black communities ended up having lots of unintended consequences due to the systemic racism underlying it all. Hopefully books like this can contribute to more justice in law reform/enforcement in the future.

I liked how fact based this book was. It talked about the prison system, drug arrests, gun laws. It talked about history and where it all came from. I thought it was provoking and well done.

I appreciated the thorough recent history of policing and race presented here, which provided a lot of context for current events, including #BlackLivesMatter .

I was surprised when I finished this on kindle - I thought I was only 2/3 done, but the rest was the notes (as pictured)!