Debating the Drug War: Racial Politics, Mass Media, and the War on Drugs
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The "War on Drugs" has presented an important change in how people view and discuss criminal justice practices and drug laws
Dr Michael Rosino, Molloy College
This session took place on Tuesday 16 November 12:30-2pm (UK)
Abstract
Since President Nixon coined the phrase, the "War on Drugs" has presented an important change in how people view and discuss criminal justice practices and drug laws. The term evokes images of militarization, punishment, and violence, as well as combat and the potential for victory. It is no surprise then that questions such as whether the "War on Drugs" has "failed" or "can be won" have animated mass media and public debate for the past 40 years in the US. Through analysis of 30 years of newspaper content and thousands of internet comments, I illuminate the role of racial silence, code words, and identity construction in the drug policy debate. Further, I demonstrate the social realities obscured by the dominant frames and provide insights for how advocates and organizations can contribute to a more robust conversation about the causes and consequences of racial oppression in drug policy.
Speaker
Dr Michael Rosino is an assistant professor of Sociology at Molloy College in Long Island, NY. His teaching and research interests include race and ethnicity, political sociology, social movements, media, and human rights. Dr Rosino's current research examines how the participants in a progressive grassroots party in the Northeast engage with issues of racial inequality and injustice in their identities, habits, and political strategies.