User:Laurendiaz/sandbox

Beginning of chapter
In The New Jim Crow, Michelle Alexander argues that prisons are caging in black men, which takes away from their responsibilities, such as fatherhood. According to Alexander, more black men are incarcerated now more then ever before, even more than how many were enslaved during the Civil War. She explains that so many black men are disappearing and it is due to the fact that all of them are being locked up due to crimes that whites aren’t even charged for when committed by them. A statistic according to Emily Alpert Rays from the L.A. Times, many fathers who do leave their families, still stay in contact with their children. About 35% of black fathers who have left their homes still stay in contact with their kids while 30% of white fathers have kept in contact with their children. Many people assume black men are irresponsible and leave their families, when in fact they are just being incarcerated for crimes uncommitted, yet still try to stay in contact. Michelle Alexander covers how once black men are incarcerated for one crime, they will always be treated poorly due to that, and be discriminated against because of that single act, or even because of the fact they went to jail. When these black men would get released from prison, their lives would forever be altered. Always getting treated for what they supposedly did, getting looked down upon, and never being treated the same again.

States of Denial
Due to stereotypes of blacks, Alexander argues that many people are in denial of how society really works. People nowadays know that racial oppression, discrimination, and stereotyping occur, yet when asked about it, deny that it happens because it is such an uncomfortable topic to talk about. According to Michelle Alexander, media sources are the major influence on society's denial and the cause of many stereotypes. They influence our view of the world, which contributes to the country's denial and discrimination. The media implies that all prisons and blacks are as seen on TV, or music videos, or the news. Alexander says the media leaves society in one mindset that of which is negative against these men being incarcerated, pointing to the fact society does not know how the criminal justice system works. In today’s society, we still have a racial caste system according to Michelle Alexander. She bases is off of the fact that people think racism comes from individuals and biases, but it comes from the way society is formed. Alexander explains that people solely look at black people when it comes to racism, yet it is against all different races. Alexander points out that the criminal justice system isn't just based off race anymore, but rather how society is structured.

Stanley Cohen: States Of Denial
Stanley Cohen, profound criminologist and sociologist wrote States of Denial, one of the most important and influencing books on how people are in denial about acts of racial oppression and other sufferings. This book covers topics on oppression, suffering, and slavery. He explains how many people, throughout this country, know that racial oppressive acts occur yet deny it. Cohen explains how it seems as if these people only want to signify and realize things that they want, not actual reality. Cohen states that people do know yet do not know that there is suffering and oppression, as if they choose to ignore it rather than talk about such an uneasy topic. Many people assume, and sometimes witness these acts occur, yet when asked will deny anything ever happened. Stanley Cohen writes about how people act blind to reality, due to uncomfortable and uneasy topics. According to Cohen, many people are in touch with the fact that racial oppression still occurs, along with other acts of human suffering, yet many people deny that those actions happen. The topic of racial oppression is such an uncomfortable topic; no one likes to acknowledge it actually happens in the world we live in today. Stanley Cohen’s point of the book is to bring awareness to those who don’t see the truth being mass incarceration and how society is structured. He wants people to realize how much we choose to ignore in society today, and that it needs to change.