What do stereotypes of immigrant criminalization and mass incarceration communicate about race/gender/class?
42. “The Myth of Immigrant Criminality and the Paradox of Assimilation,” Rubén G. Rumbaut and Walter Ewing
Although some of you may not have access to the book, the information in that short reading is available from the American Immigration Council. In a post-9/11 climate of fear and ignorance, assumptions have flourished that immigration and criminality are associated. However, systematic evidence shows that crime is not caused or even aggravated by immigrants to the United States, regardless of their legal status. Crime rates in the nation have declined even at the same time that immigration rates have increased. Among all ethnic groups in the United States, immigrants have lower incarceration rates than those who are native-born. For all ethnic groups, incarceration rates are highest among high school dropouts, yet immigrants who are high school dropouts have lower incarceration rates than other high school dropouts. Although immigrants’ risk of incarceration increases the longer they stay in the country, even immigrants who reside in the United States for 16 plus years are far less likely to be incarcerated than their native-born counterparts.
A Washington Post article debunks claims of immigrant criminality. These charts visualize empirical evidence that the idea of immigrant criminality is a myth.
Xenophobia is dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries. If immigrants are not likely to be criminals, what has contributed to growing xenophobia in the United States in recent years?
Racist ideologies of criminalizing immigrants is connected to a history of criminalizing Black and Brown bodies in the United States. A recent op-ed by historian Henry Louis Gates Jr. provides historical context for the emergence of the disciplinary power of Jim Crow. Michelle Alexander's book, The New Jim Crow connects mass incarceration of Black men to a continued cultural and legal code of not granting full rights of citizenship to Black men, which was the subject matter of Ava DuVernay's film 13th (this was the video I asked for you to watch prior to "class").
This video briefly summarizes Alexander's book.
The video below provides a visualization of the problems of mass incarceration in the U.S.
Additionally, Dr. Joseph Richardson of the Department of African American Studies at the University of Maryland is doing important research on survivor communities impacted by gun violence.
Here or on the Scholar Discussion Board please post a comment or question that arose for you in reading/viewing this content as it relates to gender/race/class communication issues. Please note, this is not optional. All students are required to post a comment or a question for each post.
If you are able to, please comment here. Otherwise, please place your comment in the appropriate Scholar Discussion board thread (it is available in the Course Content Forum). The deadline is 11:59 pm Sunday, March 29. Early next week I will either share a written post or YouTube summary of my notes if any responses still leave out important info we would have covered in person.
I ask that you please read through your classmates' comments here and on the forums and maybe even reply to a comment or two (on either format, up to you!) in the interest of keeping it interactive.
I ask that you please read through your classmates' comments here and on the forums and maybe even reply to a comment or two (on either format, up to you!) in the interest of keeping it interactive.
What I found most impactful throughout this reading, blog post, and videos was the fact that the prison industrial complex targets African American males. Although mass incarceration of African Americans is something I have always been aware of, tone of the videos made the point that this is something that often does not get recognized or gets overlooked/ignored. It is shocking that, as the video points out, there are lots of alternatives to prison like rehab or probation but the U.S. goes straight to sending people (particularly African Americans) at a much higher rate than every other country. African Americans bodies are definitely targeted by the prison system and are mass incarcerated at a much higher rate than any other racial group in the U.S. There are structural systems in place that perpetually target African American males.
ReplyDeleteIn looking at the numbers presented, I was shocked. You hear negative talk about immigrants such as they are taking our jobs or stealing our tax payer money when they are imprisoned. Yet natives to America are much more likely to be incarcerated then immigrants
ReplyDeleteI have never been a fan of the American prison system because they focus less on rehabilitation and more on punishment. They do not give prisoners opportunities to change and sadly they are most likely to be incarcerated after release. It is an endless cycle. Since societal groups such as African Americans are target by prison systems and, in a way, form a legacy with children who grow up with an incarcerated parent and they are more lily to be imprisoned sometime in their life. This is also a subtle and hegemonic form a racism. Yet again, another endless cycle when there are so many other options rather than prison. I knew the prison system needs to be restructured so imprisoned individuals have a fighting chance after release, but the justice system also needs restructuring to where they are not targeting a social groups and allowing fair and equal treatment of incarcerated individuals (or even give alternate options to imprisonment to break the never ending cycle).
