The War on Drugs: A Case Study in Structural Racism and the Need for Honest Dialogue
Steve Holder
The War on Drugs: A Case Study in Structural Racism and the Need for Honest Dialogue
At the White Equality Alliance, our mission is to combat racism in all its forms and ensure that every American can discuss their identity—regardless of race—without being labeled as prejudiced. We believe that acknowledging systemic injustices, past and present, is essential to creating a fairer society. One stark example of structural racism, recently highlighted in discussions about U.S. policy, is President Richard Nixon’s 1971 declaration of the “War on Drugs.” Far from a neutral campaign, this policy was designed with discriminatory intent, targeting specific communities to maintain control and suppress dissent. As we reflect on this history, we see a clear call for evidence-based policies and open conversations about identity and justice—core tenets of our movement.
The War on Drugs: A Tool of Oppression
In 1971, President Richard Nixon launched the War on Drugs, framing it as a public health and safety initiative. However, evidence suggests it was a deliberate strategy to target marginalized groups. According to a 1994 interview quoted in Harper’s Magazine, Nixon aide John Ehrlichman admitted the policy’s true motives: “We knew we couldn’t make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did.”
This chilling admission reveals how drug laws were weaponized to oppress two groups Nixon’s administration viewed as threats: the antiwar left and Black communities. By associating marijuana with “hippies” and heroin with Black people, the War on Drugs justified aggressive policing, mass arrests, and disproportionate incarceration. As scholar Lyman notes, drugs were strategically criminalized throughout U.S. history to control people of color, minorities, and immigrants, with effects that persist today in staggering incarceration rates. For example, despite similar rates of drug use across racial groups, Black Americans are incarcerated for drug offenses at nearly six times the rate of white Americans, according to 2020 data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Structural Racism and Its Lasting Impact
The War on Drugs exemplifies structural racism—policies crafted with “clearly racist principles,” as Lyman describes, to maintain control over certain groups. These laws didn’t just target Black communities; they also disproportionately affected other minorities and immigrants, creating cycles of poverty, disenfranchisement, and systemic exclusion. The ripple effects are evident today: in 2021, Black individuals made up 12% of the U.S. population but over 30% of the prison population, largely driven by drug-related convictions.
This history resonates with our recent advocacy around the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) ruling, where we urged President Trump to reject divisive rhetoric and focus on evidence-based immigration policies. Just as the War on Drugs used fear and stereotypes to justify oppression, modern policy debates often rely on inflammatory narratives that pit communities against each other. Our letter to Trump emphasized that demographic change—like the white population’s decline from 79.6% in 1980 to 60.1% in 2020—is a neutral fact, not a threat. Yet, policies rooted in fear, whether targeting Black Americans in the 1970s or immigrants today, undermine unity and fairness.
Our Call to Action: Fair Policies and Open Dialogue
The White Equality Alliance stands against racism in all its forms, including the systemic injustices revealed by the War on Drugs. We believe that acknowledging these truths strengthens our case for open, stigma-free discussions about identity. When any group—Black, white, immigrant, or otherwise—is silenced or vilified, it erodes the foundation of a just society. That’s why we advocate for:
Evidence-Based Policies: Just as the War on Drugs lacked a basis in public health, modern policies must be grounded in facts, not prejudice. For example, TPS decisions should rely on objective data, like the $1.4 billion economic contributions of TPS holders, rather than racialized narratives.
Freedom to Discuss Identity: The same system that targeted Black communities and antiwar activists also stigmatizes discussions about white identity today. We reject this double standard and call for all Americans to discuss their heritage without fear of being labeled racist.
Unity Over Division: Policies rooted in fear—whether Nixon’s drug laws or inflammatory rhetoric about immigrants—divide us. We seek a future where all communities are heard, from African scholars on platforms like MOYA to Americans of every background.
Join Us in Building a Fairer Future
As we prepare to share our message on MOYA with Ntsiki Mazwai, a platform dedicated to African voices and truth, we’re reminded that combating racism requires global solidarity. The War on Drugs teaches us that silence enables injustice, while open dialogue fosters healing.
We invite you to:
Share This Story: Post about the War on Drugs’ legacy on X with #WhiteEqualityAlliance and #EndRacism to spark conversation.
Support Our Mission: Help us advocate for evidence-based policies and stigma-free dialogue by sharing our newsletter and joining our movement.
Together, we can dismantle the legacy of structural racism and build a society where every voice is valued. Thank you for standing with the White Equality Alliance in this fight for equality and truth.
Steve Holder
Founder, White Equality Alliance
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Written by
Steve Holder
Steve Holder
What Is White Equality Alliance? The White Equality Alliance is a newly launched grassroots movement committed to the belief that every race deserves equal respect, dignity, and the freedom to celebrate its heritage. If it’s acceptable to express pride in being Black, Latino, or Indigenous, then it should be just as acceptable for white people to express pride in their culture—without fear, shame, or accusation. We believe in the inherent worth of every human being, regardless of race or background. But in today’s climate, let’s be honest—there’s a clear double standard. While many forms of cultural pride are celebrated, white pride is often immediately labeled as hateful or racist. That’s not equality. That’s censorship by fear. At White Equality Alliance, we reject hate in all forms—and that includes the hate that comes from silencing certain voices. Pride in one’s heritage should never require tearing others down. Our mission is to create a space where white identity can be expressed in a healthy, respectful, and non-supremacist way—just like every other group is allowed to do. We’re just getting started, but our message is simple: Equality means everyone. If you believe in fairness, in honest conversation, and in the right of all people to celebrate who they are without shame or hostility—then we invite you to join us. Speak up. Stand with us. Help shape a future where pride doesn’t divide us—it reminds us that we all belong.