As we approach MLK Day, some unnerving statistics from the US Census Bureau, Human Rights Watch, Department of Health and Human Services, JAMA, and the Bureau of Justice Statistics, as cited in the latest issue of Sojourners magazine:
Less than 1% - Difference in rates of illicit drug use between African-Americans and white Americans.
13% - Percent of illicit drug users who are African-American.
35% - Percent of drug-related arrests that are of African-Americans
256.2 per 100,000 - Rate at which black adults are imprisoned for drug offenses
25.3 per 100,000 - Rate at which white adults are imprisoned for drug offenses.
Although the majority of illegal drug users and dealers are white, 75% of those imprisoned for drug offenses are black or Latino.
Is it truly a war on drugs that we're fighting? Seems like a mighty selective war...
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