A Colony in a Nation

Christopher Hayes argues that the United States operates under two distinct legal regimes: a "Nation" where citizens enjoy constitutional protections and due process, and a "Colony" where people of color are subjected to aggressive surveillance and state violence. He traces this dichotomy back to the American Revolution, comparing modern over-policing to the tactics used by the British to control colonial subjects. Through data on stop-and-frisk policies and the historical rise of the tough-on-crime era, Hayes demonstrates how the legal system prioritizes order and control over individual liberty in specific geographic zones.

Legal scholars, historians, and voters interested in the structural roots of racial inequality read this book to understand why civil unrest frequently erupts in American cities. It provides a historical framework for analyzing the evolution of the criminal justice system and the police-citizen relationship. Readers walk away with an explanation of how fear-based politics shapes municipal policy and a lens for identifying where the boundaries of the Nation end and the Colony begins.