Summary

The essay argues that justice, not wealth, is the opposite of poverty, highlighting the injustice faced by prisoners in terms of sentences, treatment, and racial bias. It explores the connection between poverty and incarceration, particularly in the New York community, which has a high jail population. The essay references a Human Rights report detailing racism experienced by Black New Yorkers across various aspects of life. The discussion touches on the challenges individuals face post-incarceration, emphasizing the mental toll. The Bronx community is portrayed as diverse but facing negativity, with discrimination leading to hate crimes, incarceration, and perpetuating poverty. Overall, the essay highlights the complex interplay between poverty, injustice in the prison system, and discrimination within communities.

Mayra Martinez

“My work with the poor and the incarcerated has persuaded me that the opposite of poverty is not wealth; the opposite of poverty is justice” – Bryan Stevenson. Injustice in the prison system is the inequality that prisoners face, whether it be the sentences, the treatment or other aspects. Poverty is not having enough money to meet basic needs for example food, clothing, shelter. But poverty is more than that because it’s what people experience being in poverty. Children can’t enjoy normal activities like other children. As for prison justice, the inequality that prisoners face whether it be the sentences, the treatment or other aspects. The injustice can be based on the race of the person, their appearance and background. Poverty has many connections to Prison Injustices results. 

Poverty is one of core issues surrounding the New York  community leading into the cause mostly being incarceration. New York alone can beat other countries in the jail population according to the National Institute of Corrections. The cause of mass incarceration is because racial profiling from people of higher power as police and the justice system. Discrimination has led people into being arrested just due to your background and income you make and ethnicity. A 74 page document of a Human Rights report was sent by colored New Yorkers. In a website about the document it states, “ The 74-page document- which features accounts from Black New Yorkers who have experienced racism in education, housing, health care, work and interactions with law enforcement and the criminal justice system. “

 Having pages upon pages of the racism faced from only part of the community says more because if everyone who had ever faced discrimination and racism in the community wrote their part in the report it would fill up the desks of pages to read. Poverty is a thing people adapt to and try to break free from. As for incarceration whether you got bailed or served your sentence you have that label set on your record for jobs hiring to see. I have a family member who has gone through jail time and had a hard time trying to provide for his family but also serve his time. Living with these conditions your mentally isn’t the best but will be strong to face future obstacles. 

The Bronx community also has their share of the negativity in the community. As diverse the community is there comes people who don’t accept the many cultures and want to stay in their own bubble world where everything is their way. They don’t accept the cultures and act racist but that’s only towards the ones who can only act and be rebellious. As for the ones who have power above citizens then those people discriminate against the various cultures for not being the same race or ethnicity as them. Discrimination leads to hate crimes, incarceration, and poverty.

Citations :

World Prison Population List|Eleventh Edition | National Institute of Corrections. (n.d.). https://nicic.gov/resources/nic-library/all-library-items/world-prison-population-listeleventh-editi on 

Olumhense, E. (2020). Black New Yorkers describe racism as ‘Inescapable’ in quietly released human rights report – THE CITY. The City. https://www.thecity.nyc/2020/6/9/21286102/black-new-yorkers-describe-racism-as-inescapable-in-quietly-released-human-rights-report