INEQUALITY, INCARCERATION AND IMMIGRATION. Literature & Language Essay

Inequality, Incarceration, and Immigration
Inequalities have been on the rise in the US, primarily due to incarcerations and wealth. Jails and prisons have emerged as a new form of control that tries to maintain a racial caste system. Initially, blacks who came to the country were enslaved and worked as servants. During the 1770s, the approach of bond labor changed to a racial caste system. The African’s status was degraded, and they were regarded as a lesser race, just like the Indians (Alexander, 2012). The perspective of white supremacy was a reason that supported slavery of blacks, even as whites were also developing a new nation grounded on the principles of justice, equality, and liberty for all.
Once the Civil Rights Act was passed, the focus of public debate changed from segregation to criminal activities. Most of the legislations were unfavorable to blacks and resulted in higher incarceration levels among them in comparison to whites. Many laws also supported severe punishments for blacks when compared to whites. The A...