Kerner Report: Ep: 12: From Ghettos to Cells: How Policy Built a Prison Nation

Connie Morris examines how mass incarceration became America’s answer to the Kerner Commission—tracing the explosive growth of prisons, the policies that fueled racial disparities, and the human cost to families and communities.

She connects the rise of the prison-industrial complex to the war on drugs, harsh sentencing laws, and systemic racism, highlights re-entry challenges for those finally released, and frames mass incarceration as a deliberate, lasting policy choice.

Thanks for tuning in to The Morris Perspective Podcast—where we challenge assumptions, expose bias, and explore truth through a justice-centered lens.

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Want to go deeper? Check out my books: Rethinking Implicit Bias Training – a practical guide for real-world transformation

The Propaganda of Racism – uncovering the historical roots of systemic injustice

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Until next time—stay aware, stay informed, and stay committed to justice.

 

Episode 12 closes by asking what justice looks like next and previews a follow-up conversation on reparations and remedies.