It's difficult to admit we are part of the problem. I think that's what the reading and video are saying big picture wise. After all, what do we think of when we think of America? Probably ideas like freedom, opportunity, and equality. To confront ideas, like the negative effects of assimilation and the prison system, that don't align with this image are uncomfortable. It is much easier to assign blame to a problem like crime. To assign blame to certain groups of individuals based off identity is quite convenient because then if one is outside of these oppressed groups their role is diminished. They probably won't feel the need to change. Before there is a change in the larger structures, like prisons, there needs to be a change of minds. An idea that sounds so simple, yet it is so difficult to do: admit the dominant views of society, the umbrella most of us probably grew up under is part of the problem, and thus we might be too.
ReplyDeleteI think what I found most interesting on this topic relates to the second video clip on Mass Incarceration. Prison is the response chosen when dealing with crime. Stripping individuals of liberty and depriving them of freedom seems like a harsh penalty for many crimes and felonies that should not warrant jail time. Yes breaking the law is wrong but, there are many alternative options available that are more productive, inexpensive, and beneficial in correcting criminal behavior. This is what creates a huge target for suppressed minorities and marginalized communities who are often painted in a bad light. As mentioned in the video, a few reasonable responses toward criminal behavior could be parole and probation, boot camps, restorative justice, mental health treatment, community service, fines and restitutions.
ReplyDeleteI agree that other resources should be used to rehabilitate first.
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ReplyDeleteAfter doing the chapter reading and watching the videos attached in this blog post, I was stunned to see how inaccurate the media as well as policymakers represent incarceration levels towards immigrants. Over the past few years, I have heard it repeated through the media negative opinions towards immigrants and how they should not be allowed into the United States because they will only increase crime rates. The readings for today show just how untrue that is. I was surprised to read that higher crime rates actually exist within the native born population and although data exists to prove this, there is such a negative atmosphere surrounding immigrants. In addition, the videos only reinforced what I already knew to be true. I have been able to truly observe how the American prison system specifically targets low level education black men which then further contributes to institutionalized racism within the US. Rather than testing alternatives, these people are put directly into prison, which has also become a very monetized system. Another thing that really stood out to me is that the US has extremely higher incarceration rates in comparison to other countries. These hegemonic systems need to be restructured to even begin to make a dent in solving this problem.
ReplyDeleteWhat I found to be really interesting is that the reading and the content within the blog focus on the United States specifically and compare mass incarceration in the United States to other countries. The statistic that the United States represents only a small portion of the world's population but 25% of the world's incarceration surprised me. It makes me wonder what other countries are doing that we are not. If we want to improve the problem we need to look into what is working for other countries. Why is the amount of incarceration so different in the United States than other countries? Does it have to do with things such as differing governmental structures and funding? Why do you think that there is such a drastic difference?
ReplyDeleteSomething that shocks me is that crime rates have been decreasing at the same time as immigration have been increases, and that citizens of the United States make up the majority of people in imprisonment, but there is still a stereotype that it is immigrants and minorities of the U.S. that cause the most crime. Growing up I have always heard that "allowing immigrants to come America is wrong, they take our jobs and cause the most crime." My assumptions were that is not true, but after becoming educated more and more everyday in college, it astonishes me that people still have that close-minded belief and view point. Hearing in the second video that black men that were born in the late 1970's and dropped out of high school are 70% more likely to end up in a state or federal prison because of the prison-boom at that time is crazy, considering that black people are being grouped as "all bad, criminals" because of their race. I just don't understand why we as a society still have this mindset, and why hasn't it changed?
