Systemic Refinement of Racial Capitalism: Incremental Reform in Memphis, TN Público

Abstract

This paper examines how racial capitalism shapes incremental reform within the criminal justice system. I argue that racial capitalism influences incremental reform through a process of systemic refinement, which in turn stagnates racial progress through a misrepresentation of objectives and a subsequent misalignment of outcomes. Additionally, I claim that through this process of systemic refinement, racial capitalism becomes strengthened and further entrenched in American society in a cyclical relationship with incremental reform. I explore this theoretical framework using criminal justice reforms in Memphis, Tennessee, one of the largest majority-Black cities in the United States. Specifically, I analyze how incremental cash bail reform and police reform more broadly have not led to meaningful change and have instead reinforced the unequal racialized social-political economy. I find that racial capitalism has a subversive and adaptable nature that renders incremental reform ineffective. Incremental reform allows racial capitalism to maintain dominance under the guise of improvement while evolving into a more sinister system that simultaneously exploits people of color. This relationship reinforces narratives of white supremacy that deny the existence of racial, social, and economic inequality, ultimately stagnating progress.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 ………… Introduction……………………………………………………………….. 1

Chapter 2 ………… A History of Systemic Refinement in Memphis…………………………. 16

Chapter 3 ………… Police Reform as Systemic Refinement………………………………..… 39

           Section I……. Introduction………………………………….…………………………. 39

           Section II…… Misrepresentation of Objectives and Misalignment of Outcomes……... 44

Chapter 4 ………… Bail Reform as Systemic Refinement……………………………………. 56

Chapter 5 ………… Conclusion.………………………………………………………………. 69

           Section I……. Implications and Findings……………………………………………… 69

Section II…… Further Research……………………………………………………….. 70

Figures …………………………………………………………………………………………. 74

Bibliography ...…………………………………………………………………………………. 79

List of Figures

Figure 1.1 ………… Diagram of Systemic Refinement

Figure 1.2 ………… The Racialization of Poverty, Overall Poverty

Figure 1.3 ………… Black City Council Makeup x Black Population

Figure 3.1 ………… Eight Can’t Wait Policies

Figure 3.2 ………… Police Funding x Crime Rates, over time

Figure 3.3 ………… Ordinance Nos. 5848-5853 and 5881

Figure 4.1 ………… Bail Bondsmen in Memphis

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	Philosophy
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Law Philosophy African American Studies
Palavra-chave	Philosophy, Politics, and Law
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Dr. Jessica Lynn Stewart, Emory University
Committee Members	Dr. George Yancy, Emory University Dr. Michael Leo Owens, Emory University Dr. Noëlle McAfee, Emory University

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