A Compelling Investigation of the Intersection of Race and Crime from Reconstruction to WW2
5 stars
This book is a compelling/depressing tour through a formative era of US history, focusing on the Black experience in the Reconstruction to WW2 period and how inextricably linked that experience is to the definition and measurement of crime. Muhammad puts together a devastating analysis of both the incredibly unjust narrative and system that developed around Black criminality, but also how that shaped geographies and politics in ways that reinforced and accentuated those false narratives. For me personally the sections on Philadelphia were most meaningful, since my Jewish immigrant ancestors arrived precisely in this timeframe, and the interactions between these communities are examined in detail. I would've liked some more quantitative analysis to go with the excellent historical analysis, but it's a minor gripe. Highly recommend
This book is a compelling/depressing tour through a formative era of US history, focusing on the Black experience in the Reconstruction to WW2 period and how inextricably linked that experience is to the definition and measurement of crime. Muhammad puts together a devastating analysis of both the incredibly unjust narrative and system that developed around Black criminality, but also how that shaped geographies and politics in ways that reinforced and accentuated those false narratives. For me personally the sections on Philadelphia were most meaningful, since my Jewish immigrant ancestors arrived precisely in this timeframe, and the interactions between these communities are examined in detail. I would've liked some more quantitative analysis to go with the excellent historical analysis, but it's a minor gripe. Highly recommend