The justice system was deliberately structured and used as a way to “control” the Black population and relegate them to second-class status. After slavery, it was used as a replacement for slavery, as evidenced by convict leasing laws and laws making it a crime to not have a job. This structure continues today.

After the Civil Rights Movement, the justice system was used as a punishment and retaliation for Black advancement. Coded language, especially terms like “law and order,” was used to signal punishing Black people. This also continues today.

Leaders, such as presidents and community organizers, seeking and achieving significant advancement have been assassinated and/or incarcerated. This trend continues, targeting leaders who are viable candidates to achieve success.

Although Alexander focuses on criminal justice, she acknowledges economic empowerment as an intended next step in Black empowerment.

The War on Drugs began before the arrival of cocaine and crack in America. It was created as a way to retaliate against Black people, the Civil Rights Movement, and anti-Vietnam War protestors. An aide to Nixon explicitly stated that the War on Drugs was created for these reasons.

Allowing the system to act as it currently does is a perversion of the ideals of America. It not only affects Black Americans but all Americans.

Ways to Get Involved

• Donate time, money, resources, and skills.
• Identify organizations or groups working on correcting the problem. These may include efforts to decriminalize drug use, reverse police powers to search citizens on unlimited or arbitrary grounds, and reallocate bloated funding for policing to more useful areas, such as drug treatment programs, education, job creation, job training, and business investments.
• Support initiatives at both local and federal levels.
• Identify and engage with organizations, PACs, Super PACs, and other advocacy groups focused on systemic reform.

Original draft written in June 2020.