Powder Cocaine vs Crack Cocaine = Same drug.
This short film, narrated by Jay Z and featuring the artwork of Molly Crabapple, is part history lesson about the war on drugs and part vision statement.
As Ms. Crabapple’s haunting images flash by, the film takes us from the Nixon administration and the Rockefeller drug laws — the draconian 1973 statutes enacted in New York that exploded the state’s prison population and ushered in a period of similar sentencing schemes for other states — through the extraordinary growth in our nation’s prison population to the emerging above ground marijuana market of today. We learn how African-Americans can make up around 13 percent of the United States population — yet 31 percent of those arrested for drug law violations, even though they use and sell drugs at the same rate as whites.
The project came about when, last year, Dream Hampton, the filmmaker and a co-author of Jay Z’s book “Decoded,” approached the Drug Policy Alliance about collaborating with Revolve Impact, the social impact agency she works with. Revolve Impact connects artists and influencers to community organizers, and with marijuana legalization taking hold across the nation — and about to be considered in her own state, California — Ms. Hampton wanted to tackle the contradiction raised by Michelle Alexander, the author of “The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness,” in 2014: Why were white men poised to get rich doing the very same thing that African-American boys and men had long been going to prison for? Ms. Hampton proposed creating an animated video that the D.P.A. would produce about the impact of the drug war in African-American communities.
Policy makers are joining advocates in demanding an end to biased policing and mass incarceration, and in November, Californians specifically have the opportunity to vote Yes on Prop 64, the most racial-justice-oriented marijuana legalization measure ever. Prop 64 would reduce (and in many cases eliminate) criminal penalties for marijuana offenses, and it’s retroactive — people sitting in prison for low-level marijuana offenses would be released and have their records expunged. In addition, Prop 64 would drive millions of dollars in direct funding and investments to those communities most harmed by the criminal justice system.
Jay Z and Molly Crabapple are inviting us all to stand on the right side of history.
Speak on it
Recent Posts
Personal Entry: Candi x VoyageATL Magazine Interview
06/27/2018 •
-
I was recently contacted by VoyageATL Magazine requesting to interview me for it's Trailblazers: Rewriting the Narrative series. The editorial staff seeks out hidden gems located in Atlanta and the surrounding area.
-
It was a pleasure being selected and getting the opportunity to share a little bit of my journey with their readers. Check out a snippet of the interview inside.
SHOP NOW: The Addicted Life Releases “OG Hov Photo Tee” + “Hov Is My OG.” T-Shirts
06/15/2018 •
-
The Addicted Life is still going strong releasing pieces that are "Dope Simplicity." For their latest OG piece, they salute Shawn Carter aka Jay- Z. Jay is an inspiration to us all! The T-Shirts can be worn by both women and men. Fellas rock the Photo tee up with a pair of dope kicks. Ladies can match up the crop or full Tshirt with biker shorts & vans. See more inside.
Check Out The Addicted Life’s Dope Chick With Ambition Signature Sweatshirt
12/28/2017 •
-
Street wear Brand The Addicted Life has released crew-neck sweatshirts just in time for the winter season. The signature crew-neck sweatshirt is available in black with the message Dope Chick With Ambition in white lettering. Ladies, stand out in the cold rocking a dope message. Shop the hot item now via www.TheAddictedLife.com
ICYMI: Migos x Nicki Minaj x Cardi B ‘Motorsport’ (VIDEO)
12/08/2017 •
-
The visual for the hot track from Migos ft Nicki Minaj & Cardi B has finally arrived! The ladies look fly, Nicki really killed it with the pink lemonade braids hitting the floor!! Please ladies do NOT head to your local braider requesting this style. Being that 1) its a wig and 2) we don't want to see you in a local Walmart, dragging these inches almost tripping while trying to strut....GIRL!! Anyway! “MotorSport” is the lead single off Migos’ upcoming album Culture II, due in January. Check the video out below.