The article HBCUs are Building a New Prison-to-College Pipeline, authored by Sequoia Carrillo and published by NPR in 2022, covers the issue of racial inequality in the criminal justice system. The “prison-to-college pipeline” is a term used to describe the path that many formerly incarcerated individuals take when they go from prison to college. By offering chances for professional and personal improvement, this approach seeks to end the cycle of recidivism. The article discusses the experiences of incarcerated students by providing personal accounts of their struggles and successes. Although the article lacks a certain focus, on the whole, it presents a comprehensive discussion of how HCBUs are combating societal injustice by accommodating disadvantaged students.
Sequoia Carrillo’s main thesis is that historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) are developing education programs for people who are incarcerated or have been incarcerated in order to create a prison-to-college pipeline. It is demonstrated how HBCUs offer incarcerated people educational chances and support services with the aim of assisting them to succeed in college and reintegrate into society (Carrillo). The author also emphasizes the advantages of the pipeline from jail to education, such as decreased recidivism rates and improved public safety (Carrillo). Summed up, this information makes up the core of the article.
The relevance of this article comes from its discussion of HBCU initiatives to give prisoners access to educational opportunities and support their reintegration into society. This is important since education can significantly enhance the lives of people who have served time in prison (Carrillo). In short, HBCUs seek to end the cycle of crime and promote social justice by providing access to college programs and support services.
However, despite the article’s strong thesis and relevance, it feels lacking in some ways. The author did not answer my internal questions on this topic. This could be a result of the article’s lack of detailed information regarding the particular services and programs provided by HBCUs. Moreover, the specific challenges and obstacles faced by incarcerated individuals seeking to access higher education are similarly handwaved. Despite focusing on personal accounts, the article shies off detail and, therefore, appears limited in its scope.
It comes across clearly that the very name of the initiative, the titular “prison-to-college pipeline”, is derived from the term “school-to-prison pipeline”. The latter refers to the set of policies and procedures that force students—especially those who are underprivileged and of color—out of the classroom and into the criminal justice system. This can happen through a variety of means, such as zero-tolerance policies that unfairly punish students of color and a lack of access to mental health support services. The goal of the “prison-to-college pipeline” designed by HCBUs is, therefore, to combat the consequences of this problem.
On the whole, the article relates to larger societal issues such as crime, recidivism, and racial inequality in the criminal justice system. It demonstrates how HBCUs are tackling these concerns, trying to increase public safety, and advancing social justice by offering education and support services to people who have served time behind bars. In the long run, this can help society by lowering crime and fostering social and economic mobility for disadvantaged groups.
Overall, the article HBCUs are Building a New Prison-to-College Pipeline presents a discussion of how HCBUs are fighting the cycle of inequality present in the criminal justice system by developing programs that engage incarcerated students. A possible critique of the article could focus on its lack of detail regarding the challenges that incarcerated students face, as well as the specific programs that are there to assist them. At large, the article deals with such societal issues as systemic injustice and crime and can, therefore, be called relevant for today’s reader.
Work Cited
Carrillo, Sequoia. “HBCUs are Building a New Prison-to-College Pipeline.” NPR, Web.