The Political Shift from Civil Rights to Mass Incarceration

As early as the 1970s, there was a shift in the political narrative between the Civil Rights era and the era of mass incarceration. That narrative shifted through both Republican and Democratic administrations.

By Darius Spearman (africanelements)

About the author: Darius Spearman is a professor of Black Studies at San Diego College, where he has been pursuing his love of teaching since 2007. He is the author of several books, including Between The Color Lines: A History of African Americans on the California Frontier Through 1890. You can visit Darius online at africanelements.org.

Introduction

In the late 1970s, a significant shift occurred in the United States’ political narrative, transitioning from the Civil Rights era to an era of mass incarceration. This period marked a profound change in how the nation addressed social issues, particularly those affecting communities of color.

The Shift in Political Landscape

The Supreme Court’s 1978 decision in the case of Regents of the University of California v. Bakke marked a turning point. This case challenged affirmative action and introduced the concept of “colorblindness” in policy-making. While not entirely dismissing affirmative action, the ruling left it vulnerable to further legal challenges and set the stage for a broader shift in societal attitudes.

The Rise of the “Colorblind” Society

Throughout the 1980s, under Ronald Reagan’s administration, the idea of a “colorblind” society gained mass appeal. This narrative shift was characterized by a portrayal of the poor, especially in communities of color, as lazy and dependent on the system. Terms like “welfare queen,” “crack mother,” and “superpredator” racialized poverty and swayed public opinion against welfare programs, leading to more punitive approaches that effectively criminalized poverty.

The Emergence of the Superpredator Myth

In the early 1990s, the term “superpredator” was coined, hyper-criminalizing poor, urban youth of color. This label justified harsh policies aimed at deterring and incapacitating these youths at an early age. The superpredator myth contributed significantly to developing the prison industrial complex as a response to social issues.

The Growth of the Prison Industrial Complex

The prison population in the U.S. skyrocketed from about 300,000 in 1980 to over 2 million by 2000. The prison industrial complex emerged, described as a set of bureaucratic, economic, and political interests promoting prison spending. This complex is rooted in governance through crime, where society becomes obsessed with surveillance, security, and punitive penal practices.

The Impact of Mass Incarceration

Mass incarceration involves more than just imprisoning large numbers of people. It subjects poor communities and communities of color to a web of corporate and political interests that redefine them, drain resources, and exacerbate problems like crime, abuse, and addiction. This shift has led to over-policing and mass incarceration in communities of color, potentially increasing crime rates.

The Neoconservative Agenda and Its Continuation

The neoconservative agenda, which began under Reagan, continued through subsequent administrations, including Bill Clinton’s. Clinton’s welfare reform act, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, reframed poverty as a character defect rather than an economic state. This approach was further perpetuated during Barack Obama’s presidency despite expectations of a shift in narrative.

Conclusion

The transition from the Civil Rights era to mass incarceration reflects a deep-seated shift in the U.S. political and social narrative. It raises critical questions about the possibility of changing this narrative and how poor communities and communities of color can reclaim their stories. The impact of this shift continues to resonate, challenging us to reconsider our approaches to social justice and equality.

SOURCES:

1. Michelle Alexander, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness,
p. 59.
2. Barbara Ehrenreich, The Atlantic, “It Is Expensive to Be Poor,” January 13, 2014.
Accessed May 22, 2016 from http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/01/
it-is-expensive-to-be-poor/282979/.
3. Manny Marable, Racializing Justice, Disenfranchising Lives: The Racism, Criminal
Justice, and Law Reader, p. 29.
4. Democracy Now! “Cornel West and Carl Dix on Race and Politics in the Age of Obama,”
July 22, 2009. Retrieved May 22, 2016 from http://www.democracynow.org/2009/7/22/
cornel_west_and_carl_dix_on.