The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussion of racism and substance use.

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book. 

1. What were your initial impressions of Michelle Alexander’s argument that mass incarceration functions as a modern system of racist social control? Did you find her claims convincing, surprising, or controversial?

2. How did the structure of the book—balancing historical analysis, legal arguments, and personal accounts—impact your understanding of the issue? Did the way Alexander presented her case make the book more compelling or difficult to engage with?

3. Many readers consider The New Jim Crow to be a groundbreaking work in discussions about race and the criminal justice system. How does it compare to other books you’ve read on similar topics, such as Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson or Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences. 

1. Did The New Jim Crow change the way you think about the criminal justice system? If so, what ideas or arguments had the biggest impact on your perspective, and why?

2.