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When it comes to prison inmates, many Americans share views similar to those that German citizens had during the Nazi regime. Fair-minded Germans were deceived into believing that anyone who'd been defined to be an enemy of the state deserved whatever punishment they were receiving, and that anyone taken away by police must have done something to deserve it. Therefore, the atrocities happening behind closed doors were not noticed by anyone until it was too late.
The United States incarcerates more of its citizens than any country in the world. African Americans are several times more likely to be searched, arrested and incarcerated than whites. While these individuals are in prison, the prison industrial complex utilizes cheap and slave labor to make profits for major corporations trying to compete against lower wages in China and India. When these individuals are released from prison, their rights to work, vote, find housing or get an education are almost entirely stripped away from them. So, the system is not designed to stop crime. It is actually structured to create more criminals, because there are now billions of dollars being made by using black and brown people as sub-human commodities.
A study featured by The Economist Magazine highlights a clear and direct link between the advent of mass incarceration and the numbers of black women who never get married. Therefore, the prison industrial complex is serving to destroy the stability of the black family in America. It is for that reason that Sheneese Starr, one of the leaders of the 'In Your Face' movement, is today's Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight on AOL Black Voices:
What is the name of your organization?
The name of our movement is 'In Your Face.'
How did your group start and what is its primary mission?
'In Your Face' began when I became aware of the fact that I had loved ones incarcerated. I personally had premature opinions and misconceptions when it came to people who were incarcerated, along with those who supported them. It wasn't until it hit close to home that I took an interest in the stories of those who were incarcerated and that led me to educate myself on the prison industry as a whole. Our primary mission is simply to raise awareness and truly educate regarding the prison industrual complex as a business. We want to encourage people to know what they don't know and to confirm what they think they know regarding this epidemic. Our mission is to assist individuals in raising their level of consciousness. We conduct monthly Awareness Rallies in New York City which are open to anyone who is interested in self-education and formulating an informed opinion.
Tell us about your march to Washington. How is it going to go down, and why are you doing it?
We are truly excited about our 'Walk to Washington'! Our 'Walk to Washington' is one of three walks which will take place this year. The idea just came to me one day; I'm not able to really pinpoint what inspired it or what ignited the thought. I had the thought, I voiced it, and others committed. As we continued to give the thought life, it just made sense. Our focus and mission is to create awareness, and people walking from New York City to Washington, D.C. would indeed cause someone to take notice. Whether it will create negative or positive responses, awareness will be the result. History will show us that progress has taken place in many areas in which walks and marches have been used as tools of change. We will leave New York City on March 13th and are scheduled to arrive in Washington, D.C. on March 19th. We are scheduled to walk 39 miles a day and will conclude our walk with an achievement dinner/rally in D.C. Those who aren't able or willing to walk will meet us in D.C. As we walk from state to state, we will do what 'In Your Face' was designed to do: bring awareness and true education to different communities. We are walking mainly to inspire people to look, think, and take continued unified action with regard to reforming the prison industrial complex. We are also walking to let those who are currently incarcerated and have given up hope know that we haven't forgotten about them. There are individuals who have enough courage to speak up for what is just.
How can people join your organization and help if they want to provide support?
'In Your Face' isn't an official organization, it's more of a movement, so there isn't anything to technically "join." The world is full of "joiners" and not enough "doers." If someone would like to participate or support the cause, they can view and connect with us through our website at www.inyourface.us.
Is there anything else you'd like to share with our AOL Black Voices audience?
