On Tuesday, October 18, 2016, my friend Kacy and I attended a panel discussion at the Union Theological Seminary hosted by Michelle Alexander, author of "The New Jim Crow". My main incentive to go was of course that Michelle Alexander was hosting it. I had recently finished reading her book and was excited to see her in person. My passion for criminal justice reform was secondary in this case.
Michelle spoke so eloquently about the issue of mass incarceration, about the systemic racial injustice to people of color. She was reportedly told that she can choose any topic for this panel discussion. Her book, "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" included in its Introduction that "relatively little is said here about the unique experience of women, Latinos and immigrants in the criminal justice system... I hope other scholars and advocates will pick up where the book leaves off and develop the critique more fully or apply the themes sketched here to other groups and other contexts." And rightfully so, she picked the impact of mass incarceration on women.
The panel included four amazing female advocates:
Michelle spoke so eloquently about the issue of mass incarceration, about the systemic racial injustice to people of color. She was reportedly told that she can choose any topic for this panel discussion. Her book, "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" included in its Introduction that "relatively little is said here about the unique experience of women, Latinos and immigrants in the criminal justice system... I hope other scholars and advocates will pick up where the book leaves off and develop the critique more fully or apply the themes sketched here to other groups and other contexts." And rightfully so, she picked the impact of mass incarceration on women.
The panel included four amazing female advocates:
- Susan Burton, Executive Director, A New Way of Life and Co-Founder of All of Us or None
- Gina Clayton, Executive Director, Essie Justice Group
- Andrea James, Founder Families for Justice as Healing and author of Upper Bunkies Unite And Other Thoughts on the Politics of Mass Incarceration
- Teresa Younger, President and CEO, Ms. Foundation for Women
Michelle began the discussion with Gina, whose loved one is incarcerated. He is reportedly serving his ninth of twenty years in prison. She spoke about working as a public defender and resolving to further examine and expose the harmful impact of mass incarceration on women who have loved ones living behind bars. She founded the Essie Justice Group in 2014 to support and empower women with incarcerated loved ones.
Susan Burton* was my favorite panelist. Susan was in and out of prison for twenty years. A correction officer had once told her, while she was boarding the bus back to her home in Los Angeles after her sixth stint behind bars, “We’ll see you back here soon,” he chided. “We’ll have a bed waiting for you.” Susan was determined to never return again. She checked herself into a residential drug treatment program, got herself clean, found a job and eventually a house. Her next step was to return to the same bus station she was dropped off from prison. She approached women just like her, returning from prison. Susan offered them a house to live and guidance on getting their life back on track. Her venture is called "A New Way of Life."
*Susan was featured in the Star Bucks series, 'UpStanders: Breaking the Prison Pipeline.'
Andrea James served a 24-month federal prison sentence, is a former criminal defense attorney and the Founder of Families for Justice As Healing." While incarcerated she became deeply concerned about the excessive prison sentences that women were serving, an average being ten years, while their families and children were left to survive on their own. She had dedicated her life to advocate for women in prison and to end the war on drugs.
Teresa Younger served as the first female and first African American Executive Director of American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Connecticut. She was most recently the Executive Director of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW), where she has spearheaded successful campaigns that have resulted in state legislation to raise the minimum wage and provide paid sick leave in Connecticut. Today she is the President and CEO of Ms. Foundation for Women whose focus is on advocating for equal pay for equal work, access to affordable, high-quality reproductive health care, addressing child care costs and parental leave, or ending gender-based violence.
At the end of the panel discussion, individuals from the audience were invited to speak, namely those impacted by mass incarceration. I distinctly remember two women who spoke; one of them was a white lady with a history of criminal justice involvement. She reported that she at first did not know how to speak out on racial injustice, with the fear that her friends of color will say, "Oh what do you know!" After being incarcerated she has been advocating for racial justice and prison reform. The other female was Tiffany McFadden who volunteers her time to assist women in navigating the Family Court Process. She provides them resources and referrals. She took great pride in being a volunteer assisting these individuals. Kacy and I, being paid social workers to also assist our clients, decided to speak with her after the discussion ended to exchange contact information. Who knows, I could refer my clients to her and in turn share any helpful resources I have. I left her with my business card. She emailed me the next day.
Susan Burton* was my favorite panelist. Susan was in and out of prison for twenty years. A correction officer had once told her, while she was boarding the bus back to her home in Los Angeles after her sixth stint behind bars, “We’ll see you back here soon,” he chided. “We’ll have a bed waiting for you.” Susan was determined to never return again. She checked herself into a residential drug treatment program, got herself clean, found a job and eventually a house. Her next step was to return to the same bus station she was dropped off from prison. She approached women just like her, returning from prison. Susan offered them a house to live and guidance on getting their life back on track. Her venture is called "A New Way of Life."
*Susan was featured in the Star Bucks series, 'UpStanders: Breaking the Prison Pipeline.'
Andrea James served a 24-month federal prison sentence, is a former criminal defense attorney and the Founder of Families for Justice As Healing." While incarcerated she became deeply concerned about the excessive prison sentences that women were serving, an average being ten years, while their families and children were left to survive on their own. She had dedicated her life to advocate for women in prison and to end the war on drugs.
Teresa Younger served as the first female and first African American Executive Director of American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Connecticut. She was most recently the Executive Director of the Connecticut General Assembly’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Women (PCSW), where she has spearheaded successful campaigns that have resulted in state legislation to raise the minimum wage and provide paid sick leave in Connecticut. Today she is the President and CEO of Ms. Foundation for Women whose focus is on advocating for equal pay for equal work, access to affordable, high-quality reproductive health care, addressing child care costs and parental leave, or ending gender-based violence.
At the end of the panel discussion, individuals from the audience were invited to speak, namely those impacted by mass incarceration. I distinctly remember two women who spoke; one of them was a white lady with a history of criminal justice involvement. She reported that she at first did not know how to speak out on racial injustice, with the fear that her friends of color will say, "Oh what do you know!" After being incarcerated she has been advocating for racial justice and prison reform. The other female was Tiffany McFadden who volunteers her time to assist women in navigating the Family Court Process. She provides them resources and referrals. She took great pride in being a volunteer assisting these individuals. Kacy and I, being paid social workers to also assist our clients, decided to speak with her after the discussion ended to exchange contact information. Who knows, I could refer my clients to her and in turn share any helpful resources I have. I left her with my business card. She emailed me the next day.
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