This review dwells upon David Farber’s Crack: Rock Cocaine, Street Capitalism, and the Decade of Greed. The book sheds light on diverse aspects of the war on drugs and the crack market in the USA in the twentieth century. The author attempts to identify the major causes of the problem and effective ways to tackle its outcomes. Farber stresses that crack sales should be seen as a product of the social issues that were apparent during the twentieth century (6). The author adds that the history of crack sales turn “the American dream upside down” (Farber 9). The researcher claims that the focus on the social aspect of the problem can help in reducing its negative impact on communities.
Underprivileged people, who were losing jobs, chose illegal trade to attain their financial goals. Interestingly, the researcher states that white elites, especially Ronald Regan, continuously repeated that entrepreneurship was a way to make the American Dream come true (Farber 179). Many people in poor neighborhoods followed the advice and entered the crack market as entrepreneurs trying to be rich and respected. The author also draws the reader’s attention to the ineffectiveness of incarceration policies that made the situation even worse. The war on drugs resulted in a heavier burden for people of colour and a deeper gap between the majority and the underprivileged minority. At that, social contexts were also the remedy as young people saw the devastating effects of the crack and simply refused to participate in crack sales in any way (Farber 8). Hence, Farber saw the social landscape as both the cause and the solution to the problem that was quite addressed at the end of the twentieth century.
The author employs diverse methods to attain his goal and show the relevance of his assumptions. Farber refers to other books and sound studies on the matter, which makes his claims linked to the existing knowledge base. The researcher also uses anecdotal evidence as he conducts numerous interviews with those affected by the problem. The author provides quotes that help the reader see the exact life stories behind a historical overview of a serious issue. Farber also analyses various legal acts, programs, and politicians’ speeches or accounts. All these details are instrumental in creating a complete picture of what was really happening in the inner city in the second half of the twentieth century.
The chosen approach has enabled the author to reach his goal and provide a deep analysis of the history of the crack in the USA, its major causes, effects, and solutions. Farber uses real-life stories, statistics, and intervention analysis to show that underprivileged people, “within their economic and cultural realm, in a broader culture of entrepreneurial greed,” tried to attain the American Dream (181). The social context made people of colour vulnerable and prone to entering the market as a dealer or a binger. The incarceration of underprivileged people led to their further fall and only contributed to the development of the crack market. At the same time, some strict laws and educational interventions, as well as support groups, had a certain impact and contributed to solving the problem.
Nevertheless, the devastating nature of the business made young generations see that crack sale were far from being a proper way to wealth and respect. It became clear to many that drugs destroyed people’s lives and the entire community, so the choice was obvious. The era of crack flourished when society became obsessed with accumulating wealth. The end of the age of crack was determined by people’s choice. It is possible to note that the author provides a detailed and relevant analysis of the problem giving a simple and correct answer to rather complex questions. The author manages to unveil the major cause of the rise of crack, which is the focus on punishment and criminalisation of the slightest faults of underprivileged individuals. Farber’s conclusions regarding the end of the era of crack also make sense. People simply stopped being a part of the market to avoid the destruction they witnessed in their early years.
Work Cited
Farber, David. Crack: Rock Cocaine, Street Capitalism, and the Decade of Greed. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2019.