The prison industrial complex affects all Black people.

Black people who have never encountered the police or been accused of a crime are still affected by the prison industrial complex. Many people think of prisons and jails as this black hole that is out of sight, out of mind. Quite the contrary, racism in the criminal justice system infects most if not all government and social systems in the country.

As a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion professional, I solve problems for companies. I solve issues when they have trouble finding, hiring, retaining, and creating an inclusive environment for diverse applicants. I specialize in racial diversity in respect to Black people. I often encounter seemingly well meaning CEOs or supervisors who state that they would love to hire more Black people, yet Black people have to pass a drug test and a background check. They have no idea how incredibly racist that is to say.

Criminal stereotypes are created by the governement and reinforced by the media. Criminal justice programs serve as the number one genre in scripted programming. True Crime unscripted shows or documentaries are also at the top. These programs often show violations of 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th amendment rights. They perpetuate negative stereotypes about Black people. They also show that once a person is accused or arrested, they are guilty.

The social unrest in 2020, racial profiling by “Karens”, racial discrimination in housing, education, or jobs all lead back to the criminal justice system. Black people represent a disproportionate percentage of jail and prison populations. As a criminal justice expert, I can tell you that the prison rates do not accurately depict crime. In fact, a persons race and socio-economic status is a greater indicator of the prison rates. That is, people of color who are at a socioeconomic disadvantage, are more likely to be incarcerated at higher rates and longer sentences.

Michelle Alexander discusses this in her book The New Jim Crow. She calls the criminal justice system a racial caste system that is the culmination of social control. Discrimination in housing, education, employment, and voting rights, which many Americans thought was wiped out by the civil rights laws of the 1960s, is now perfectly legal against anyone labeled a “felon” or if you are Black “drug user”.

I am an antiracist attorney applying legal concepts to achieve Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. Racial discrimination created the environment for injustices that companies were against in 2020. My research shows that racial discrimination is perpetuated by the current criminal justice system. I offer workshops and programs to dispel these myths and create a better more inclusive market for employees and consumers.

For antiracist, diversity, equity, or inclusion training schedule a 90 minute deep dive for your company. https://qonnectus.carrd.co