Deborah Small

The war on drugs is the newest tool to enslave African Americans and ensure their continued oppression, argues Deborah Small in the following viewpoint. Drug laws are enforced in a way that is racially biased, she contends. For example, while blacks make up just 13 percent of drug users, 74 percent of drug users sent to prison are black. In addition, sentences for using crack cocaine—typically used by blacks— are one hundred times harsher than those for using powdered cocaine—typically used by whites. Small is the director of public policy for the Lindesmith Center and former legislative director of the New York Civil Liberties Union.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Small, Latinos make up what percentage of the annual 700,000 arrests for marijuana?
2. In the author’s opinion...