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The New Jim Crow Discussion Series at WIU

February 15, 2016

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MACOMB, IL -- Beginning Wednesday, Feb. 24, Western Illinois University will host a six-week series of discussions on Michelle Alexander's book, "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness."

The discussions will take place in the Leslie F. Malpass Library Mary Lou Kent Room (sixth floor) on Wednesdays from noon-12:50 p.m. (Feb. 24, March 2, 9, 23, 30 and April 6), with each date focusing on one of the six chapters.

"The New Jim Crow" was on the New York Times best sellers list for over two years and has been described as "invaluable," "extraordinary," "well-researched" and "profoundly necessary. Alexander argues that "we have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it" through the War on Drugs. She provides insight into the reality of the disproportionate number of men of color who are pursued and imprisoned as a result of this war.

According to Janice Welsch, English professor emeritus and co-coordinator of the series, "The New Jim Crow Discussion Series" aims to help deepen the understanding of this reality by both people of color and whites and to open a path to a change in a culture that disenfranchises and labels as "criminal" a significant number of black and brown men while insisting it is colorblind.

The complete schedule, and registration, can be found at the Center for Innovative Teaching and Research (CITR) website at wiu.edu/CITR. While registration is not required, it is encouraged due to limited seating. Copies of "The New Jim Crow" are available through the Malpass Library, New Copperfield's Booksellers and online.

Series schedule, and facilitators, include:
Feb. 24: Chapter 1. Facilitator: F. Erik Brooks, chair, African American studies.

March 2: Chapter 2. Facilitator: Barry McCrary, professor, School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration (LEJA)

March 9: Chapter 3. Facilitator: Gayle Carper, professor emerita, School of LEJA.

March 23: Chapter 4. Pamela Bowman, director of Human Resources, and Allen Henderson.

March 30: Chapter 5. Facilitators: Byron Oden-Shabazz and Dianne Fullenwilder-Bracey.

April 6: Chapter 6. Facilitators: Andrea Henderson, director of the Equal Opportunity and Access and Lorette Oden, chair, health sciences.

The series is sponsored by African American Studies, CITR, the Expanding Cultural Diversity Project, health sciences, the School of Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, Equal Opportunity and Access and the Office of Public Safety.

Contact CITR at (309) 298-2434 or CITR@wiu.edu, or Welsch at JR-Welsch@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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