In, Unequal Under Law: Race in The War On Drugs, Doris Marie Provine provides a series of examples to validate her assertions regarding the relationship between race and the war on drugs. She utilizes events from the past and other methods to justify her claim, that “ . . . racism and fear of a restive underclass explain the persistence of the American war on drugs . . .”(p.7) Provine blames the media, law enforcement, and legislature for an approach that undoubtedly affects African Americans more than any other race. Throughout the entire book, Provide expresses strong notions over what society perceives as social problems. An emotional and moral alarm is set off, derived from organizations who have their personal agendas against a particular
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She demonstrates the dimensions by which altered the concepts and viewpoints of individuals on drugs; while, initially drugs attain a medicinal practices or just home remedies passed on through the family, was now displayed as dangerous to society. These drugs, opium, marijuana, and cocaine, were associated with African American, Chinese, and Mexicans. These groups were marginalized by White Americans through the use of panic towards distinct racial members in society. Opium was one of the first drugs to be criminalized; the drug was used in a range of ways, from helping relieve the pain of old folks to silencing babies. It didn 't take long for people to realize the addictive nature of opium. Soon after, with the arrival of hard working, for low pay, chinese immigrants, Americans found that they were great for railroads and mines. In spite of that, Chinese immigrants were ultimately seen as a threat to Americans, and were later used as scapegoats against opium. “ The Heart newspaper, for example, portrayed opium as a drug Chinese men used to seduce and enslave white women. . . . [While others described that white women would] . . . prostitute themselves to Chinese men to satisfy their addiction to opium . . .”(p. 71). Similar depictions were made about both African American, for cocaine, and Mexicans, for marijuana. The media, at this point, became an increasing factor for the accounts associated with these individuals. Provine addresses that the notions pushed by the media was merely the references of the Narcotics Bureau Commissioner, Harry Anslinger. He appealed to people 's perceptions and later increased drug
She demonstrates the dimensions by which altered the concepts and viewpoints of individuals on drugs; while, initially drugs attain a medicinal practices or just home remedies passed on through the family, was now displayed as dangerous to society. These drugs, opium, marijuana, and cocaine, were associated with African American, Chinese, and Mexicans. These groups were marginalized by White Americans through the use of panic towards distinct racial members in society. Opium was one of the first drugs to be criminalized; the drug was used in a range of ways, from helping relieve the pain of old folks to silencing babies. It didn 't take long for people to realize the addictive nature of opium. Soon after, with the arrival of hard working, for low pay, chinese immigrants, Americans found that they were great for railroads and mines. In spite of that, Chinese immigrants were ultimately seen as a threat to Americans, and were later used as scapegoats against opium. “ The Heart newspaper, for example, portrayed opium as a drug Chinese men used to seduce and enslave white women. . . . [While others described that white women would] . . . prostitute themselves to Chinese men to satisfy their addiction to opium . . .”(p. 71). Similar depictions were made about both African American, for cocaine, and Mexicans, for marijuana. The media, at this point, became an increasing factor for the accounts associated with these individuals. Provine addresses that the notions pushed by the media was merely the references of the Narcotics Bureau Commissioner, Harry Anslinger. He appealed to people 's perceptions and later increased drug