1. Alexander argues that the mass incarceration of Black and Brown people in the United States is largely due to the War on Drugs and the policies that followed. She contends that the system disproportionately targets minorities, leading to high incarceration rates. Alexander points to examples such as the disparity in sentencing for crack cocaine versus powder cocaine, the rise of mandatory minimum sentences, and the expansion of the prison-industrial complex as evidence of systemic racism in the criminal justice system.

2. Racial disparities in the rates of incarceration cannot be solely explained by rates of drug crimes because studies have shown that drug use and distribution rates are relatively consistent across different racial groups. Despite similar rates of drug offenses, people of color are disproportionately targeted, arrested, and incarcerated compared to their white counterparts. This discrepancy suggests that the criminal justice system’s enforcement of drug laws is not race-neutral, contributing to the disproportionate incarceration of minority communities. Michelle Alexander argues that systemic racial bias and discriminatory practices within the justice system play a significant role in perpetuating these disparities, highlighting the need to address broader issues of institutional racism and social inequality.

3. The phrase “the American penal system has emerged as a system of social control unparalleled in world history” suggests that the scale and impact of the U.S. criminal justice system in regulating and controlling certain segments of society are unprecedented when compared to other countries and historical contexts. This statement implies that the American penal system is exceptionally extensive, punitive, and influential in shaping social dynamics, particularly in terms of its reach, methods of enforcement, and the disparate impact it has on marginalized communities.