Using the context below, answer this question: "How has your understanding evolved about oppression and racism in shaping the human experience within the context of Michelle Alexander's work? Critically reflect upon how your understanding changed after reading The New Jim Crow."

"The New Jim Crow" highlights that although white people make up the majority of drug users and sellers, African American communities are disproportionately affected by systematic prejudices in law enforcement and cultural beliefs. "The racial bias inherent in the drug war is a major reason that 1 in every 14 black men was behind bars in 2006, compared with 1 in 106 white men (Alexander, 2020, p.125)". Black males are receiving prison sentences that are longer than those typically given to white men. Historically, the system has taught black people that they are not deserving of freedom, respect, or dignity. It has also painted black people as villains, which is why punishment for drug offenses is worse for them than it would be for a white man. "No other group suffers the overwhelming likelihood of imprisonment experienced by young black males in the United States who do not complete high school" (Petit & Gutierrez, 2018). This is due to a combination of factors, including systemic racism, socioeconomic disadvantages, and policies that may disproportionately affect minority communities. Given these disadvantages, it is easy to compare and comprehend Alexander's point, which was that white individuals are more prone than members of other racial groups to use and sell drugs as well as conduct crimes related to drugs. All of them are caused by human prejudices, even when we aren't intentionally trying to be biased.

Through the critical lens offered by Alexander's work, we can investigate how common biases are, especially when considering racial dynamics. Alexander highlights the systemic problems that plague the criminal justice system by emphasizing the particular focus on African Americans. According to the studies she cites, there is a concerning trend: people are more likely to pass judgment harshly on criminal suspects who have darker skin and more "stereotypically black" features. On the other hand, there is a tendency to be more forgiving of people who have lighter skin and seem more "stereotypically white." (Alexander, 2020, p.135)