First published 2022
Christina Sharpe investigates the hidden ways America's carceral system penetrates ordinary experience. She examines how prison furniture, state coloring books for children, and other seemingly mundane objects reveal the quiet violence that sustains mass incarceration. Sharpe traces connections between institutional design and social control, showing how the prison extends far beyond its walls. Her analysis spans multiple forms of evidence, from physical artifacts to visual documentation. The book demonstrates how everyday items carry the weight of systemic oppression. Sharpe argues that understanding these connections requires looking closely at objects most people ignore. Her work reveals the emotional and psychological toll of living within a society built around punishment and containment.
Genres: american, african-american, crime, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, academic, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: social-commentary
Setting: America
Period: 21st-century
221 pages · Hardcover · JTT, New York/Regen Projects, Los Angeles
Content warnings: racism, violence