Heroin Helper Blog

More fun facts! More fun facts!! LOL

The relationship between white privilege (more specifically white, heterosexual, property owning male privilege, but it applies to the white "race" in a more general, more nuanced interconnection) white supremacy, law, public policy, drug law enforcement, popular culture, and government has always consumed me.

Great history lesson too LOL, although I'm upset you didn't sneak any comment about the "yellow claw" or Sax Rohmer in :(

I've never heard of Elon James White. Of course I could just wiki them, but I'm interested as to why your a fan.

It doesn't need to be said, but for the records EVERYthing I've ever come across in the mainstream new media annoys me to one degree or another. I think the only example I can think of that I've seen in the media (and enjoyed for non-cynical reason), albeit the New Yorker, was an article in this week's edition. It was about Steven Martin (no relation to the comedian/actor, as far as I know) and his passion for collecting opium-smoking paraphernalia ("Where There's Smoke, Paraphernalia / June 25th, 2012 / Nick Paumgarten). Even then, it hardly goes into drug policy or the like though. So in my mind it doesn't really count :p

Always enjoy reading your thoughts on the genesis and recreation of American drug policy. As I commented on another of earlier your posts, Alexander's treatment of this exact subject in The New Jim Crow is spot on.

As a Human Rights Studies double major in college, I wish human rights reporters and journalists would do more to focus on this stuff. To bring it into public view, in a consistent and obvious way I mean. This, however, seems to be too much to ask, for a variety of reasons. The closest I've seen to this is stuff that has come out about problems our society faces as a consequence of drug policy and law enforcement (mandatory minimums, crack vs cocaine disparity, private prisons, racial disparity, prison overcrowding, etc. etc.) And even then, such articles are still rather few, far between, and one step removed from America's mechanisms of popular mass media (e.g. USA Today [...shudder...]).

Do you have an opinion on Tim Wise, btw? I know rather little about him, but I generally enjoy his essays. Then again, I'm more in line with the Race Traitor concept than the Anti-Racist paradigm. I hope, if you haven't already, you one day have the pleasure of reading Ignatiev's (and company) Race Traitor. I can't find a link to the edition of collected essays of theirs that is my fav, but the following will give you an idea if you're new to this:

http://racetraitor.org/features.html

http://books.google.com/books/about/Race_Traitor.html?id=zWMyXbfFKcQC

After thinking a minute, in truth Race Traitor also doesn't often get to the heart of this matter either. Then again, it has a broader focus than just drug policy/law enforcement.

To get the most complete understanding of these topics, I would have to say that NGOs, smaller ones like the Sentencing Project and Drug Policy Institute (along with the more grassroots groups like A Better Way Foundation - CT) and more prominent groups like (even) Human Rights Watch, are the most on-point. They're research oriented, generally, but that's okay. Numbers and data can be manipulated for anyone's particular ends, but it clear there is not much, if any, ideological bent behind their work.

Alas, I've rambled too much. Please excuse the poor grammar and flowery diction. I am tired, stinky and uncomfortable. Time to bring a modicum of pleasure to my day - good, old fashioned masturbation.

TMI? I think yes ;)

Adios, mi compaņero.

@MikeB - EJW? Because he is funny as hell. He used to do these videos that I always looked forward to. Here's one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKVGkyY5xyE

I might embed it above.

The New Yorker article sounds interesting. I used to have an antique syringe that was really cool but I lost it. Or my wife has it, which is the same thing.

One of the many things I like about The New Jim Crow was her discussion of why it is that civil rights groups stay away from these issues. I've also given a lot of thought to her idea that affirmative action may be hurting things. Somewhere else I heard this statement (I think it is in reference to modern South Africa) that the society is like an espresso (I think; I'm not a coffee drinker.): white on the top, black on the bottom, and a sprinkling of black on top.

Tim Wise? No. But since you mentioned him, I've requested "Whites Like Me." I'll let you know. And I have some Race Traitor stuff up to read. You recommended something else that is coming, but I don't remember what it is. The books arrive, I read them. Nothing is enough. We must be omnivores, especially at the edge of debate as we are.

Since my focus on the site is now more political than anything, I should start setting up pages with these resources. It is hard for me to keep up. I have about 2 hours of required online reading every day. But I'm getting better at filtering.

Not too much information. It is only for the better.

Adieu mon ami. :)

"white on the top, black on the bottom, and a sprinkling of black on top."

^ Great stuff! I had only heard it like this: "America is like a melting pot: The scum floats to the top while the stew on the bottom gets burned." (not verbatim)

I'm glad to hear you're so receptive to some of the research/NGOs I mentioned. I will pull out the old research projects of mine and send you a list and links to those papers and essays I'm familiar with. Lots of good stuff.

It's never enough ;)

@MikeB - Thanks. I look forward to that.

It is interesting that you mention that, because I *just* watched *Down By Law* which has more or less the same line. "My mama used to say that America's the big melting pot. You bring it to a boil and all the scum rises to the top." I like the bottom getting burned addition.

BTW, I think you mean latte or cappuccino, for that analogy about race to make sense, as opposed to plain espresso (the white on top is a reference to steamed milk froth and the sprinkling of black is cinnamon/whatever spice/cocoa powder/etc). Such, at least, is my expert opinion :p

I was also just thinking about Race Traitor. One of the essays, can't remember the name off the top of my head, is about an instance of someone shedding their white privilege (while also exposing a sort of colonial mindset in the other). And since I had exactly the same experience as described in the paper, I thought I'd share:

One day I was in a Package Store (in Hartford, Package Stores = Liquor Stores) to buy a pack of cigarettes. I walk in and say to the owner, "May I have a pack of Newports." Upon seeing me and then hearing me say this, a guy behind me says, "Woah! I never knew white boys smoked those!" My reply:

"Who you call'n white (expletive omitted)?!"

I miss Connecticut...

@MikeB - That's funny.

I started reading "Abolish the White Race - By Any Means Necessary" but the long lines were bugging me so late, but I'll finish it tonight.

You are undoubted right about the coffee thing; I need to go hang out at Starbucks for a bit. I have a reason anyway, I hear they have improved their terrible tea selection.

No. No you do not need to start hanging out at Starbucks :p

For my sake. As someone who worked the coffee bar in the college library. Please. No. (unless someone gives you a gift certificate)

@MikeB - Strangely, a lot of people have recently. I think it is widely known that I don't drink coffee, but people probably see me as a "coffee person." Whatever that means.