Locking up our own

In this book, James Forman Jr. explores the historical context and consequences of tough-on-crime measures adopted by many African American leaders in urban centers during the 1970s and 1980s.

Forman, a former public defender, examines how these policies, intended to address rising crime and drug addiction, ultimately contributed to mass incarceration and had devastating effects on poor black neighborhoods.

The book combines historical research with personal anecdotes from Forman's work as a public defender, highlighting the human cost of these policies and the need for a more compassionate approach to crime and justice.