Based on the following introduction paragraph, include a paragraph that discusses the purpose of paper.

The purpose of this assignment is to advance your understanding of oppression and social marginalization in order to more effectively engage with diverse populations on micro to macro levels within social work practice arenas that address mental health and well-being. You are to reference all three texts in part 1 and part 2 of paper.

You will read The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander and write a critical reflection paper addressing racism, oppression, and racial trauma as it intersects with the mental health and well-being of diverse population groups. As a critical reflection, it is expected that you demonstrate the following:

• Evidence of engagement with and understanding of the substance of the book
• Your own personal engagement with the content
• Your ability to integrate that content professionally with your role as a future MSW-prepared social worker addressing racial trauma and the mental health needs of racially and culturally diverse groups

"The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness," Michelle Alexander presents a compelling argument that the United States criminal justice system functions as a contemporary form of racial control, echoing the oppressive legacies of the Jim Crow laws which enforced racial segregation and discrimination throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Alexander meticulously examines how mass incarceration disproportionately affects African American communities, effectively perpetuating a cycle of disenfranchisement and inequality under the guise of a colorblind legal framework. Through a blend of historical analysis and critical socio-political insight, her work challenges the prevailing narratives of justice and equality in America, urging readers to reconsider the pervasive impact of systemic racism on modern society.