When Crack Was King: A People's History of a Misunderstood Era

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Synopsis
A kaleidoscopic account of the crack cocaine era and a community&’s ultimate resilience, told through a cast of characters whose lives illuminate the dramatic rise and fall of the epidemic &“A poignant and compelling re-examination of a tragic era in America history . . . insightful . . . and deeply moving.&”—Bryan Stevenson, author of #1 New York Times bestseller Just MercyThe crack epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s is arguably the least examined crisis in American history. Beginning with the myths inspired by Reagan&’s war on drugs, journalist Donovan X. Ramsey&’s exacting analysis traces the path from the last triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement to the devastating realities we live with today: a racist criminal justice system, continued mass incarceration and gentrification, and increased police brutality. When Crack Was King follows four individuals to give us a startling portrait of crack&’s destruction and devastating legacy: Elgin Swift, an archetype of American industry and ambition and the son of a crack-addicted father who turned their home into a &“crack house&”; Lennie Woodley, a former crack addict and sex worker; Kurt Schmoke, the longtime mayor of Baltimore and an early advocate of decriminalization; and Shawn McCray, community activist, basketball prodigy, and a founding member of the Zoo Crew, Newark&’s most legendary group of drug traffickers. Weaving together riveting research with the voices of survivors, When Crack Was King is a crucial reevaluation of the era and a powerful argument for providing historically violated communities with the resources they deserve.
Copyright:
2023

Book Details

Book Quality:
Publisher Quality
ISBN-13:
9780525511823
Related ISBNs:
9780525511809
Publisher:
Random House Publishing Group
Date of Addition:
Copyrighted By:
Donovan X. Ramsey
Adult content:
No
Language:
English
Has Image Descriptions:
No
Categories:
History, Nonfiction, Sociology
Submitted By:
Bookshare Staff
Usage Restrictions:
This is a copyrighted book.

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