Blogteronamy and Digital Latrinalia

(via black-culture)

“Alexander argues that prisons have become the latest form of economic and social disenfranchisement for young people of color, particularly black men. In it, she grapples with a central question: If crime rates have fluctuated over the years and are now at historical lows, then why have rates of incarcerated men of color skyrocketed over the past 30 years? The “war on drugs,” which focuses primarily on communities of color, is the answer, although multiple studies have proved that whites use and sell illegal drugs at rates equal to or higher than blacks. Despite this data, four of five black youths in some inner-city communities can expect to be incarcerated in their lifetimes.”

(from article ‘More Black Men in Prison Today Than Enslaved in 1850’)

TW: Tangent

… I kinda hate this statistic.  I don’t doubt that it’s accurate it’s just… it’s phrased in a way that’s misleading.  Of course there are more Black men in jail than in college because men in jail can be from ages 18-80, and men in college typically range from ages 18-25.  Maybe if it was phrased to say: “There are more college-aged Black men in jail than in college”?  But then, do the numbers still reflect that?

(via squeetothegee)

RELEVANT. Also depressing, full of teal deer.