Spotlight! Symposium: Lawrence Grandpre
Drug Decriminalization from a Reparations Perspective
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 · 12 - 1 PM
This event is hosted by the Albin O. Kuhn Library & Gallery. The original event post is here.
Drug Decriminalization from a Reparations Perspective
Lawrence Grandpre, Director of Research, Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle
2021 had the highest rate
of death by overdose in American history, with over 100,000 Americans
dead. In opposition to the "Just Say No" ideology of the 80's and 90's -
harm reduction rejects abstinence-only dogma and promotes "any positive
change" toward more healthy and more controlled substance use. Yet in
the Black community, which has faced decades of addiction struggle -
some have raised issues with harm reduction apparently "libertarian" and
"permissive" attitudes toward drug use. This talk focuses on the role
of the war on drug/ drug criminalization in Maryland in hollowing out
the capacity of communities to support healthy functioning.
Specifically, this presentation will discuss how patterns of drug war
incarceration hinder the production of social capital in targeted
communities necessary to build institutions. This is why
community-centered reparations are an essential component to drug
decriminalization.
Part of the "Prison State" lecture series - one-hour presentations by scholars, community organizers, and other experts addressing a variety of issues shaping the past, present, and future of incarceration.
Co-sponsored by the Department of American Studies; the Department of Gender, Women's, + Sexuality Studies; Department of Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health; School of Social Work; Department of Psychology; Department of Political Science; Language, Literacy, and Culture Program; Department of Media and Communication Studies; the Dresher Center for the Humanities; the Center for Social Science Scholarship; and the Graduate School.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~