In Coffee Spoons

librariansoul:

anticapitalist:

Incarceration In The United States

(high res)

The US is ranked #1 in some impressive areas but being #1 for incarceration isn’t something to brag about. In fact, more than 1 in every 100 adults in America are incarcerated at any given time. In some states such as Louisiana as many as 1 in 55 adults are incarcerated at any time. But even in states with fewer incarcerations like Maine, 1 in 226 are still incarcerated. In light of such numbers it isn’t surprising that the US has 25% of the world’s incarcerated population even though the US only makes up around 5% of the population globally.

Despite the huge population of incarcerated people it is far from a representative portion of the population. While the national average is 1 in 100, only 1 in 106 is a white male. Shockingly, 1 in 15 Black men are incarcerated. This is like 2 people out of every classroom. Comparatively 1 in 36 Hispanic men are incarcerated fully 300% more than their white counterparts.

Part of my dream last night involved my making an impassioned speech about racism and differential incarceration rates in the U.S. To a black woman. While sobbing, IIRC. And playing the piano? Apparently I’m a terrible ally even in my sleep. :-/

Anyway. For a great presentation of the facts surrounding our “justice” and prison systems read The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander.