15 James Forman, Jr. Quotes for You to Enjoy

James Forman, Jr.

American Lawyer

Black Good Justice People Prison School

Related authors: Asa Hutchinson Clarence Darrow James Carville Judy Sheindlin Kamala Harris Ralph Nader Robert Green Ingersoll William Jennings Bryan

A black man of my generation born in the late 1960s is more than twice as likely to go to prison in his lifetime then a black man of my father's generation. I was born after the Voting Rights Act, after the Civil Rights Act, after the Fair Housing Act. James Forman, Jr.

Man Rights Generation Voting Father Black Prison Late I Was Born Civil Born Civil Rights Civil Rights Act My Generation More Lifetime 1960s Fair Voting Rights Likely Housing Go His Than After Then Act Twice

In terms of addressing crime issues in the black community, the dominant political class has historically refused to endorse the full slate of reforms along lines of education, economic security, housing, etc, necessary to address the root causes. James Forman, Jr.

Education Class Political Crime Black Community Address Addressing Security Black Community Economic Economic Security Along Terms Housing Causes Issues Political Class Lines Historically Dominant Reforms Endorse Refused Etc Root Full Necessary Slate

Mass incarceration is the result of small, distinct steps, each of whose significance becomes more apparent over time, and only when considered in light of later events. James Forman, Jr.

Time Events Result Light Later Considered Distinct Significance More Only Small Steps Mass Over Becomes Incarceration Apparent Each Whose

There can be racism in a system even if a particular episode of injustice is not a manifestation of that racism. Every single thing in the criminal justice system is not a manifestation of racism, but many things are. James Forman, Jr.

Justice Injustice Racism Single Every Criminal Criminal Justice Criminal Justice System System Particular Single Thing Manifestation Episode Many Even Thing Things Every Single Thing

We rarely have good alternatives to offer to prison - that's our default. James Forman, Jr.

Good Prison Our Rarely Alternatives Offer Default

How come we never use prison, the failure of prison, as a reason not to give more prison? There's never a moment where we say, 'OK, well, prison hasn't worked, so we're not going to try that again.' James Forman, Jr.

Failure Try Prison Say OK Give More Never Come Well How Going Where Again Worked Use Reason Moment

You can get rid of the teacher certification requirements, and you're still not going to have a rush of incredibly high-quality people going into teaching as long as teachers are valued in the way they currently are. The way we value people is by how much we pay them. James Forman, Jr.

Teacher You People Value Long Pay Incredibly Way Valued Rush High-Quality How Still How Much Get Going Currently Them Much Requirements Teachers Teaching Rid

Prosecutors committed to reform need talented staff members who share that commitment, and our best legal talent should flock to their offices. James Forman, Jr.

Best Legal Commitment Our Members Share Prosecutors Talent Talented Reform Offices Committed Staff Should Who Flock Need

One consequence of racism and segregation is that many American whites know little or nothing about the daily lives of African Americans. Black America's least-understood communities are those poor, hyper-segregated places we once called ghettos. These neighborhoods are not far away, but they might as well be on the moon. James Forman, Jr.

Daily Racism Moon Black Nothing Once Those Neighborhoods About Segregation Know Well America American African African Americans Places Little Poor Might Far Far Away Communities Whites Many Away Lives Daily Lives Consequence

We need to hire more black police officers in this country because these are good jobs, and African Americans should have their fair share of good jobs. But we shouldn't do it because we think that's going to change policing. We have to push for police reform in other ways. James Forman, Jr.

Good Change Police Black Country Think Other Good Jobs Ways Jobs More Push Share Fair Fair Share Police Officers Policing Because Hire Reform Officers American Going African African Americans Should Need

While mass incarceration is a national crisis, it was built locally. James Forman, Jr.

National Locally Crisis Mass Built While Incarceration

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