But, the rate of imprisonment for Black women was 129/1000 or 3% (this figure is .05% for White women). The Black women’s rate is 6 times higher than for White women. Although we have seen some decline in the numbers (16% from 2000 -2007), but the fact still remains that 1 in 100 African American women are in prison.
The reasons Black women are in prison are 33% for violent offenses, 67% for drugs (approximately 25% of the total), property crimes, and public order crimes (DUI, etc).
So before we rejoice in prison culture, let us remember our sisters who are mothers, aunts, friends and grandmothers. They are not forgotten and we fight to keep the next generation of young women out of the system.
Black Is The New Black – African American Women In Prison Rising was originally published on blackdoctor.org
