Colorblind ideology, mass incarceration, and controlling racial images: An intersectional analysis of presidential rhetoric from 1969–1996

Norris, Adele N.; Billings, Joseph

doi:10.1080/15377938.2016.1256847

Cited by 11 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…While intersectionality methods vary (see Choo & Ferree, 2010), this study uses an intracategorical methodological approach advanced by McCall (2005) because it begins with the observation that there are relationships of inequality among already constituted social groups, for example, women (McCall, 2005; Norris & Billings, 2016; Norris, Murphy-Erby, Green, Willis, & Jones, 2013). It is important to acknowledge, however, that several variations exist within the social categories of race, gender, and social class.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Colour-blind rhetoric, in the United States, has long been identified as a major impetus used to mobilise harsh racist crime policies, which have disproportionately disenfranchised masses of African Americans, Latinos, and Native People (Alexander, 2012;Collins, 2013;Davis, 2014;Norris & Billings, 2016;Ross, 2005). In 1903, W. E. B. DuBois stated that the problem of the 20th century is the problem of the colour line, which refers to the centrality of race in history and society (Crenshaw, 1998;DuBois, 1903DuBois, /1973.…”

Section: Indigenous Issues and Mainstream Criminologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Controlling images share an inextricable relationship with colour-blind ideology (Collins, 2004; Norris & Billings, 2016). Black feminist scholars and intellectuals have spoken extensively about the nature of controlling images in the lives of Black women (Collins, 2000; Davis, 1997; hooks, 1981; Ladner, 1971; Morrison, 1992).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The use of controlling images as a tool to exploit marginalised populations in the United States has an extensive history, specifically in research related to Black and Indigenous women’s overrepresentation in forced sterilisation and other medical exploitative experiments, domestic work, and mass incarceration (see Alexander, 2012; Collins, 2004; Davis, 1997; hooks, 1981; Ross, 1998; Schiffer, 2014). More recently in discussions of U.S. mass incarceration, the research reveals that politicians and the mass media have relied heavily upon controlling images to depict criminals as the “racial other” without specific references to a racial group (Alexander, 2012; Norris & Billings, 2016; Welch, 2007). Thus, alarming incarceration rates of non-white people (esp.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, alarming incarceration rates of non-white people (esp. African American and Latino) and Indigenous people warrant a critical analysis of controlling images especially during a time that racist practices are explained away as individual character flaws (Norris & Billings, 2016). Like colour-blind ideology, negative controlling imagery has reached a level of hegemony whereby images are deeply rooted in the consciousness of society, especially dominant groups (Collins, 2000; Welch, 2007).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Are We Really Colour-blind? The Normalisation of Mass Female Incarceration

Norris

2017

Race and Justice

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The sharp rise in female incarceration rates in both the United States and New Zealand has received increased attention. Even more pressing are the racial disparities among imprisoned females. This exploratory case study examines 13 peer-reviewed articles published between 2005 and 2016 to understand the nature of colour-blind ideology in discussions of female imprisonment in New Zealand. Several themes emerged including the homogenisation of female prisoners. Apart from moderately linking vast racial disparities between incarcerated White women and Indigenous to ill-defined colonial practices, contemporary explanations for the substantial racial disparities receive little attention. This article concludes that the absence of a critical lens toward contemporary forms and experiences of racism undergirding the mass criminalisation of Indigenous people perpetuates a colour-blindness that in turn works to normalise mass female incarceration. Even in attempts to be unbiased, the way race/ethnicity, gender, age, and class are discussed in academic research exploring female incarceration seems to reflect the influential nature of controlling images rather than critique them.

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