Mass incarceration is an issue that is very prominent yet still overlooked in our nation. The United States holds 5 percent of the world’s population yet it houses 22 percent of the world’s prisoners. The demographics of most correctional facilities in the U.S. are over-represented by people of color, specifically African- Americans and Latinos. People of color are more than twice as likely to be arrested, incarcerated, and given longer sentences than their Caucasian counterparts. My objective and purpose for writing “Changing Minds” is to educate and bring awareness to the general public about mass incarceration and its negative effects on people of color. I hope by bringing more awareness to this issue, it will cause real reform to the prison system and also our judicial and criminal justice systems. It all starts with informing others of what needs to be changed in our society and that is what I am trying to do with this magazine. Enjoy!
In this magazine, you will find different types of work educating you on the topic of equal opportunities. Many standpoints are taken about this issue, as it is broad and could be interpreted in countless ways. In my work the main focus is the way opportunities, or lack thereof, affect students starting from a very young age. This issue is especially prevalent. I have chosen several different mediums to represent the issue, with the hope that one will make an impact. As you read and learn about equal opportunities, you will find the common theme of after school programs. In all my research and interpretation I have found that after school programs and extracurriculars are the most effective solutions to keeping kids in school, and providing them with the tools that will help them succeed. Explore the Equal opportunities page to learn all about it, and find out what you can do to make a difference.
Mass incarceration and equal opportunity are social issues that may seem like they have no relation but are directly linked to one another. Between 3 PM and 6 PM, during the school week, is considered the most “at risk” time for students. This is the time after kids get out of school when their parents are still at work. With lack of supervision they are much more likely to become involved in crime. In lower socioeconomic neighborhoods, it is less likely that students are enrolled in afterschool programs, or other activities that keep them busy. These neighborhoods are typically encompassed with a higher population of people of color. Minorities are more than twice as likely to be arrested than their white counterparts. Because these students don’t have access to after school programs or other engaging activities, the disadvantage of their skin color puts them at more risk for arrest and incarceration starting at a younger age. The first step to solving these dilemmas is to start by focusing on the younger generations. They are the future and are most susceptible to change. By looking at these issues side by side, solutions that benefit both become apparent.