The story of crack cocaine in the US is riddled with mistruths. Stanley Nelson’s new doc CRACK: COCAINE, CORRUPTION & CONSPIRACY explores disinformation and exaggeration surrounding the drug's legacy.
Here are 4 things to know (thread):
Here are 4 things to know (thread):
Black Americans were disproportionately jailed for crack. Although two thirds of crack users were white, no white person was convicted of a federal crack-related offense in LA between 1998 and 1994. Meanwhile, Black incarceration rates increased exponentially.
The media often portrayed Black users as criminals, not as people in dire need of help. Catchy, provocative headlines about Black mothers paired with images of Black children led to a false notion that there was an epidemic of “crack babies.”
The proliferation of crack cocaine also led to an expansion of gun ownership. As the drug gained popularity, dealers felt more and more pressure to arm themselves.
Between 1982 and 1984, cocaine volume in the US increased 50% with the sudden arrival of 63 tons of new product. This insurgence led to a drop in price for crack, and, in turn, more victims.
To learn more about the history of crack cocaine in the US, watch Nelson’s documentary CRACK: COCAINE, CORRUPTION & CONSPIRACY, now on Netflix globally. 
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