The 21st century manifestation of Jim Crow.
March 24, 2007 4:16 PM Subscribe
The war on drugs' war on minorities. Democratic presidential candidates crave the Latino and black vote, but ignore the Drug War's unfair toll on people of color.
This post was deleted for the following reason: SLOE-filter. I forget, is FTW fuck the world or for the win now...? -- jessamyn
Was listening to something about the crack/powder laws on NPR the other day.
posted by The Straightener at 4:24 PM on March 24, 2007
posted by The Straightener at 4:24 PM on March 24, 2007
Way to jump into the ring with your dukes up, Jedi.
posted by miss lynnster at 4:27 PM on March 24, 2007
posted by miss lynnster at 4:27 PM on March 24, 2007
I was under the impression that the drug war was unfair on everybody, particularly those caught with drugs.
And the poor.
But the race card is good, too.
posted by undule at 5:02 PM on March 24, 2007
And the poor.
But the race card is good, too.
posted by undule at 5:02 PM on March 24, 2007
Was listening to something about the crack/powder laws on NPR the other day.
That's the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986. Right at the height of the crack panic. 100:1 sentencing disparity. Same drug. Fucking amazing.
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 5:02 PM on March 24, 2007
That's the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986. Right at the height of the crack panic. 100:1 sentencing disparity. Same drug. Fucking amazing.
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 5:02 PM on March 24, 2007
Use your aggressive feelings, boy!
posted by homunculus at 5:02 PM on March 24, 2007
posted by homunculus at 5:02 PM on March 24, 2007
Well it's not really news, I'd say.
It's been this way since people decided that Marijuana inspired Negroes to commit acts of rebellion, promiscuity and that insufferably loud devil-music called Jazz.
I doubt this issue is going to go anywhere for a long time, as the same large chunk of the US population who support the WO(s)D and tacitly approve of prison rape generally don't mind keeping the darkies down, either.
It's not a bug to them. It's a feature.
posted by Avenger at 5:04 PM on March 24, 2007
It's been this way since people decided that Marijuana inspired Negroes to commit acts of rebellion, promiscuity and that insufferably loud devil-music called Jazz.
I doubt this issue is going to go anywhere for a long time, as the same large chunk of the US population who support the WO(s)D and tacitly approve of prison rape generally don't mind keeping the darkies down, either.
It's not a bug to them. It's a feature.
posted by Avenger at 5:04 PM on March 24, 2007
One link FPP FTW. Take it to talk if you don't like it.
i_am_a_sith is going to be my new sockpuppet
posted by IronLizard at 5:09 PM on March 24, 2007
i_am_a_sith is going to be my new sockpuppet
posted by IronLizard at 5:09 PM on March 24, 2007
It's been this way since people decided that Marijuana inspired Negroes to commit acts of rebellion, promiscuity and that insufferably loud devil-music called Jazz.
One irony here is that the uniquely harsh sentencing for crack was championed by black politicians and community leaders in the 1980's. The rhetoric of the time: it was white bogeymen who were flooding city streets with crack cocaine.
posted by kid ichorous at 5:12 PM on March 24, 2007
One irony here is that the uniquely harsh sentencing for crack was championed by black politicians and community leaders in the 1980's. The rhetoric of the time: it was white bogeymen who were flooding city streets with crack cocaine.
posted by kid ichorous at 5:12 PM on March 24, 2007
There is this difference between these unfair sentencing guidelines and Jim Crow laws: The latter did not require that one commit a crime to be disadvantaged.
But yes, there is still systematic discrimination against people of color in the US, and lots of US citizens are OK with that.
posted by owhydididoit at 5:12 PM on March 24, 2007
But yes, there is still systematic discrimination against people of color in the US, and lots of US citizens are OK with that.
posted by owhydididoit at 5:12 PM on March 24, 2007
Why is it that if you say People of color it's proof that you're sensitive and progressive, but if you say Colored people it proves you're a racist troglodyte?
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 5:14 PM on March 24, 2007
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 5:14 PM on March 24, 2007
kid ichorous, I had never actually heard that before. Interesting.
posted by Avenger at 5:16 PM on March 24, 2007
posted by Avenger at 5:16 PM on March 24, 2007
"Unfair toll" statistically, but did every individual actually break the law? Pointing to others and saying "What about THEM, Officer?!" isn't a great defense.
posted by DU at 5:16 PM on March 24, 2007
posted by DU at 5:16 PM on March 24, 2007
After all the usual race, economic and political cards have been played, the end realization that I see is this: the drug war is simply unwinnable, people want to get chemically fucked up. All the laws in the world aren't ever going to change that.
posted by jonmc at 5:18 PM on March 24, 2007
posted by jonmc at 5:18 PM on March 24, 2007
Why is it that if you say People of color it's proof that you're sensitive and progressive?
It isn't.
posted by owhydididoit at 5:19 PM on March 24, 2007
It isn't.
posted by owhydididoit at 5:19 PM on March 24, 2007
Which is to say that racial demagoguery has flown in both directions in this whole muddled affair. It's a telling contradiction that both lower sentences and higher sentences for crack are met with the same cry of racism.
Why can't we just compare the costs - in rights, and in human life - of prohibition versus permission and treatment, come to the same conclusions as we have with ethyl alcohol, and move on? Doesn't race muddy the waters? Hasn't it done so in every other instance of drug law?
posted by kid ichorous at 5:20 PM on March 24, 2007
Why can't we just compare the costs - in rights, and in human life - of prohibition versus permission and treatment, come to the same conclusions as we have with ethyl alcohol, and move on? Doesn't race muddy the waters? Hasn't it done so in every other instance of drug law?
posted by kid ichorous at 5:20 PM on March 24, 2007
« Older Mmmm! | That's with an "O" Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by i_am_a_Jedi at 4:17 PM on March 24, 2007