First published 2010

352 pages

Nonfiction, Politics, Race, Informative

In the modern-day political realm, there is a level of understanding that the prison industrial complex is oppressive and exploitative. But that understanding is superficial, especially among liberal, white spaces. The social pressures to uphold the inclusive and progressive positions may not encourage a deeper understanding of the real-world applications. This book is a dip into a deeper understanding. It weaves through the history of the prison industrial complex and the origins of the prisons themselves. It addresses how racism and slavery have merely morphed to appear acceptable to our modern lens. But once you see the thinly veiled motivations behind that complex, you cannot go back. This novel is necessary for anyone who has an inkling of curiosity about how our American prison system is built on racism and systemic incarceration. But even more necessary for those who think they know what it's all about.