Beginning in the 1980s and lasting through the 1990s, the War on Drugs had devastating effects on Black communities throughout the United States. So many of these communities had poor economic conditions because of the legacy of racism. With few economic opportunities, many people got involved in the drug trade for a short time and at a low level. They were not drug suppliers, just struggling individuals trying to make ends meet.

During this time, the most popular drug in Black communities was crack cocaine, while the more expensive powder cocaine was the choice of white Americans. When laws were written to bear down on the drug trade, crack cocaine was punished much more severely, at a rate of 100:1 compared to powder, based on reasoning that was later debunked. This disparity sent Black Americans to prison for longer sentences than their white counterparts dealing an equivalent amount of powder cocaine.

The laws were intended to punish large-scale dealers who made millions of dollars off the misery and addiction of others. However, in reality, prosecutors used them to go after small-time players. When drug kingpins were caught, they snitched on others lower down the chain in exchange for lighter sentences.