Why Are So Many Black Men in Prison? (Paperback)

by Demico Boothe (Author)
Key Phrases: The Court, The Witness, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Good Book!" --Michael Baisden, The Michael Baisden Show

"About time somebody wrote a book like this!" --Dick Gregory, Legendary comedian, activist, and author

"Poignant" --The Houston Press

"In his new book, Boothe eloquently addresses why so many black men are being incarcerated in prisons across America. He explains that U.S. politicians and the American government allow the prison industrial complex to use prisoners as cheap labor. The companies within this complex system also benefit because the federal government pays them for a variety of services. These companies therefore profit from the mass incarceration of black men. Speaking from personal experience he describes some unfortunate circumstances. He says black men are often targeted and perceived as criminals because of stereotypes on TV, and in the movies and newspapers. This hurts self-perceptions and what society thinks about black men. Boothe also talks about his own experience as a drug dealer and life behind bars. He reveals how poverty, an inferior education and limited job opportunities lead to a life of crime. Boothe admits he made bad choices along the way. But, during his 12 year jail sentence he raised his mind and changed his thinking by reading and studying a variety of books. It is this transformed thinking that freed Boothe from his emotional and spiritual jail cell." -- -- ----Tri-State Defender

"I recommend that all African-Americans read this book...I learned so much that I had to mark up my own personal copy with highlights of passages that I found profound." --Dr. Ed Yancey, Chaplain for the Shelby County Sheriff's Office, Professor of African and African-American Studies, University of Memphis, Strayer University

"I found this book to be thoughtful and enlightening, also a wonderful collection of factual information about the American criminal justice and prison systems. As a prison clergyman, I find this book to be a significant addition to my library. I can truly say that there is no inmate who would not benefit by reading Mr. Boothe's books and applying the principles." --Imam Addul-Rahman Sabir, Director, AIMC (Assisting Incarcerated Muslims Corp.)

"In his new book, Boothe eloquently addresses why so many black men are being incarcerated in prisons across America. He explains that U.S. politicians and the American government allow the prison industrial complex to use prisoners as cheap labor. The companies within this complex system also benefit because the federal government pays them for a variety of services. These companies therefore profit from the mass incarceration of black men. Speaking from personal experience he describes some unfortunate circumstances. He says black men are often targeted and perceived as criminals because of stereotypes on TV, and in the movies and newspapers. This hurts self-perceptions and what society thinks about black men. Boothe also talks about his own experience as a drug dealer and life behind bars. He reveals how poverty, an inferior education and limited job opportunities lead to a life of crime. Boothe admits he made bad choices along the way. But, during his 12 year jail sentence he raised his mind and changed his thinking by reading and studying a variety of books. It is this transformed thinking that freed Boothe from his emotional and spiritual jail cell." --Tri-State Defender

"Poignant" --The Houston Press

Product Description
African-American males are being imprisoned at an alarming and unprecedented rate. Out of the more than 11 million black adult males in the U.S. population, nearly 1.5 million are in prisons and jails with another 3.5 million more on probation or parole or who have previously been on probation or parole. Black males make up the majority of the total prison population, and due to either present or past incarceration is the most socially disenfranchised group of American citizens in the country today. This book, which was penned by Boothe while he was still incarcerated, details the author's personal story of a negligent upbringing in an impoverished community, his subsequent engagement in criminal activity (drug dealing), his incarceration, and his release from prison and experiencing of the crippling social disenfranchisement that comes with being an ex-felon. The author then relates his personal experiences and realizations to the seminal problems within the African-American community, federal government, and criminal justice system that cause his own experiences to be the same experiences of millions of other young black men. This book focuses on the totality of how and why the U.S. prison system became the largest prison system in the world, and is filled with relevant statistical and historical references and controversial facts and quotes from notable persons and sources.

