1. Why does Michelle Alexander say the main reason people go to jail is wrong?
She says most people think jail is about stopping crime or drug use, but that’s not true. She explains the system was made to control Black people, especially after the civil rights movement. The War on Drugs started even before crack became a big problem, so it wasn’t really about drugs—it was political.
2. Why can’t drug crime rates explain the racial differences in jail?
Because people of all races use and sell drugs at similar rates, but Black people are arrested and jailed much more. That shows the system isn’t fair and is targeting Black communities more than others.
3. What does “the American penal system is a system of social control” mean?
It means jail in the U.S. isn’t just about crime—it’s about controlling certain groups of people. Even after someone leaves jail, they still lose rights like voting or getting a job. It’s a way to keep poor people, especially Black people, at the bottom of society.
Here’s part 2 of our discussion of Michelle Alexander:
Why do think Southern racist politicians chose to frame their defense of racial segregation through the language of “law and order”? What special advantages was this choice of words going to give them?
Do you think the Southern Strategy is still influencing American politics? Give an example supporting your answer.
Watch this video, if you need clarification on how to post your answer to this discussion forum:
NOTE: Once you’ve scheduled your post to be published on at midnight on Sunday, you can still go back and edit your post until then, if you want to rewrite and/or add to your post.
As a review, follow the following steps to submit your response:
Click on the “+” button in the black bar at the top of the screen
Type a title for the post (it should include your full name)
Type your response
On the right side, click on Categories: and check “Discussion 2.1”
Important: On the right side, at the top: click on the date next to Publish, and enter your post date, which is this coming Sunday, at 11:59pm.
Click Publish and you’re done.
What will happen next is your post will automatically be published by the OpenLab system on Sunday at midnight. The goal here is for all student posts to be published at the same deadline. After that point, you can begin reading each others’ posts, and you have to comment on at least one other student’s post.
Note: please make sure that you schedule your post to be published on Sunday, midnight, not before.
Michelle Alexander raises a number of important and interesting points. Let’s start a discussion centered on the following questions:
1. M. Alexander claims that the main explanation of why so many people are sent to jail in the U.S. today is deeply wrong. Explain her argument by referring to the various examples she mentions to backup her point. (see p. 1-2)
2. Why is it that racial disparities in the rates of incarceration “cannot be explained by rates of drug crimes”?
3. How do you understand the phrase: “the American penal system has emerged as a system of social control unparalleled in world history.”?
Before posting, watch this video, which will show you how to post your answer to this discussion board:
NOTE: Once you’ve scheduled your post to be published on at midnight on Sunday, you can still go back and edit your post until then, if you want to rewrite and/or add to your post.
As a review, follow the following steps to submit your response:
Click on the “+” button in the black bar at the top of the screen
Type a title for the post (it should include your full name)
Type your response
On the right side, click on Categories: and check “Discussion 2.1”
Important: On the right side, at the top: click on the date next to Publish, and enter your post date, which is this coming Sunday, at 11:59pm.
Click Publish and you’re done.
What will happen next is your post will automatically be published by the OpenLab system on Sunday at midnight. The goal here is for all student posts to be published at the same deadline. After that point, you can begin reading each others’ posts, and you have to comment on at least one other student’s post.
Note: please make sure that you schedule your post to be published on Sunday, midnight, not before.
Online students need structure, and a study calendar is a great way to create it. Check your syllabus before your course kicks off, and commit to due dates on your calendar. Then, designate study times for each class, and stick to them. Set aside a specific block of time every day, maybe after the kids’ bedtime, or before you go to work. Sticking to her plan will help you juggle work, family, and multiple online courses without falling behind. If you can’t set aside a whole block of time, then think about periods of the day when you can take at least 15 minutes for uninterrupted study time.
Our colleagues over at Arizona State University made a great video on time management. Take a look:
Another video on time management tips:
Look Ahead
I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to look ahead when taking online courses. Check your time management plan (you will be making one shortly!) for assignments that will be due, double-check for live events or in-person sessions for hybrid classes. Make plans to meet with your classmates online or to attend your instructor’s virtual office hours. Always know when an assignment is due, and don’t wait until the last minute to complete it.
Set aside at least one hour a day for each of your e-learning courses. Remember the videos you watched on the subway and the article you read while waiting for 20 minutes at the doctor’s office? That counts towards chipping away at that one hour a day!
Speak Up
If you struggle or fall behind, don’t stay silent. Remember your growth mindset; every problem is an opportunity to grow and improve. Think of it as a puzzle to solve. BMCC has instructors, counselors, tutors, and many other services here to help you get back on track. While your Instructors have deadlines for a reason and late work is not accepted, by speaking up, you will have an opportunity to refocus and improve your work moving forward. Extra credit assignments may be offered at the professor’s discretion. We help students with problems all of the time, that’s our job!
The worst thing you can do for yourself is to do ‘nothing.’
Welcome to POL 100! In this first discussion board of our course, let’s introduce ourselves to each other, by doing the following:
Create your introduction by entering text in the comments box below. When you finish writing your introduction, click the “POST COMMENT” button. In your introduction, tell us your name, what is your major (if you have chosen one), as well as a bit about yourself. Things you might consider sharing include: what are you interested in studying at BMCC, what are your plans after BMCC, interests that you have, etc.
After entering your own post, respond to at least two classmates by elaborating on something that they wrote that resonated and connected with you.
