Race, Incarceration, and American Values (Boston Review Books) by Glenn C. Loury (PDF)

Description

Why stigmatizing and confining a large segment of our population should be unacceptable to all Americans.The United States, home to five percent of the world’s population, now houses twenty-five percent of the world’s prison inmates. Our incarceration rate—at 714 per 100,000 residents and rising—is almost forty percent greater than our nearest competitors (the Bahamas, Belarus, and Russia). More pointedly, it is 6.2 times the Canadian rate and 12.3 times the rate in Japan. Economist Glenn Loury argues that this extraordinary mass incarceration is not a response to rising crime rates or a proud success of social policy. Instead, it is the product of a generation-old collective decision to become a more punitive society. He connects this policy to our history of racial oppression, showing that the punitive turn in American politics and culture emerged in the post-civil rights years and has today become the main vehicle for the reproduction of racial hierarchies. Whatever the explanation, Loury argues, the uncontroversial fact is that changes in our criminal justice system since the 1970s have created a nether class of Americans—vastly disproportionately black and brown—with severely restricted rights and life chances. Moreover, conservatives and liberals agree that the growth in our prison population has long passed the point of diminishing returns. Stigmatizing and confining of a large segment of our population should be unacceptable to Americans. Loury’s call to action makes all of us now responsible for ensuring that the policy changes.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Given the other reviews here, my reading of Race, Incarnation, and American Values appears to be somewhat heterodox.Race, incarceration, and how they interact with American social policy is unequivocally a nuanced discussion, which is why I was surprised at the incredibly short length of the book. Comprised of several essays by differing authors, the book attempts to make the case for a modern application of Rawlsian ethics in America with the explicit premise that the legacy of slavery continues to have a disproportionate impact on African-Americans.My two chief criticisms are firstly that this thesis promoting redistributive justice, or equality of outcome over equality of opportunity, is not something we need to decipher a priori; rather this is an empirical claim that requires supporting evidence, none of which was provided. Secondarily, the book holds firmly to descriptive “analysis” without providing detailed, prescriptive solutions, which probably speaks to why the book is so short.In summation, there are many better options to learn about race in America in a more rigorous, parsimonious manner. Do not waste your money.

⭐Great book. The writers present clear facts and sensible objections to an epidemic that is all of our problem. Be prepared to read some sentences over again to get a clear vision of the information being given. It is all worth it. The consistency of delivering impactful statements make the shortness of the book inconsequential.

⭐I enjoyed the multiple authors’ contributions and the dialogue reading such a work impresses upon you. Much of the language was vague language, but overall quite good.

⭐I have yet to read the contents of the book but the quality condition of the book’s receipt was superb!

⭐Great Book.

⭐In this short book, Loury engages in a provocative study of the link between race and incarceration. Citing a number of shocking statistics, the author points out that the number of incarcerations has dramatically increased over the past thirty years or so. This spike in imprisonments seems to have little to do with actual crime rates, and more to do with a prevalence of sentencing members of poor, African American communities. While the racial disparity in imprisonment rates suggests obvious grievances on the part of the American judicial system, Loury argues that the problem has roots in what he calls a lack of “social responsibility”: the balance between an individual’s obligation to uphold the law, and society’s commitment to ensuring fair opportunities and reform for those imprisoned.I found Loury’s suggestions on reforming the injustices of the penal system to be very insightful, calling for a change in social consciousness and ethics in order to improve and defend the rights of those convicted of crimes. Loury points out that black men who are incarcerated experience a 10 percent drop in hourly wages after they are released from prison, and many are unable to retain voting rights long after they fulfill their sentences for even more minor offences. While they are incarcerated, their families and communities suffer, evidenced in part by studies that show urban communities with high incarceration rates in a given year experienced higher crime rates the following year.Loury’s piece is followed by three shorter pieces by Karlan, Wacquant, and Shelby–all renowned researchers and professors–who offer additional commentary and information specific to their fields. Their essays supplement Loury’s discussion in a productive and illuminating manner.This is an important book for anyone who cares remotely about the integrity and efficacy of the American judicial system.

⭐Lory’s book on Race, Incarceration, and American Values is studded with stunning statistics about the seemingly racial discrimination that the black and the brown races undergo compared with to white counterparts. The book highlights many anomalies and biaseness in the American judicial system and Lory calls for a change in the social and ethical consciouness of the Americans as a possible solution. The state of American prisons and the rising number of prison rates puts to shame those of worst dictatorships.Yet the book is a bit anachroniostic and American society of the new millennium has changed a lot from those of the previous eras. The election of am African-American to the highest post speaks volume of the resilience and ethical consciousness of the American society and the conditions depicted by Lory would further change during Obama’s presidency.The book is very useful and is a must read.Gautam MaitraAuthor of ‘Tracing the Eagle’s Orbit: Illuminating Insights into Major US Foreign Policies Since Independence.’

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