https://padlet.com/dcharest/xqo0kn44nak2ykuo Padlet Activity 2 en-us 2021-02-10 20:21:33 UTC 2021-02-10 22:49:29 UTC hello@padlet.com dcharest https://padlet.com/dcharest/xqo0kn44nak2ykuo/wish/1189995476

I am disturbed by the media enabling ‘credible’ sources such as physicians to illustrate an entire community as cocaine crazed and violent. 

Through the author’s examples, I agree that the media is exploitative of black men as they portray and associate drug use and violence to black men. 

It is also greatly concerning that racists would justify the lynching of black men if they were under suspicion of cocaine use. What is further concerning is that the author informs us that this influenced legislation development, but they do not inform us if there were any faced repercussions for these murders.

I agree with the author that both media and legislation continued to exploit and harm black communities. 

The fact that the Harrison Act was induced due to societal fears of black men as aggressors seem egregious and serve the purpose of fear-mongering. To this day, there is still a racially incorrect association between black men, drug use, and violence.

Regarding the use of cocaine, it is inane that white people snorting powder cocaine is a symbol of luxury and power while crack cocaine is associated with “troubled” folks or black communities. The author uses this effectively to illustrate the blatant racism with drug associations.

The author makes note of societies putting resources towards law enforcement in black communities and neighborhoods (due to racial drug association) rather than supplying needed resources and opportunities such as jobs and education. 

It is wildly concerning that the racial implications of the Harrison Act continue today through selective reinforcement of drug legislation; in other words, selectively punishing black men over white men regarding drug charges.

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