Alice Goffman: How we're priming some kids for college — and others for prison

Why do people keep saying things like "Why is this white privileged chick talking about this" it's probably better that she is that and talking about it because as mentioned she is privileged. She can have her voice heard more easily than the people she talked about and that's good for them.

I have a lot of respect for this woman. She has more guts than me to get up on that stage, and she went way above what most people would do. She actually got out there and is doing something.

The comments here are kind of sad, everyone seems to focus just on one particular part of the speech and not the point that children are getting arrested and given criminal records for things that, had they have been in a richer neighbourhood or school they would have been let off with just a day of detention or a warning, that children are being punished for being born into a family that is poor or is a part of the minority. I have had a friend that had been in the same basic situation, her father had unknowingly bought her a car that had been reported stolen, and yet, all the cops did was take down notes, look at the receipt that proved that her father had bought it, and they let her go, properly going after the company who had sold the car. I've seen a fair share of school fights and all that has been done is teacher yelling and dragging off the ones involved in the fight to detention, not jail. The point that I believe this speaker is getting at is that a child should not be thrown in jail and have their futures ruined for doing the same things other kids have done, or being a part of an accident they couldn't control simply because they come from a poor neighbourhood or happen to be of colour. She's trying to make the point that perhaps justice isn't truly blind, otherwise rich white kids would have just as many criminal records for the stupid things that kids do as the less advantaged ones, she's not saying that kids should not be punished for doing something wrong, but that sending a kid to jail because they pushed another kid or because they happened to be in a car that was stolen is too harsh, after all, if it had been some rich white person's son sent to jail for being in a car that had apparently been stolen, there would have been outrage, a public apology and their record erased.

"Speak the truth even if your voice shakes"

I applaud Goffman for a well-delivered, passionate, speech. I admire that she used her position of privilege to challenge the oppression of the less-priveleged members her community. The institutionalized discrimination she speaks of is not just an issue for American people of color, it is an issue that effects EVERY American. I'm disheartened by the sexism, classism and racism in many of the comments.

Don't understand the dislikes. Truth hurts. She held a fact based speech and pointed to directions that could offer a better future. What is the benefit to the society with the current handling of this problem. It only benefits the private owners of these so called correction facilities.

“Why are we offering only handcuffs and jail time?” Per pupil spending in the Washington DC school system is approaching $30,000 per year. The system is 67% black based on the most recent statistics. Reading and writing proficiency is abysmal. Two of three meals per day per student are free or reduced in price for those who need it. There are a myriad of after school programs to keep kids busy. Most school systems in urban areas are like this. I'd say that we are offering plenty, but the parents have to step up.

Sound like shes about to burst into tears any second.

I don't understand why someone advocating for the increase of human rights, minority rights, and increasing awareness to these issues is a bad person and coming under fire for doing this morally right thing. I don't believe in letting white people run these dialogues, but if a white person can dedicate their life to the increase of awareness of institutionalized systems of oppression and work with these disparaged communities as modern day abolitionists with POC and acknowledge their privilege and use it to help dismantle a system that gives disproportionate power then I applaud that. White people can never understand the struggle of minorities and POCs, but if they can give light to the atrocities of modern day racism by spreading a message largely not covered by media culture in America I can applaud that as well.

How can some TED Talks subscribers be so racist? I thought you were in here for the knowledge?

Good speech but she sounds like she's going to break out in tears at any moment.

Thank you, Alice. That's an real eye-opener that it's often the environment where we live rather then our intelligence, skills or values that determines our future. I hope it will help many people to realize this and that we have so many opportunities to change it by playing different games, by focusing on different things and by just taking different approach than the one which ends in jail. Thank you once more.

God this was beautiful. I am so happy she used her privilege to come forward and give such a great speech on something so incredibly important. I was beyond moved to tears by this and I could tell she was trying to hold it in as well throughout her speech, showing her passion and empathy for this subject. The speech was well-written, well-paced, and well-spoken. She had my full attention the entire time. Well done, Goffman

To teach kids how to love, accept, and uplift one another is so important. It can end things like systemic racism, gender inequality, etc. Adults need to give them all a chance and prioritize their success. The world needs more people like you, Alice.

Quality message and script. Needs delivery practice. Sounds so shaky / not confident, makes the message weaker. Hope she practices that for future lectures.

Excellent speech! We need a whole new schooling system.. job system, and housing system. Its the future.A system where we don't create bad people. ;)

is she the daughter of the great Erving Goffman? If yes: HOLY ..! Erving Goffman is a classic Sociologist, great theories, great work, everyone should read him

I'm a white guy who lived with black people for a while, so I kind of know what you're talking about. Black people are under-privileged. The people I lived with didn't own a computer or even a cell phone, so they didn't have access to the internet. I wonder what would have happened if I'd bought them a computer and hooked them up with internet. I tend to think that internet access is almost a human right, at least in developed countries. How can young people, going to school, do their homework without internet access? Sure, they could go to a library. If they had transportation, which they don't. Cars cost money and so do buses. So these young people are left without access to the outside world - a world full of knowledge and information. If only they had access to it, it might change their lives.

I commend you for doing more than just writing, you witness the issues and was able to share with those who would never think of living in a society. I would only hope more will see the cause and need to do more than just observe a demographic society.

Exactly what a struggling inner city community needs.  A white, middle class, acadmic Joan of Arc bringing their TRUTH to a TED talk. Her thesis advisor must be so proud of her.