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Changing the Narrative

fromThe Demonization ofPeople of Color

toFamily Reunification

By Standing TogetherAgainstMass Incarcerationand Mass Deportation

and Standing TogetherForFamilies and Communities

“The War on Drugshas never been about drugs.”

Its about the “Demonization” ofPeople of Color.

“But drugs are bad… I get that butwhere are we 30 years later.”

•‘African-American youth are nearly 5x more likely to beconfined than their white peers. Latino and AmericanIndian youth are between 2 and 3 times more likely to beconfined.

•The disparities in youth confinement rates point to asystem that treats youth of color, particularly AfricanAmericans and Latinos, more punitively than similar whiteyouth.’ In 2010, the rate of incarceration for AfricanAmerican youth was 605 per 100,000 population comparedto the total rate of 225.

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•Michigan rates for 2011 reveal a profound racial disparity.African American youths (under age 21) were detained,incarcerated, or placed in residential facilities at a rate of660 per 100,000 population compared to a rate of 221 forall youth. (Hispanic youth – 153, White youth – 117,American Indian youth – 111).