Drug Decriminalization in Maryland Through an African Centered Research Paradigm- Analysis and Recommendations
This document offers guidance for theorizing questions related to a proposed research project purposed to advance drug decriminalization in Maryland. This document offers guidance for theorizing questions related to a proposed research project purposed to advance drug decriminalization in Maryland.
objective,” they are essential to correct the bias tacit embedded within the current system. It is understandable that researchers might want to project the Portugal decriminalization experiment in the most positive light possible, but our understanding of the dangers of applying this model to the United States shows how necessary African-centered research is as a corrective to the bias within contemporary research. Researchers must remain humble in the face of addressing such a complex issue, willing to adjust and readjust their preconceived notions in relation to their research process. More than anything, the admonition of scholars of African descent that all research is political must be remembered. This may feel like a daunting realization for researchers acclimated to the belief of themselves as dispassionate arbiters of objective data. Researchers should put this realization into context: white supremacy is a global system of control which precedes the contemporary era by at least 500 years. A recognition of the political role of research is not a demand to address whtie supremacy in its totality with complete accuracy. Such thinking actually over-estimates the role of the research, positing them as holding the responsibility to “save” oppressed communities with their research. The goal of the researcher is to do their small piece to produce knowledge which explains to the world how white supremacy has inhibited the ability for communities to save themselves and to use data, coupled with intense analysis, to present advocates and lawmakers with the tools to help restore that capacity. The hope is that this analysis, and the tools presented herein, can set researchers on the path towards achieving this goal. Works Cited Akbar, Na'im. Akbar Papers in African Psychology. Mind Productions & Associates, 2003. Alexander, Bruce K. The Globalization of Addiction: a Study in Poverty of the Spirit. Oxford University Press, 2010. Alexander, Michelle. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. New Press, 2020. Ani, Marimba. Yurugu: an African-Centered Critique of European Cultural Thought and Behaviour. Africa World Press, 1997. Berthelot, Emily R., et al. “Racial (In)Variance, Disadvantage, and Lethal Violence.” Homicide Studies, vol. 20, no. 2, 2015, pp. 103–128., doi:10.1177/1088767915570311. 4151 Park Heights Avenue, Suite 207, Baltimore, MD 21215 • www.lbsbaltimore.com • (410) 374-7683
Chapman, Chris, and A. J. Withers. A Violent History of Benevolence: Interlocking Oppression in the Moral Economies of Social Working. University of Toronto Press, 2019. Clear, Todd R. Imprisoning Communities: How Mass Incarceration Makes Disadvantaged Neighborhoods Worse. Oxford University Press, 2010. Curry, Tommy J. The Man-Not Race, Class, Genre, and the Dilemmas of Black Manhood. Temple University Press, 2017. Domosławski, Artur. “Drug Policy in Portugal: The Benefits of Decriminalizing Drug Use.” Open Society Foundations, 2011, www.opensocietyfoundations.org/publications/drug-policy-portugal-benefitsdecriminalizing-drug-use. “The Epidemiology Of Gun Violence: Race, Region And Policy.” NPR, NPR, 26 Mar. “Every 25 Seconds.” Human Rights Watch, 12 Oct. 2016, 2013, www.npr.org/2013/03/26/175378043/the-epidemiology-of-gun-violence-raceregion-and-policy. www.hrw.org/report/2016/10/12/every-25-seconds/human-toll-criminalizing-drug-useunited-states. 4151 Park Heights Avenue, Suite 207, Baltimore, MD 21215 • www.lbsbaltimore.com • (410) 374-7683
- Page 21 and 22: from the outside, Baudrillard shows
- Page 23 and 24: geographic boundaries between Black
- Page 25 and 26: a former UN Secretary General, and
- Page 27 and 28: health imperative seems to justify
- Page 29 and 30: discipline themselves in conformity
- Page 31 and 32: of critiquing power, the African Ce
- Page 33 and 34: dependency occur objectively outsid
- Page 35 and 36: from military dictatorship to democ
- Page 37 and 38: young and their are for more cannab
- Page 39 and 40: litureates seems to advocate for, t
- Page 41 and 42: influences” from your past as a p
- Page 43 and 44: significant number of them were hom
