Many Americans live with the idea that the days of racism are far behind us; however, the film The House I Live In, directed by Eugene Jarecki 's, and the book The New Jim Crow, by Michelle Alexander, state otherwise. Although the United States holds five percent of the world’s population, it is responsible for a fourth of the world’s prisoners. More than the majority of these prisoners are of color. (Jarecki 2012; Alexander 2012, 189) Therefore, the statistics contradict the U.S.’s long-held ideal
documentarian can be close to a subject, but also possess characteristics or traits that make them distant from the topic in question (Coles, 1998). Such is the case with the directors of both Stranger with a Camera and The House I Live In. Due to their own location, both Eugene Jarecki and Elizabeth Barret exhibit characteristics that make them fall into the insider/outsider roles as directors. Robert Coles defines location by stating, “We notice what we notice because of who we are” (Coles, 1998, p.
than ever. Historically, certain drugs that are illegal today were commonly used in America. In the 1800s, drug addiction was looked at as a public health issue, whereas today it’s treated like a violent crime (The House I Live In). Eugene Jarecki, author and director of “The House I Live In”, argues that the War on Drugs is not only ineffective, but instead of treating drug addiction, it has increased drug abuse. This eventually, triggered the government to create a law enforcement that feeds mainly
drugs; it is not some foreign affair like the media tends to focus on with Mexico. Nixon stated that at the time of his speech, what was implemented to control drug abuse was not working…“The problem has assumed the dimensions of a national emergency. I intend to take every step necessary to deal with this emergency, including asking the Congress for an amendment to my 1972 budget to provide an
cover up the murder, and what he has to do to accomplish this. “How ‘Bigger’ Was Born” also written by Richard Wright, shows how he created Bigger as a character, using people he observed throughout his life. The documentary, “The House I Live In”, directed by Eugene Jarecki, shows how America is acting on the drug war, and how the lack of role models causes drug dealers to be produced within low income neighborhoods. Stereotypes are shown throughout Native Son and other articles, as well as race in
Societies all around the world are culturally infused and, in many ways, defined by the “War on Drugs”. So, a question I had always wondered ever since I had begun D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) in elementary school was how can such a war be won? President Nixon declaration of war on drugs during his presidency in 1971, sparked mass incarcerations for those deemed unfit for society through the possession, use, or dealing of illegal substances such as heroin, cocaine, etc. Between 1980
do these people are separated from their loved ones but they have to suffer by spending long periods of time in prison. Due to this drug, not only does it increase incarceration, it would be caused to skyrocket. According to the documentary, The House I live in,the United States only make up 5% of the world's population yet it carries 25% of prison incarceration. Making the United States as the country with the highest incarceration rate. These statistics on how high these numbers must’ve become that
thinking the same things: YES, No lecture/writing and or ‘I’m going back to sleep’. But on October 21-26, I watched a documentary entitled: The House That I Live In. Just like the others, pretty much assumed that this was going to put me to sleep, considering I had a heavy breakfast (as usual). Ironically it was the complete opposite. What I saw instead compelled me to write this overview of how I feel. History 50 and Philosophy 76 are two different subjects, yet on these two days, someh0w these topics
the more severe ones. This creates an effect on citizens that manipulates their minds and emotions. The criminals become easier to pick out of the crowd and revert to a life of crime rather than back into society as honest citizens. People in society live in fear of whether they did or are going to do something wrong or not and of the criminals who come back into society. In some cases, physical violence is the result of a confrontation between an officer and a criminal. Police enforcement tactics impair
drugs has maintained an accumulation of prohibitions on illegal drugs and mandatory minimum sentencing strategies for drug offenders. Incarceration rates have also increased due to the increase of laws against illegal drugs. In Eugene Jarecki’s film, The House I Live In, Jarecki states that the penalties for crack users were harsher than penalties for regular cocaine users. This suggests that penalties are more of a double standard theory. The “War on Drugs” is more of a failure that places restrictions