locking up large numbers of young black men

[Eartha]

Dear all,

How should I understand the underlined?

Thanks in advance.

Eartha

Youth unemployment is especially high, and joblessness among the young leaves lasting scars. Strong productivity growth has been achieved partly through the elimination of many mid-skilled jobs. And what makes this all the more worrying is that, below the radar screen, America had employment problems long before the recession, particularly for lesser-skilled men. These were caused not only by sweeping changes from technology and globalisation, which affect all countries, but also by America’s habit of locking up large numbers of young black men, which drastically diminishes their future employment prospects. America has a smaller fraction of prime-age men in work and in the labour force than any other G7 economy. Some 25% of men aged 25-54 with no college degree, 35% of high-school dropouts and almost 70% of black high-school dropouts are not working .

 

[konungursvia]

It refers to America's prejudice against its own Blacks, one-seventh of whom are in prison.

 

[Eartha]

It refers to America's prejudice against its own Blacks, one-seventh of whom are in prison.

Thanks. Got that.
And I want to know more about the literal meaning of "lock up" here.

 

[Allen165]

Thanks. Got that.
And I want to know more about the literal meaning of "lock up" here.

NOT A TEACHER.

To lock up = to put behind bars, to imprison, to incarcerate

 

[riquecohen]

How should I understand the underlined?

America’s habit of locking up large numbers of young black men,

Do not take the word habit literally in this context.

 

[SoothingDave]

They are not locked up for being black, obviously. Blacks commit a disproportionate (to their population numbers) number of crimes and therefore represent a disproportionate number of the incarcerated.

 

[Ouisch]

It refers to America's prejudice against its own Blacks, one-seventh of whom are in prison.

I hope that all readers keep in mind that this is a sweeping generalization, an opinion, and in no way presents a balanced picture or even statement of fact.

 

[bhaisahab]

It refers to America's prejudice against its own Blacks, one-seventh of whom are in prison.

I hope that all readers keep in mind that this is a sweeping generalization, an opinion, and in no way presents a balanced picture or even statement of fact.

The underlined is, however, a statement of fact.

 

[bhaisahab]

I am closing this thread because it is likely to turn into a contentious discussion of the merits or de-merits of the USA's justice system.