One of the major underlying issues in the United States and its large gap between classes can partially be attributed to the “war on drugs”. In the book “The New Jim Crow”, written by Michelle Alexander, argues that law-enforcement officials, due to the erosion of the Fourth amendment, inflict discriminatory practices. The Fourth amendment was put in place to protect citizens against unwarranted searches and seizures, however this is hardly followed by law-enforcement because of the governments affirmation on the war on drugs. Over our societies history and institutionalized practices of discrimination, especially the war on drugs, we have created a stereotype that view young black men as criminals, and this has not changed with law-enforcement
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Alexander notes this and states that, “these aggressive sweep tactics in poor communities of color are now as accepted as separate water fountains were several decades ago” (Alexander 2011: 190). In the hypothetical scenario provided, in which Jordan is unjustly searched and then arrested, has much larger implications than simply going to jail. The war on drugs not only has significantly increased the amount of arrests in poor communities of color, but there are also many discriminatory sentencing laws that target lower class citizens of color. In Jordan’s situation she was unjustly searched and caught with crack. Due to discriminatory sentencing laws, in particular mandatory minimums, she would be punished much more harshly than if she was white and carrying cocaine. In a article written by Austin Tymins of the Harvard Political Review, he states that about 80 percent of crack cocaine users are black while 60 percent of powder cocaine users are white. On top of this, despite the drugs being equally dangerous, Tymis says that the mandatory minimum for a gram of crack is the same as 100 grams of cocaine. Thus, Jordan’s sentencing would be significantly less if she had been white carrying cocaine as opposed to being …show more content…
Forfeiture of ones possessions will create challenges for anyone; however, the increase of minorities arrested from lower classes due to the war on drugs makes it even more problematic. Imagine being unjustly searched and arrested for drug charges and having your car and other possessions forfeiture. This is adding salt to the wound of one who is already at a disadvantage due to their economic standing, race, and now being labeled as a “criminal”. Once someone has the label of a felon attached to him or her, they immediately are negatively impacted in finding work, housing, and welfare. One way in which this is apparent in society is the “box”. This is the question on applications that asked if you have ever been convicted of a crime, and is on not only job applications, but for housing, schools, and welfare too. The box essentially allows employers to discriminate against those with a criminal history, no matter how minimal the charge. Additionally, criminals, most of who are already poor, must make payments to probation departments, child-support departments, and court fees (Alexander 2011: 154). This is not including the fact that many states will revoke your driver’s license upon failing to pay debt, which tends to lead to unemployment. There are some policies and groups that support newly released prisoners, however even most of these restrict those
Alexander notes this and states that, “these aggressive sweep tactics in poor communities of color are now as accepted as separate water fountains were several decades ago” (Alexander 2011: 190). In the hypothetical scenario provided, in which Jordan is unjustly searched and then arrested, has much larger implications than simply going to jail. The war on drugs not only has significantly increased the amount of arrests in poor communities of color, but there are also many discriminatory sentencing laws that target lower class citizens of color. In Jordan’s situation she was unjustly searched and caught with crack. Due to discriminatory sentencing laws, in particular mandatory minimums, she would be punished much more harshly than if she was white and carrying cocaine. In a article written by Austin Tymins of the Harvard Political Review, he states that about 80 percent of crack cocaine users are black while 60 percent of powder cocaine users are white. On top of this, despite the drugs being equally dangerous, Tymis says that the mandatory minimum for a gram of crack is the same as 100 grams of cocaine. Thus, Jordan’s sentencing would be significantly less if she had been white carrying cocaine as opposed to being …show more content…
Forfeiture of ones possessions will create challenges for anyone; however, the increase of minorities arrested from lower classes due to the war on drugs makes it even more problematic. Imagine being unjustly searched and arrested for drug charges and having your car and other possessions forfeiture. This is adding salt to the wound of one who is already at a disadvantage due to their economic standing, race, and now being labeled as a “criminal”. Once someone has the label of a felon attached to him or her, they immediately are negatively impacted in finding work, housing, and welfare. One way in which this is apparent in society is the “box”. This is the question on applications that asked if you have ever been convicted of a crime, and is on not only job applications, but for housing, schools, and welfare too. The box essentially allows employers to discriminate against those with a criminal history, no matter how minimal the charge. Additionally, criminals, most of who are already poor, must make payments to probation departments, child-support departments, and court fees (Alexander 2011: 154). This is not including the fact that many states will revoke your driver’s license upon failing to pay debt, which tends to lead to unemployment. There are some policies and groups that support newly released prisoners, however even most of these restrict those