Currently Reading: The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

  Up first on my summer reading list is The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander. Let me just say that Michelle is KILLING THE GAME! During the first year of law school, I became extremely fascinated with law, punishment, and the criminal justice system.  My mind is boggled by the arbitrary nature of it all and the substantial societal impacts of encounters with the criminal justice system. It's what I like to call "blatant disregard for human life." Michelle highlights many of these problems and consequences using social science literature and legal cases. Her book is an easy, yet informative read. She utilizes historical analysis to put together the puzzle pieces in a manner that makes you want to kick yourself for not having noticed the silence surrounding this modern day social issue. The New Jim Crow is fantastic for reviewing the literature and providing a starting point for further research on mass incarceration.

I can't wait to get started. 

I also watched the PBS Documentary "Slavery by Another Name" which establishes the modern day penal system in a historical context. A must see. Check out the preview below. 

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