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The “war on drugs” was intentionally created to incarcerate black people en masse.
An educational thread:
An educational thread:
First, the most obvious evidence it was almost entirely racially motivated.
Richard Nixon began the war on drugs in ‘68 immediately after the civil rights movement. His campaign revolved around being “tough on crime.”
Here is a direct quote his domestic policy chief:
Richard Nixon began the war on drugs in ‘68 immediately after the civil rights movement. His campaign revolved around being “tough on crime.”
Here is a direct quote his domestic policy chief:
Next, this graph represents how mass incarceration is highly unrelated to violent crime.
Trends in violent crime have experienced a lot of change through the 70s and 80s, but began to continually decline in the 90s.
Mass incarceration however, has always been on the rise.
Trends in violent crime have experienced a lot of change through the 70s and 80s, but began to continually decline in the 90s.
Mass incarceration however, has always been on the rise.
“During 1980-2000, as with the states, the most dramatic change was in drug-related offending, for which the incarceration rate increased more than 10-fold, from 3 per 100,000 in 1980 to 35 in 2000.”
So much of mass incarceration is ultimately defined by the war on drugs.
So much of mass incarceration is ultimately defined by the war on drugs.
Who has this affected? The same demographics this was always INTENDED to harm!
“Intensified enforcement of drug laws subjected blacks, more than whites, -despite lower levels of drug use and no higher demonstrated levels of trafficking among the black than the white population.”
“Intensified enforcement of drug laws subjected blacks, more than whites, -despite lower levels of drug use and no higher demonstrated levels of trafficking among the black than the white population.”
‘The explanation of the rise in incarceration is not rising crime rates, but the policy choices made by legislators. Mandatory minimums, intensified enforcement of drug laws, and long sentences contributed to extraordinary rates of incarceration in black and Latino communities.’
These all have downstream effects as well. For ex:
“From 1980 to 2000, the number of children with incarcerated fathers increased from about 350K to 2.1 mil-about 3% of U.S. children. From 1991 to 2007, the # of children with a father or mother in prison increased 77% and 131%”
“From 1980 to 2000, the number of children with incarcerated fathers increased from about 350K to 2.1 mil-about 3% of U.S. children. From 1991 to 2007, the # of children with a father or mother in prison increased 77% and 131%”
Even a life after prison can often exasserbate other negative social impacts:
“When they return, their lives often continue to be characterized by violence, joblessness, substance abuse, family breakdown, and neighborhood disadvantage.”
“When they return, their lives often continue to be characterized by violence, joblessness, substance abuse, family breakdown, and neighborhood disadvantage.”
“The vast expansion of the criminal justice system has created a large population whose access to public benefits, occupations, vocational licenses, and the franchise is limited by a criminal conviction.”
The war on drugs and intensified law enforcement in already disadvantaged communities has led to societal ramifications that perpetuate themselves in a cycle of poverty.
The type of enforcement done to these communities were brought as the result of institutional racism.
The type of enforcement done to these communities were brought as the result of institutional racism.
All sources were from this book. Free PDF is available. https://www.nap.edu/catalog/18613/the-growth-of-incarceration-in-the-united-states-exploring-causes
And yes the documentary 13th is a great way in understanding the history of systemic racism.
