Watch American Dope: White Powder, Black Power
- 2018
- 1 hr 8 min
-
6.6 (28)
American Dope: White Powder, Black Power is a documentary film directed by Kevin Booth and starring Courtney Brown and Osa Grekov. The film takes the viewers on a journey through the history of the drug trade in America, focusing on the intersection of race and drug policy. The film starts by exploring the origins of the drug trade in America, including the use of opium in the 19th century and the rise of cocaine in the early 20th century. It looks at how race played a role in the perception of these drugs, with opium being seen as a threat to white society and cocaine being associated with black people and jazz music.
The film then moves on to the 1960s and 70s, when the drug trade exploded in America. It looks at how black communities were targeted by law enforcement and how drugs were used to keep these communities in a state of poverty and under control. The film also explores the rise of the Black Panther Party and their efforts to fight against police brutality and the war on drugs.
As the film progresses, it looks at the effects of drug policy on the black community, including the rise of mass incarceration and the devastation caused by the crack epidemic in the 1980s. It looks at how the drug trade has become a way for people to escape poverty and how drug policy has failed to address the root causes of addiction.
The film also explores the involvement of the CIA in the drug trade, particularly in the 1980s when they were funding the Contra rebels in Nicaragua. The film suggests that the CIA's involvement in the drug trade helped fuel the crack epidemic and perpetuated racial disparities in drug policy.
Throughout the film, the viewers are introduced to a range of experts and activists who provide insights into the drug trade and its effects on the black community. The film features interviews with civil rights activist Dick Gregory, former DEA agent Michael Levine, and rapper David Banner, among others.
American Dope: White Powder, Black Power is a powerful and thought-provoking documentary that sheds light on the intersection of race and drug policy in America. It presents a compelling argument that the war on drugs has been a failure that has perpetuated racial disparities and contributed to the destruction of black communities.
The filmmakers use a range of archival footage and interviews to construct a powerful narrative that is both informative and engaging. It is a film that will leave viewers with a better understanding of the history of the drug trade in America and the ways in which it has perpetuated racial disparities.
Overall, American Dope: White Powder, Black Power is a must-see documentary that provides an important perspective on the intersection of race and drug policy. It is a film that will challenge viewers to think critically about the impact of drug policy on black communities and the need for a new approach to drug policy in America.
American Dope: White Powder, Black Power is a 2018 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 8 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.