ReplyDeleteThe statistics shown in the the second video particularly were a bit surprising to me. The United States incarcerates many more people in general (not just minorities) than other countries. I believe that the media plays a large part in painting the picture of immigrants committing the majority of crimes in our country. Immigrants are in fact not linked to higher crime rate than citizens that were born here. As mentioned in the video, the US is incarcerating social groups. It is shown that African American men with limited education are the most likely to be incarcerated, and prison is the way that the US has chosen to combat this issue. High levels of African American men being targeted means that many African American children could follow the same path as their parents, which would continue the trend that we are seeing now. This video demonstrates that America's definition of "equality" needs to be re-evaluated.
ReplyDeleteWhile "the gap between the number of blacks and whites in prison is shrinking" (Pew Research Center, 2019), John Pfaff, law professor at Fordham University and a hailed expert on trends in prison statistics said, "but the racial disparity remains so vast that it's pretty hard to celebrate. How do you exactly talk about 'less horrific?'" Given these ongoing trends, it seems that it maybe one reason why this issue is often widely overlooked and the issue of mass incarceration is continually perpetuated in society. In an article published by the Marshall Project (2017), Pfaff shared that “our inability to explain it (the gap) suggests how poorly we understand the mechanics behind incarceration in general.” This comment appears to give space to analyze and question of oppression the American prison system creates as it advantages and disadvantages racial and ethnic groups.
ReplyDeleteJudith Lichtenberg, professor at Georgetown University, shared in her article "America's prison system is inhumane. Here's why,' that "custody is the most expensive form of punishment. This money could be used instead to treat addiction, a significant cause of criminal activity, and to improve conditions for communities where crime is endemic" (2016). Resources to curve custody and increase other creative endeavors to incarceration may be far from abundant, but it should be explored as means to advantage all groups.
As for immigrants, it's fascinating to see the research behind their incarceration compared to natives, and then compare it to mediated content produced. It truly shows just how powerful the pixel is as it pertains to narrative-construction for racial and ethnic groups. Thankfully, the narrative is starting to shift for future generations. Define American, a not-for-profit media organization, was established to shift perceptions of immigrants in the US. The organization consults with major networks and streaming services to "break down stereotypes by helping networks create more complex and accurate portrayals of immigrants and immigration." (Eva Recinos, The Guardian, 2017). I have hope that continued partnerships will begin to adjust the narrative in alignment to reality as it pertains to the view of immigrants and crime.
Something that stuck with me from this post was the video from Bruce Western on Mass Incarceration. The US incarceration rate is higher than any other country in the world, and is five times greater than ever before. I believe that the US justice system is outdated and needs to be addressed immediately. The system targets groups of people, specifically uneducated black men. Not only does this have an effect on the individuals themselves, but the generations after them. Research shows that children with incarcerated parents perform poorly at school, have behavioral issues, and have a greater chance to end up in the system as well. The problem is that we have selected prison/jail time as the main solution to crime. There are several resources that are underutilized in the United States like counseling and treatment that can break the cycle of crime. Instead of trying to fix the problem, we are only prolonging the suffering of at risk groups.
ReplyDeleteI actually viewed the movie, 13th, for my Cultural Anthropology class last semester and was shocked by the statistics it provided. It shows how the law has been stacked against black people since the 13th amendment was passed and how laws progressed overtime to maintian that suppression. The three strikes act in the 90's and the outrageous penalties for drug use and possession were, at their root, racist acts written intentionally to arrest black people at large. One of the most shocking things I learned from that movie that also relates to the criminalization of immigrants is the proportion at which young, black and latino males were then and are still now portrayed in the news as criminals at significantly higher rates then are actually being arrested for such crimes. In the 90's, the media intentionally protrayed young black men as violent, criminal, and even coined the term "super-predator" and similar behavior is seen in the media today as immigrants are portrayed in the media as unreliable, untrustworthy, "aliens".