Thank you. Thank you for giving us another platform which has assisted us in fulfilling our mission. Thank you to those who have taken a moment to read this article. Whether or not you have a loved one who has been or is currently incarcerated, understand how this epidemic affects every single one of us. Know and believe that slavery was never abolished, it was merely adjusted. 'In Your Face' does not promote a world without prisons for (we feel) the world we live in is not at that level yet. We are not abolitionists, we are reformers. The CURRENT prison system does not work for what it would like us to believe it was created for: to protect society, to punish, and to rehabilitate. If the system was truly concerned with protecting society, rehabilitation and transformation would be taking place within the Department of Corrections (the key word being "corrections"). If protecting society was truly a priority, they wouldn't release individuals more likely to return to prison vs. those more likely NOT to return. There IS a bigger picture, a bigger agenda here and the longer we look to the media as our only source of education, no true change nor progress will take place.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the bookBlack American Money To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. To suggest a subject for a Dr. Boyce Watkins Spotlight, please click here. To follow Dr. Boyce on Facebook, please click here. 
Comments: (11)
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By: Mary Alice on 2/15/2011 12:45PM
I doubt this comment will be posted, but I will try.
Black women in particular need to remember that many of those who are in prison are there because they committed violent crimes against black women and children -- you know, rape, incest, pimping, domestic violence, murder, robbery, break-ins, drive-by shootings, etc.
There is no community imposed 'rule of law' except 'don't snitch.' This puts women and children in extreme danger.
Sheneese Starr may not be a crime victim, yet. She does state her 'loved-ones' are incarcerated. I suppose as long as these loved-ones did not commit crimes against her, everything is A-OK.
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By: Officer Cells on 2/17/2011 1:06PM
I never heard that analysis before. You must have been abused a lot. Most black men are in jail for selling weed or some other drugs, gang related crimes, murder of another black man or theft/burglary. I am a CO and I know your analysis is WRONG. White and hispanic men commit more vicious crimes against women than black men. Read before you post
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By: ladyprophet on 2/28/2011 1:44PM
Do you read not read the news paper, or look at the news station on tv? If so you are eather a miss guided white american or you just don't get it.Most crimes are done by white americans,but they are not listed as a crime.All of us need to wake up now""the other countries see that america is a divided nation, soon some one will try to take us over.A nation devided against itself can not stand.GOD created all of us.Why can't we just all get along??My prayers go out for this nation
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By: Charlie on 2/15/2011 4:34PM
The article was void of why, so many blackmen are in prison? and how can those numbers be reduced.
I can only hope they dont think its the boogeymans fault and blame it all on racsim.
I'm tired of the same old rhetoric that white man does cocaine and blackman does crack goes to jail longer? That argument is retarded at best. you'd think a brother would be smart enough then to do cocaine? Both are illegal and a brother that gets caught knows what he was getting into when he did it-no racism.
How about gun crimes-everybody knows that carrying a concealed weapon witout a permit gives a long vacation in prison-yet how many brothers go to the club with a gun- no racsim.
Smoke weed go to jail ,no racism.
Live like a gangster ,go to jail no racism.
The reason black women dont get married is the prison system fault?- WOW blows your mind- why would a black women want to marry a black man, fool enough to go to prison. That excuse doesn't wash-try being on Aid For Dependent Children and living on the taxpayer as your excuse for black women not getting married.
What is the prison industrial complex? -prisons are not producing products but better educated criminals and gang members.
Prisons do mean jobs to politicans, and it allows them to look tuff on crime.
We have more in blackmen inprison because we have a whole generation rasied in single parent households living on entitlements. The highest high school drop out rates, the highest % of people on AFDC, and medicaid. (not the largest number of -the highest percentage)The lowest test scores.
Time to face facts and make some large changes in our own behavior-the blame game hasnt worked.
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By: Jeff on 2/17/2011 7:35PM
Charlie, your name should have been Jack, because you don't know Jack about the system. Where do you live? I have been caught several times with weed (more than an oz) and I never went to jail. That's right, I'm white and I have black friends who's in jail for a dime bag or less. I will be the first to admit that whites get less to no time, in comparison to blacks. There are more Hispanics on the welfare system than blacks or whites. You must have been living under a rock lately
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By: Buffalo Soldier on 2/16/2011 6:51AM
It's amazing ( not to mention disturbing in some cases ), how little real thought is put into some of these posts. It's as if some of us just toss up some words to see what will happen.
