Critical Reflection Project z z z z Major parts Orient the reader Identify the focus/purpose of the book Outline the scope of your paper Topic sentence 1 Discuses the theme (theme 1) with supporting details Concluding sentence Topic sentence 2 Discuses the theme (theme 2) with supporting details Concluding sentence Conclude by restating the thesis, summarizing the argument, and making application Address the themes from biblical point of view Paragraphs Outline Introduction Body Conclusion z Introduction (Example) I am a White privileged, American, who is loved, and who is attending the college of her dreams. I live with three younger siblings who do not fit that description. We live in the same house; they are American, loved, attending an amazing high school, privileged, but what is missing? The answer is the color of their skin; I am White and they are Black. My three youngest siblings are adopted from various parts of the United States as well as Africa, and their lives are worlds apart from mine; yet, we live feet apart. I am never afraid to walk home from school or get arrested by the cops, and yet I will be walking home with my 6’0, line man sized, African American little brother and people will cross to the other side of the street. Whole families have crossed in the middle of the road to avoid passing next to us. I know for a fact most of my friends do not worry about their little brother coming home safe because he has the build of the boys you hear about on television being beaten to death—because he has the skin color of the boys on television. The New York Times best seller, “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” by Michelle Alexander works to give an explanation for the phenomenon that has been splashed across the news left and right. This movement is known as the “Black Lives Matter” movement that has the purpose of fighting back against the racism in our society: the human rights and dignity many people of color feel they are denied. There is a problem in our society that needs to be addressed because lives are on the line; and, I feel that the Black Lives Matter movement is not effectively or gracefully working to solve this problem as God intended. My purpose for this paper is to argue that our society is not seeing the new racism that is running rampant; that God did not intend for any sort of racism; and, finally conclude with our society should be called into action, especially the believers. For this paper, it will be broken up into three different sections: Michelle Alexander’s book, the corresponding Bible passages, and concluded with the application section. z Body (example) “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” is a book by Michelle Alexander, whose main argument is “that mass incarceration is, metaphorically, the New Jim Crow.” Some background to explain this statement is Jim Crow laws were a set of laws that barred African Americans from ha.

1. Critical Reflection Project
z
z
z
z
Major parts
Orient the reader
Identify the focus/purpose of the book
Outline the scope of your paper
Topic sentence 1
Discuses the theme (theme 1) with supporting details
Concluding sentence
Topic sentence 2
Discuses the theme (theme 2) with supporting details
Concluding sentence
Conclude by restating the thesis, summarizing the argument,
and making application

2. Address the themes from biblical point of view
Paragraphs
Outline
Introduction
Body
Conclusion
z
Introduction (Example)
I am a White privileged, American, who is loved, and who is
attending the college of her dreams. I live with three younger
siblings who do not fit that description. We live in the same
house; they are American, loved, attending an amazing high
school, privileged, but what is missing? The answer is the color
of their skin; I am White and they are Black. My three youngest
siblings are adopted from various parts of the United States as
well as Africa, and their lives are worlds apart from mine; yet,
we live feet apart. I am never afraid to walk home from school
or get arrested by the cops, and yet I will be walking home with
my 6’0, line man sized, African American little brother and
people will cross to the other side of the street. Whole families
have crossed in the middle of the road to avoid passing next to
us. I know for a fact most of my friends do not worry about
their little brother coming home safe because he has the build of
the boys you hear about on television being beaten to death—
because he has the skin color of the boys on television.
The New York Times best seller, “The New Jim Crow: Mass
Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness” by Michelle
Alexander works to give an explanation for the phenomenon
that has been splashed across the news left and right. This
movement is known as the “Black Lives Matter” movement that
has the purpose of fighting back against the racism in our
society: the human rights and dignity many people of color feel
they are denied. There is a problem in our society that needs to
be addressed because lives are on the line; and, I feel that the