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing a brief synopsis of the video. I would love to watch it especially before this class is over to maybe use it in a personal blog post as it seems to be a very interesting and well-written movie. I had never heard of it before viewing the video we had to watch.
DeleteAlso when it comes to the three strike system, I have witnessed this happen personally to a very close family member. It is sad the way our justice system is set up especially towards races. The biggest concern is we know this is an issue and nothing is being done to try to fix the system.
Honestly, none of this surprised me. The society that we live in today is based on the racist structures of the past. There is a norm that is a straight white man. Anything that does not adhere to the norm is seen as the other. Many people are stuck in their own ways and can only see their way as right, so then, the other must be bad. Since we have entered a "modern more accepting" time, people can't just go around lynching, whipping or dragging a body in public anymore because that would be looked down upon. This type of "justice" had to be adapted in a more socially acceptable way under the cover that all criminals will be punished equally, no matter what race, gender or class. It's just a new way of criminalizing people who are the other and don't have power or voices to influence a change in the structurally racist system. Many more people are becoming aware to what has been going on for years and hopefully, that will spark a change in the conversation on immigrants and mass incarceration of people of color.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your posts here. I have no new textbook content to add that you all haven't already collectively addressed. However, the information about the prison system does bring up an important concern about examining the COVID-19 response from an intersectionality lens? Prison populations are some of the most vulnerable to spread of the illness. Already marginalized, minority communities may likely be the most impacted when this is all over.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the textbook chapter and viewing the clip, they both made points that stuck out to me. Growing up we always hear immigrants are doing bad things in America. The stereotypes are learned linking them to crime as you grow up and are older enough to understand these things. After reading about this topic I was very shocked of what I thought to be true all this time.
ReplyDeleteThen for me the next big shocker was the movie the 13th mentioned in the video. When you first learn the 13th Amendment until now the only thing you are ever taught is, the amendment abolished slavery. I feel you almost have to read the "fine print" in order to get the full amendment. Why are we not taught the part "unless individuals are criminals" in the school systems as we should be? This is a very important and crucial part of the amendment. These words should not be omitted from schooling in my opinion.
I do not agree with criminal actions, as yes they should face some type of disciplinary action for their wrongdoings . However, I did not know the move towards a prison system was created as a result of abolishing slavery.
One of the big take-aways I have had reading the New Jim Crow but also viewing 13th on Netflix is racism permeates so much of our system. Unfortunately, I saw this first hand last summer as I worked at the Department of Health and Human Services in their Regional Health Equality Councils. A major aspect of my position was to research the racial inequalities present in our health system. In my research I often came across data revealing how the disparities between whites and people of color were a lot large than most people realized. As a final take-away, I hope more people have become aware of how awful the privatized prison industrial complex is and actively help to shut it down.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the issue of the prison system targeting African American Males. However, I am not at all surprised. America has built itself on the premise of African American males and their downfall that fabricates race as a way to validate who we are as a nation. 1 in every 100 people are criminals, and 1 in every 15 of the criminals are African Americans. The prison system is so focused on temporarily getting people off the streets, and not keeping people off the streets. There are no opportunities within the prison system that helps teach these criminals right from wrong. Everything in the prison system is focused on punishment. According to the video Introducing the New Jim Crow, mass incarceration is a political choice. There are so many structural barriers not only for African Americans in the prison system, but for all humans in the prison system.
ReplyDeleteI found it really interesting to look at the stereotypes surrounding immigration and crime in a new light, especially as an avid fan of the show Orange is the New Black. In the last season, they focused a lot on immigration, and a lot of the stereotypes seen on the show are reflections of stereotypes in America. I also found it very interesting that we have such a large prison population compared to the world, and that despite the fact that most prisoners in America are citizens, we still have these stereotypes about immigration and crime
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