Over the past few decades, the United States has contributed to the substantial war on drugs and its impact has continued to affect many people in more than one way. Unfortunately, it is a war that has focused its efforts on the criminalization of drug use and distribution. It has certainly not eradicated the mass destruction that has been marked in communities around the United States and globally. There is an obvious correlation between drugs, racial justice, and aspects that reach beyond national borders. It is for this reason that the crisis affects particularly, communities of color and the nations that have been at stake since the surfacing of the war on drugs.
Today, the broad majority of criminalization affects minority groups and …show more content…
Statistics of prison demographics show that white men use and sell illegal drugs at the same rate as blacks, yet, more blacks are arrested than white men for similar crimes. For instance, 80 percent of people in federal prison and 60 percent of people in state prison for drug felonies are Black or Latino (Drug Policy Alliance 2015). This illustrates that nothing contributes more to the systematic mass incarcerations of people of color more than the United States’ war on drugs. Also, once you have a felony charge, certain rights are taken away from you, such as voting, financial aid etc, therefore these communities are criminalized unjustifiably. In the article, “Collateral Consequences of Mass Incarceration,” The Drug Alliance Policy points out that, “Punishment for a drug law violation is not only meted out by the criminal justice system, but is also perpetuated by policies denying child custody, voting rights, employment, business loans, licensing, student aid, public housing and other public assistance to people with criminal convictions. Criminal records often result in deportation of legal residents or denial of entry for non citizens trying to visit the U.S. Even if a person does not face jail or prison time, a drug conviction often imposes a lifelong ban on many aspects of social, economic and political life.” In other words, a drug
Today, the broad majority of criminalization affects minority groups and …show more content…
Statistics of prison demographics show that white men use and sell illegal drugs at the same rate as blacks, yet, more blacks are arrested than white men for similar crimes. For instance, 80 percent of people in federal prison and 60 percent of people in state prison for drug felonies are Black or Latino (Drug Policy Alliance 2015). This illustrates that nothing contributes more to the systematic mass incarcerations of people of color more than the United States’ war on drugs. Also, once you have a felony charge, certain rights are taken away from you, such as voting, financial aid etc, therefore these communities are criminalized unjustifiably. In the article, “Collateral Consequences of Mass Incarceration,” The Drug Alliance Policy points out that, “Punishment for a drug law violation is not only meted out by the criminal justice system, but is also perpetuated by policies denying child custody, voting rights, employment, business loans, licensing, student aid, public housing and other public assistance to people with criminal convictions. Criminal records often result in deportation of legal residents or denial of entry for non citizens trying to visit the U.S. Even if a person does not face jail or prison time, a drug conviction often imposes a lifelong ban on many aspects of social, economic and political life.” In other words, a drug