Session 4: History of Incarceration

Presenter: 
Dr. Harold Dean Trulear

Discussion Questions

  • Understanding the Historical Context: How does understanding the historical development of mass incarceration in the United States, as presented by Dr. Trulear, change or enhance your perspective on current criminal justice policies and their impact on communities, particularly marginalized ones?
  • Role of Faith Communities in Addressing Mass Incarceration: Based on Dr. Trulear’s insights, "What can be the role of faith communities in responding to the challenges posed by the history and ongoing reality of mass incarceration, especially in terms of support for affected families and advocacy for systemic change?"

Resources

  • Alexander, Michelle. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. Tenth anniversary edition. New York: New Press, 2020.
  • Allen, Theodore. The Invention of the White Race. Second edition. London: Verso, 2012.
  • Anderson, Carol. White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide. Reprint edition. 
  • Davis, Angela J., ed. Policing the Black Man: Arrest, Prosecution, and Imprisonment. First edition. New York: Pantheon Books, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, 2017.
  • Forman, James. Locking up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America. First paperback edition. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2018.
  • Gilliard, Dominique DuBois. Rethinking Incarceration: Advocating for Justice That Restores. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2018.
  • Hattery, Angela, and Earl Smith. Policing Black Bodies: How Black Lives Are Surveilled and How to Work for Change. Updated edition. Lanham: Rowman Littlefield, 2021.
  • Henning, Kristin N. The Rage of Innocence: How America Criminalizes Black Youth. First edition. New York: Pantheon Books, 2021.
  • Schiraldi, Vincent. Mass Supervision: Probation, Parole, and the Illusion of Safety and Freedom. New York: The New Press, 2023.
  • Stevenson, Bryan. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption. Spiegel&Grau trade paperback edition. New York: Spiegel & Grau, 2015.
  • 13th. Forward Movement/Kandoo Films, 2016.
  • Just Mercy. Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, 2020.
  • When They See Us. Netflix, Inc, 2019. 

Next Steps

  • Call to Action: Research a historical event related to mass incarceration. Write a brief essay on its impact on communities of color and share it on our course platform. Share in the forum if you feel lead. 
  • To prepare for session 5, reflect on the societal and systemic factors that contribute to the incarceration of women, particularly those from marginalized communities. Consider the roles of poverty, domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health issues. Share your thoughts in the forum.