“Are we willing to relegate ever larger numbers of people from racially oppressed communities to an isolated existence marked by authoritarian regimes, violence, disease, and technologies of seclusion that produce severe mental instability?” (10)
Angela Y. Davis asks herself this question in the Introduction of her book Are Prisons Obsolete? She points to an important question that affects many members of our community and now more than ever rings true to our situation. Black lives, immigrant lives, Muslim lives, all minority and demonized groups of our communities are being secluded, violated and punished by being isolated from the larger community by authoritarian regimes.
“The prison … functions ideologically as an abstract site into which undesirables are deposited, relieving us of the responsibility of thinking about the real issues afflicting those communities from which prisoners are drawn in such disproportionate numbers … It relieves us of the responsibility of seriously engaging with the problems of our society, especially those produced by racism and, increasingly, global capitalism.” (16)
This reminded me of last week’s reading on how counterterrorism is advertised to the public as a practice that “prevents” or “combats” violent extremism to promote the well-being and security of U.S. citizens, however, this practice hides a darker truth of exploitation, manipulation, and mistreatment. In connection with Davis writing, the ideology behind the correctional system is one of prevention and rehabilitation, however, punishment, instability, and mistreatment are the real components of this equation.
Overall, I found this to be a great and inspiring reading that sheds light on the important and current issue of prison abolition.
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