- Page 45 and 46: The conversation around decriminali
- Page 47 and 48: In the first, an alleged rape, the
- Page 49 and 50: to arrest or citation in those beat
- Page 51 and 52: is important, it is also important
- Page 53 and 54: “As this example illustrates, the
- Page 55 and 56: Recommendations We have created thi
- Page 57 and 58: As the exonerations in Harris Count
- Page 59 and 60: conducive to aggressive, heavy-hand
- Page 61 and 62: legalization of adult use cannabis
- Page 63 and 64: 3. Respect for and active perpetuat
- Page 65 and 66: This concept of promoting socio-eco
- Page 67 and 68: against the victims ofWhite racist
- Page 69 and 70: tioners, these human service profes
- Page 71: Notably, the trial and appellate co
- Page 75 and 76: INCITE! Women of Color Against Viol
- Page 77 and 78: Moynihan , Daniel Patrick. “(1965
- Page 79 and 80: Schiele, Jerome H. Human Services a
objective,” they are essential to correct the bias tacit embedded with<strong>in</strong> the current system. It is<br />
underst<strong>an</strong>dable that researchers might w<strong>an</strong>t to project the Portugal decrim<strong>in</strong>alization experiment<br />
<strong>in</strong> the most positive light possible, but our underst<strong>an</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g of the d<strong>an</strong>gers of apply<strong>in</strong>g this model to<br />
the United States shows how necessary Afric<strong>an</strong>-centered research is as a corrective to the bias<br />
with<strong>in</strong> contemporary research. <strong>Research</strong>ers must rema<strong>in</strong> humble <strong>in</strong> the face of address<strong>in</strong>g such a<br />
complex issue, will<strong>in</strong>g to adjust <strong>an</strong>d readjust their preconceived notions <strong>in</strong> relation to their research<br />
process. More th<strong>an</strong> <strong>an</strong>yth<strong>in</strong>g, the admonition of scholars of Afric<strong>an</strong> descent that all research is<br />
political must be remembered. This may feel like a daunt<strong>in</strong>g realization for researchers acclimated<br />
to the belief of themselves as dispassionate arbiters of objective data. <strong>Research</strong>ers should put this<br />
realization <strong>in</strong>to context: white supremacy is a global system of control which precedes the<br />
contemporary era by at least 500 years. A recognition of the political role of research is not a<br />
dem<strong>an</strong>d to address whtie supremacy <strong>in</strong> its totality with complete accuracy. Such th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g actually<br />
over-estimates the role of the research, posit<strong>in</strong>g them as hold<strong>in</strong>g the responsibility to “save”<br />
oppressed communities with their research. The goal of the researcher is to do their small piece to<br />
produce knowledge which expla<strong>in</strong>s to the world how white supremacy has <strong>in</strong>hibited the ability for<br />
communities to save themselves <strong>an</strong>d to use data, coupled with <strong>in</strong>tense <strong>an</strong>alysis, to present<br />
advocates <strong>an</strong>d lawmakers with the tools to help restore that capacity. The hope is that this <strong>an</strong>alysis,<br />
<strong>an</strong>d the tools presented here<strong>in</strong>, c<strong>an</strong> set researchers on the path towards achiev<strong>in</strong>g this goal.<br />
Works Cited<br />
Akbar, Na'im. Akbar Papers <strong>in</strong> Afric<strong>an</strong> Psychology. M<strong>in</strong>d Productions & Associates, 2003.<br />
Alex<strong>an</strong>der, Bruce K. The Globalization of Addiction: a Study <strong>in</strong> Poverty of the Spirit.<br />
Oxford University Press, 2010.<br />
Alex<strong>an</strong>der, Michelle. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration <strong>in</strong> the Age of<br />
Colorbl<strong>in</strong>dness. New Press, 2020.<br />
Ani, Marimba. Yurugu: <strong>an</strong> Afric<strong>an</strong>-<strong>Centered</strong> Critique of Europe<strong>an</strong> Cultural Thought <strong>an</strong>d<br />
Behaviour. Africa World Press, 1997.<br />
Berthelot, Emily R., et al. “Racial (In)Vari<strong>an</strong>ce, Disadv<strong>an</strong>tage, <strong>an</strong>d Lethal Violence.”<br />
Homicide Studies, vol. 20, no. 2, 2015, pp. 103–128., doi:10.1177/1088767915570311.<br />
4151 Park Heights Avenue, Suite 207, Baltimore, MD 21215 • www.lbsbaltimore.com • (410) 374-7683
Change language