According to Robbins et al (2006), there are various concepts that are important to understanding conflict theory. These concepts include conflict, power, minority, and change. Demico Booth writes and reflects on the various aspects of his life that occurred during his incarceration, release, and re-incarceration. Throughout the book Booth reflects on why the percentage of black men in prison continues to grow at alarming rates. Through the concepts associated with conflict theory it is possible to analyze the events that led to Booth's incarceration on both occasions. “Conflict is a clash or struggle between opposing forces or interests” (Robbins et al, 2006, p.66). Throughout this period of his life Booth had to experience various clashes and struggles with people and systems over which he had no control. The first direct conflict Booth experienced was with his father. Booth was forced to provide for his younger siblings because his father and stepmother were drug addicts. Instead of worrying about providing for the family, his parents were worried about supporting their habits. What started out as a positive scapegoat for Booth turned out to be a negative one. As Booth (2006) states: They would give him a little credit, and he and my stepmother would lock themselves in their bedroom and get high. Being the oldest of my siblings, this especially affected me because I knew what was happening. And since my needs were greater than those of my younger siblings, I decided to go out and get a job so that I could earn some money to buy food and clothes for myself and my brothers and sisters (p. 15). Booth goes on to explain this conflict by making it clear that in his father's eyes providing for his brothers was not...a means of...paper standards and they are on the same playing field in every way. As Fred McKissack (2008) asks: “How exactly can we live in post-racial America when nearly 40% of black children under the age of 5 live below the poverty line? How are we doing in post-racial America when the level of school segregation for Hispanics is the highest in forty years and segregation of blacks has returned to levels not seen since the late 1960s?” McKissack (2008) also points out that the employment rate for blacks was double that of whites, and that in 2006, 20.3% of blacks were not covered by health insurance, compared to only 10.8% of whites . In conclusion, to consider itself a post-racial society, the United States must work to improve aspects such as education, health care and unemployment for African Americans and other minorities..