Ruth Gilmore talks about how capitalism, race, and the criminal justice system work together, affecting people and society. She explains that capitalism often benefits white people while hurting Black, Indigenous, and other people of color. Whiteness isn’t just about being white—it’s about having power and money. This system looks down on BIPOC lives to keep its economic advantages.
Gilmore criticizes the prison system, saying it unfairly labels people as “criminals” and makes social inequalities worse. Many people in the justice system come from poor communities and often get arrested for small issues because of unfair treatment. Being labeled a “criminal” makes it hard for them to fit back into society and improve their lives. The focus on punishment instead of helping people leads to repeat offenses, keeping them stuck in cycles of poverty and exclusion.
She believes in a movement for freedom that stands against systems that exploit people, like racial capitalism and for-profit prisons. This movement calls for changing how society works and pushing for better treatment of everyone.
Hello Marissa, your response to this discussion highlights the deep connections between capitalism, race, and the criminal justice system and how they all contribute to the maintenance of structural injustices. Ruth Gilmore’s criticism of the criminal justice system is how it penalizes underprivileged groups rather than tackling underlying issues like systematic racism and poverty. I agree that designating people as “criminals” promotes poverty and marginalization cycles, which is beneficial to racial capitalism’s institutions. To build a society that prioritizes fairness and human dignity over exploitation and profit, it is imperative to support a movement for freedom and structural change.