Mass incarceration today succeeds—tragically—by insulating the majority of free society from the deep injustices of a system that transfers massive amounts of wealth from working class communities into the hands of a few private individuals, at the expense of our most vulnerable populations. (Of course, many people are directly affected by the carceral state, and don’t need to read a report to understand the damage it is doing.) How do we oppose a system that is adding another layer of exploitation by making incarcerated people and their loved ones products of the attention economy? In this course we will read selections from Danielle Allen's Cuz (2017), along with Angela Davis, Michelle Alexander, and others, and we will delve into working resources that are actively being used to mount nationwide campaigns to ensure people are valued over profit.
Co-taught by Len Nalencz, Professor at the University of Mount Saint Vincent and educator at the Bard Prison Initiative, and criminal justice advocate Amber Pedersen.