Regardless of the intent of the "prison-shystem" ....( not a typo ! ), the actual result is that black men are dis-proportionally warehoused therein. The term "warehoused" best characterizes what happens because the notion of rehabilitation was long ago abandoned. The phrase "get-tough-on-crime" has gotten many a white politician elected; and thereby should be associated with the perverse agenda of neo-nazi, white-supremists: "keep those niggers under control". They've come up with alternatives to what was done to acheive this goal during slavery days. Back then a black man was sold off to another plantation to be separated from his children. Now they railroad him ....... incarcerate him ...... and voila; he's dis-connected, eliminated, & essentially cancelled. He can't vote, procreate, nor otherwise be an active part of a positive collective. So they're prohibited from participating in what all other citizens do. They're saddled with the ultimate act of dis-enfranchisement: they've got all the liabilities of citizenry .... ( taxes ) .... but are stripped of any of the priviledges. It's no accident, it's by design.
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By: Buffalo Soldier on 2/16/2011 7:44AM
And a " Soldier's Salute " .......... to this Sister, Ms. Sheneese Starr ....... for her courageous efforts to bring attention to this widespread, systemic, national tragedy. Here in the wealthiest, most powerful nation on the planet; we're gradually bringing destruction upon one of it's most precious resources. But grassroots efforts aimed at educating the masses will continue what we've done for the past 400+ years in this country: to thrive in the face of incredible adversity.
Again, I commend & love you my Sister for your gestures of love toward our Brethren !
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By: Buffalo Soldier on 2/16/2011 8:06AM
And a " Soldier's Salute " .......... to this Sister, Ms. Sheneese
Starr ....... for her courageous efforts to bring attention to this
widespread, systemic, national tragedy. Here in the wealthiest, most
powerful nation on the planet; we're gradually bringing destruction
upon one of it's most precious resources. But grassroots efforts aimed
at educating the masses will continue what we've done for the past
400+ years in this country: to thrive in the face of incredible
adversity.
Again, I commend & love you my Sister for your gestures of love toward
our Brethren !
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By: Charlie on 2/16/2011 10:13AM
Jeff- It must be hard to read in prison. Does it really matter the amount of time- you broke the law , you go to jail. Sentencing times are set by law-turn yourself back in and do the time.
I never said there were more of us by number on welfare(read the note)-whites hold that title- but we can be proud that we have the highest percentile per population on welfare.
So learn to read on your free time in prison and learn to use the internet. Wear your hat crooked and let your pants sag and hold yourself while you walk-then your be real.
The fact of the matter is that this article does not address the real reasons that so many of our brethren are in prison.
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By: Reginald A. Jennings on 2/17/2011 11:24AM
As a recent graduate of the prison industrial complex, I commend Ms. Starr for a level of insight that it is difficult to obtain without actually spending time in the "belly of the beast". At a time when many on both sides of the "color divide" rush towards embrace of the notion of a "post-racial" amerika, neither side is particularly interested in talking about slavery and its continuing legacy [e.g. the "black doll" study or Soledad O'Briens recent program on deeply embedded racial attitudes].
From the black perspective, we must recognize that the worst thing that you can ever do to a man is to deprive him of his ability to protect his wife and children. Amerika's historically unique brand of slavery did just that. And as Ms. Starr points out ... it did not end .... but was just transmuted. For example, a woman desiring to secure welfare assistance cannot have a man in her home. Again, as Ms. Starr so insightfully points out, this is a strategy which destroys a community. Whether it is intentional or inadvertent ... the result is the same.
In slavery, the strategy was to "break" the strongest and the most aggressive in order to cow the rest into submission. Many of those who are incarcerated ... disheartened ... discouraged ... convinced that they are failures of the highest order ... fail to recognize that perhaps they are the "strongest & the brightest" ... and this is the reason that they are where they are. Many of our women have bought into the "big lie" about black men that -regrettably - many of our men have also accepted. It is indeed refreshing to know that there are women such as Ms. Starr who understand the overarching dynamic at work ... and are committed to the raising of the consciousness of both black men & women.
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