Why Are So Many Black Men in Prison? could not be timelier. The United States now has more people in prison than any other country in the world, and it is directly due to the disproportionate number of young African-American males that are incarcerated. Nearly 1.5 million Black families have a relative currently in prison or jail, and over 3 million Black households have a close relative presently or previously on parole or probation. Millions of Black males in the U.S. have had their voting rights terminated permanently due to criminal records. This is indeed a crisis. Many notable celebrities, activists, politicians, intellectuals, and national news programs have made extensive mention of this crisis and the devastation that it is causing within the African-American community and have wittingly and unwittingly made it a hot topic as of recent. Bill O'Reilly of "The O'Reilly Factor"; Former President Bill Clinton; Bill Cosby; President Barack Obama; author, political/social commentator Michael Eric Dyson; author, political/social commentator and news show host Tavis Smiley; award winning actor, film producer/director Charles S. Dutton; author, educator, scholar, and literary critic Henry Louis Gates Jr.; bestselling author Sister Souljah; bestselling author Nathan McCall; The Congressional Black Caucus; Rev. Jesse Jackson; hip-hop and apparel mogul Russell Simmons; Memphis Mayor W.W. Herenton; and Newark, New Jersey Mayor Corey Booker are some who have weighed in heavily on the subject of Black male criminalization and disenfranchisement.

The subject is also discussed in the classrooms of many Historically Black Colleges. Still, there are many elements involved that go unseen by those who have never actually been inside of a prison and had the opportunity to be privy to insights and information that can only be gathered from that direct experience. This book encapsulates that direct experience and relays it so that a complete understanding of the crisis is acquired during reading.This volume is the most comprehensive authority in print on the subject of Black male criminalization and disenfranchisement.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Xlibris Corporation; 1st edition (September 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1425713971
• ISBN-13: 978-1425713973
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,128,219 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #86 in

  Books > Nonfiction > Crime & Criminals > War on Drugs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars (RAW Rating: 4.5) - What is happening to black men?, August 3, 2007

By	The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Are So Many Black Men in Prison? A Comprehensive Account of How and Why the Prison Industry Has Become a Predatory Entity in the Lives of African-American Men (Paperback)

Demico Boothe has explored the reasons so many black men are indeed in prison in, WHY ARE SO MANY BLACK MEN IN PRISON? He begins with his own story of a shaky upbringing and his subsequent dabbling in drug dealing. He was caught with a few grams of crack cocaine but because it was the dreaded crack, he was given 10 years in prison. When he left prison after serving his time, he was actually railroaded back into prison by a crooked justice system. He delves deeply into our justice system and the motives behind all the new prisons that are being built. He gives succinct and reasonable views of exactly what is happening now in the United States and how the past has played a role in the present. He uses persuasive statistics regarding the number of black men in prison as compared to the number of white men who are incarcerated.

Demico Boothe has done an excellent job of researching his subject and it is a plus, if unfortunate for him, that he has actually experienced first hand what he's talking about. I knew I was hearing the real story rather than just statistics from an intellectual who had no real idea of what the prison system is really like. I would have liked for Boothe to search a little deeper into the Haiti, Aristide and USA question, maybe even reading Randall Robinson's take on the situation, and then he might see it a bit differently. Otherwise, it is a good book and one every one in America should read. We indeed, have a crisis going on.

Reviewed by Alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TRULY A MUST READ....................., June 11, 2008

By	Herb "civil rights advocate" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Are So Many Black Men in Prison? A Comprehensive Account of How and Why the Prison Industry Has Become a Predatory Entity in the Lives of African-American Men (Paperback)

This book should be required reading for all Americans, but especially African-Americans. Lots of knowledge and info about the subject that you won't get in the media. EVERY black person, male or female, who is in prison should read this, every drug dealer, every single mother, every gangbanger, every black congressperson and lawmaker, every black businessman, and every so-called scholar that wants to speak on the subject of criminality and imprisonment and lawmaking. This is the truth coming straight from the horse's mouth.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read, May 24, 2007

By	R. Rigolino (Highland, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Why Are So Many Black Men in Prison? A Comprehensive Account of How and Why the Prison Industry Has Become a Predatory Entity in the Lives of African-American Men (Paperback)

Mr. Demico's book is a must-read for anyone concerned about young African American men. Although I did not agree with every conclusion he reached, Demico's main premises are convincing. As a white woman who teaches mainly students of color, I am always impressed, and often in awe, of those young men who reach college with so much going against them. Demico's books lays bare not only the horrible inequalities of our society, but also the racist attitudes of our political system - - Democrats, Republicans, and most everyone in between.