A black man in the United States was convicted of a felony when he was 17. He is now 58 and has not committed any crimes since his release. However, he is still not permitted to vote. Michelle Alexander would describe this as an example of
A) everyday class consciousness.
B) status inconsistency.
C) the underclass.
D) the new Jim Crow.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The situation described in the question fits with the concept of the "new Jim Crow" as described by Michelle Alexander, which refers to the ways in which the criminal justice system in the United States disproportionately affects African Americans and serves to maintain a system of racial control and discrimination similar to the Jim Crow laws of the past. One way that this is seen is through the denial of voting rights to those who have been convicted of a felony, even long after they have served their time and re-entered society.

A Black Man in the United States Was Convicted of a Felony