3. Black Lives Matter movement is not effectively or gracefully
working to solve this problem as God intended. My purpose for
this paper is to argue that our society is not seeing the new
racism that is running rampant; that God did not intend for any
sort of racism; and, finally conclude with our society should be
called into action, especially the believers. For this paper, it
will be broken up into three different sections: Michelle
Alexander’s book, the corresponding Bible passages, and
concluded with the application section.
z
Body (example)
“The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of
Colorblindness” is a book by Michelle Alexander, whose main
argument is “that mass incarceration is, metaphorically, the
New Jim Crow.” Some background to explain this statement is
Jim Crow laws were a set of laws that barred African Americans
from having the same rights as their White counterparts, such as
different school systems for White and Black children or Black
drinking fountains that are lesser than White drinking fountains.
Michelle Alexander also notes how racism is no longer cookie
cutter and that is why America cannot see the problem she
claims is so clearly laid out before them. “As a society, our
collective understanding of racism has been powerfully
influenced by the shocking image of the Jim Crow era and the
struggle for civil rights. When we think of racism we think of
Governor Wallace of Alabama blocking the school house door;
we think of water hoses, lynching’s, racial epithets, and ‘white
only’ signs” (183).
z
Analysis/reflection (Example)
I see it in my day to day life much more than other people. Most

4. of my friends have never had to sit down at their kitchen table
with their families and go over how you talk to police. We have
discussed how you always address one as “sir” or “ma’am,” and
under no circumstances, no matter what they say, do you talk
back. We have discussed how you ask to notify your parents
immediately because you have White parents, and that fact
alone could keep you out of trouble. We have struggled with
racism: someone telling my younger, Black siblings, that they
don’t need to graduate from high school or that they won’t
because their “White family can take care of them.” That is
racism. It is real. There should not be fear in my household
solely based on the idea that my younger siblings happen to
have a different skin color. That fact alone, the mere fact that
our skin color doesn’t match, should not be grounds nor
justification for different treatment.
z
A Biblical View
Close your eyes and imagine. Imagine that you have a child; the
pride and joy of your life. Now, open your eyes and imagine
him being beaten. Open your eyes and watch him die. This is
the reality that some parents have to go through, and personally
I cannot imagine this reality. This scenario is what God went
through – “For God so loved the world that He sent His one and
only Son, so that whoever believes in him shall not perish and
have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The Bible is very clear that
a) God loves all, b) God sees no distinction in his people, and c)
God finds worth in each and every one of his creations. The
Bible is the world’s greatest love story after all – Jesus died for
you, knowing that you might not love him back; that is true
love.
z

5. Conclusion
“The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of
Colorblindness” by Michelle Alexander works to give an
explanation for the current movement, “Black Lives Matter.”
This movement attempts to fight against the racism in our
society: the human rights and dignity many people of color are
denied. Alexander sees the obvious result in the mass
incarceration of African American males. However, without the
spread of the Gospel and the understanding that all people, all
races, all colors, are made in God's image and are worth His
Son dying on the cross, I believe total change is not possible.
God call us to love because He loved and how He loved. There
is no racism in God's book. Therefore, God calls his people
(Christians) to spread His good news and to love; love
unconditionally (without a distinction between color and races)
and to work for equality alongside the “Black Lives Matter”
movement. Just as God conquered sin, death, pain and suffering
with love – racism can be conquered with love.
z
Application
The change that needs to happen is for the Gospel to be spread
because, with the Gospel, the views of God are found. These
include love and the idea of worth in each and every God’s
creation. God calls us not to look at the outward appearance but
what is on the inside. This view is the extreme opposite of
racism: an idea that your skin color could define you as inferior,
or on the flip side, superior to someone else of a different skin
color. Also, God calls us to love, and believing anyone is lower
than you or lesser than you, is not love. Love makes no
distinction in appearance. And, this movement is based on that
very difference. Love is a force that can conquer all; after all,
God conquered sin and evil in its entirety with love.
z

6. Common mistakes
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z
Introduction-Thesis? Scope? Outline?
Body- Citation? Reflection?
Conclusion- application?
z
Review
z
Major Paper
Introduction

7. Theme 1
Theme 2
Analysis/reflection
Biblical Perspective
Conclusion
Thank You
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