Why Are So Many Black Men in Prison? : A Comprehensive Account of How and Why the Prison Industry Has Become A Predatory Entity in the Lives of African-American Men, and How Mass Targeting, Criminalization, and Incarceration of Black Male Youth Has Gone Toward Creating the Largest Prison System in the World

African-American males are being imprisoned at an alarming and unprecedented rate. Out of the more than 11 million black adult males in the U.S. population, nearly 1.5 million are in prisons and jails with another 3.5 million more on probation or parole or who have previously been on probation or parole. Black males make up the majority of the total prison population, and due to either present or past incarceration is the most socially disenfranchised group of American citizens in the country today. This book, which was penned by Boothe while he was still incarcerated, details the author's personal story of a negligent upbringing in an impoverished community, his subsequent engagement in criminal activity (drug dealing), his incarceration, and his release from prison and experiencing of the crippling social disenfranchisement that comes with being an ex-felon. The author then relates his personal experiences and realizations to the seminal problems within the African-American community, federal government, and criminal justice system that cause his own experiences to be the same experiences of millions of other young black men. This book focuses on the totality of how and why the U.S. prison system became the largest prison system in the world, and is filled with relevant statistical and historical references and controversial facts and quotes from notable persons and sources.

Demico Boothe is considered by many to be an expert on the criminal justice system as it relates to African-Americans. He served 12 consecutive years inside of federal prison and was released in November of 2003. During his incarceration, he read over 500 books and dedicated his time to study, writing, and mentoring other incarcerated African-American males about the need for lifestyle/ mentality change. Since his release, he has been mentoring young minorities at halfway houses, rehabilitation centers, jails and schools.