Pulitzer Prize General Non Fiction Winner

Locking Up Our Own

by James Forman Jr.

Summary

An exploration of why many Black leaders and judges supported "tough on crime" policies in the 1970s and 80s, contributing to mass incarceration.

Historical Context & Significance

Forman Jr., a former public defender, provides a nuanced "internal" history of how the war on drugs was supported by those it ultimately hurt most.