Locking Up Our Own: Crime and Punishment in Black America

Locking Up Our Own examines the complex history of African American leaders' and communities' involvement in criminal justice policies during the late 20th century. Forman draws from his experience as a public defender in Washington D.C. to explore how Black officials and citizens responded to rising crime rates in their neighborhoods from the 1970s through the 1990s. Through extensive research and personal accounts, Forman traces how many African American politicians and police officers supported tougher law enforcement and sentencing measures, believing these would protect their communities. The book follows key figures in D.C.'s criminal justice system and examines their decisions within the broader context of the War on Drugs and mass incarceration. The narrative spans from local neighborhood policing initiatives to broader policy changes at the city and federal levels. Forman presents multiple perspectives on gun control, drug enforcement, and police hiring practices through the lens of Black community leaders and residents. This work challenges simplistic narratives about race and criminal justice reform by revealing the inherent tensions between public safety and civil rights. The book raises questions about unintended consequences and the true complexity of addressing crime in vulnerable communities.

Readers found the book offered a nuanced perspective on how Black leaders and communities contributed to mass incarceration policies, though sometimes inadvertently. Many appreciated Forman's personal experience as a public defender informing the narrative. Liked: - Clear explanation of complex historical factors - Focus on specific cases and stories from Washington D.C. - Balanced treatment of law enforcement and community perspectives - Well-researched with detailed citations Disliked: - Limited geographic scope (primarily D.C.-focused) - Some repetition in later chapters - Readers wanted more discussion of solutions - Academic writing style can be dense Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (2,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.7/5 (500+ ratings) "Makes you think differently about the history of criminal justice," wrote one Amazon reviewer. A Goodreads reviewer noted: "Changed my understanding of how we got to mass incarceration, but wished for more concrete reforms."

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Blood in the Water by Heather Ann Thompson Reconstructs the 1971 Attica prison uprising to reveal systemic issues in American criminal justice and incarceration.

Chokehold by Paul Butler Details how the criminal justice system targets black men through the perspective of a former federal prosecutor turned legal scholar.

🔹 James Forman Jr. is the son of prominent civil rights leader James Forman Sr., who served as the executive secretary of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) during the 1960s. 🔹 The book won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction, with the committee praising it as "an examination of the historical roots of contemporary criminal justice in the U.S." 🔹 Before becoming a Yale Law School professor, Forman worked as a public defender in Washington, D.C., where he witnessed firsthand many of the issues he later explored in the book. 🔹 The book reveals that many tough-on-crime policies in predominantly Black communities were actually supported and implemented by Black elected officials who were trying to protect their neighborhoods from drugs and violence. 🔹 Forman began writing the book after a particularly moving experience in which he represented a 15-year-old youth in D.C.'s juvenile court and saw how the justice system treated young Black defendants.