In 2004, there were more black men disenfranchised than in 1870 - the year the 15th Amendment was ratified, prohibiting laws that deny the right to vote exclusively on the basis of race.
Michelle AlexanderRead
Discrimination in virtually every aspect of political, economic, and social life is now perfectly legal if you've been labeled a felon.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Felons face legalized discrimination across various areas of life, affecting their opportunities and rights.
This quote by Michelle Alexander highlights the systemic discrimination that individuals with a felony record endure, which extends beyond their time in prison. It emphasizes that once labeled a felon, these individuals are often denied equal opportunities in political participation, economic advancement, and social integration, making it difficult for them to reintegrate into society.
Themes
DiscriminationFelonJusticeEqualityOpportunityCivil Rights
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a speech advocating for criminal justice reform.
More from Michelle Alexander
All quotes →My experience and research has led me to the regrettable conclusion that our system of mass incarceration functions more like a caste system than a system of crime prevention or control.
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The United States imprisons a larger percentage of its black population than South Africa did at the height of apartheid. In Washington, D.C., our nation’s capitol, it is estimated that three out of four young black men (and nearly all those in the poorest neighborhoods) can expect to serve time in prison.
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We have avoided in recent years talking openly and honestly about race out of fear that it will alienate and polarize. In my own view, it’s our refusal to deal openly and honestly with race that leads us to keep repeating these cycles of exclusion and division, and rebirthing a caste-like system that we claim we’ve left behind
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No other country in the world imprisons so many of its racial or ethnic minorities. The United States imprisons a larger percentage of its black population than South Africa did at the height of apartheid
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There has been an outpouring of anger and concern because of the actions of George Zimmerman, a private citizen who profiled a young boy and pursued him and tried to confront him, perhaps. But what George Zimmerman did is no different than what police officers do every day as a matter of standard operating procedure.
Michelle AlexanderRead
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