Crack, Culture, and the Fight for Our Lives: Unpacking the 80s in the Black Community

Hey Viva Fam,

The 80s were a totally tough time for our community here in the U.S. A lot of us faced down some heavy stuff like systemic racism, a huge money gap, and social injustice that just wouldn't quit. But even with all that, our culture just kept thriving, adapting, and building up its strength.

So, let's chat about some of the big things that really shaped our community back then:

The Tough Stuff We Faced:

• The Money Gap: Even though the country's economy was doing okay in some places, Black Americans were still hitting a brick wall when it came to money compared to white Americans. Get this: In 1985, the average income for Black households was only about $14,820, while white households were pulling in around $24,910. That's a big difference, right? It meant our families were way more likely to be living in poverty, searching for jobs (sometimes Black unemployment was double that of white unemployment throughout the decade, even hitting over 20% for Black guys in '83!), and just not getting the same chances for good schools or jobs.

  
  

• Crime & Policing: Our neighborhoods saw crime rates shoot up, often because folks were just trying to survive, and unfortunately, police brutality went way up too. This was the time of the "War on Drugs" really kicking into high gear, and it totally messed with Black folks disproportionately. By 1988, Black individuals were getting arrested for drug stuff at five times the rate of white individuals across the country. This created massive tension between us and the police, and honestly, it laid some serious groundwork for movements like Black Lives Matter that came along later.

  
  

• The AIDS Epidemic: This was just heartbreaking. The AIDS epidemic hit our community, especially in cities, incredibly hard. We lost so many people, and it caused huge economic pain too. By 1990, HIV/AIDS was the sixth biggest killer for African Americans overall. And for Black guys aged 35-44? It became the number one cause of death, taking out almost a quarter of all lives in that age group. Just devastating.

  
  

• Political Disenfranchisement: Even with all the amazing progress from the Civil Rights Movement, Black Americans still ran into big walls when it came to having our voices truly heard in politics. We're talking about old discriminatory voting laws still hanging around, districts being drawn in sneaky ways (that's gerrymandering!) to water down our voting power, and folks trying to suppress our votes. Like, in '82, these awesome activists, Maggie Bozeman and Julia Wilder, actually got convicted in Alabama just for helping elderly and homebound Black folks with their absentee ballots. It just shows how hard people were still fighting to keep our political power down.

Our Resilience & Vibrant Culture:

But hey, even with all those super tough challenges, our community kept making incredible strides and showing off its unbelievable spirit throughout the 80s. Our culture stayed rich and vibrant, just reflecting all the creativity, experiences, and rock-solid resilience of African Americans.

The amazing traditions that were thriving before the mid-80s really gave us strength and are still shaping our culture today:

• Music: Soul, funk, disco, and Motown were still big on the radio, celebrating Black experiences and inspiring a whole generation. But the 80s also saw the powerful explosion of Hip-Hop! This revolutionary style came straight out of our urban communities and quickly became a global powerhouse, telling our stories with raw, real vibes. Think icons like James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, and all those rising hip-hop stars.

  
  

• Civil Rights Movement's Legacy: The huge impact of the Civil Rights Movement kept rippling through our communities, building a strong sense of unity, empowerment, and a never-give-up attitude.

  
  

• Literature and Art: Black writers and artists kept digging deep into themes of identity, race, and the African American experience. Folks like Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, and Richard Wright made massive contributions to American literature, and tons of new voices popped up throughout the decade.

  
  

• Family and Community: Our families and community hubs, especially churches and community centers, became even more crucial. They were like the main support systems, places for learning, and spots for keeping our culture alive and kicking amidst all the tough stuff.

  
  

• Sports and Entertainment: Black athletes and entertainers just soared, breaking down so many barriers. We saw the incredible rise of Oprah Winfrey, who launched her nationally syndicated talk show in 1985 and became a total media legend. Michael Jackson dropped "Thriller" in '82, turning into a worldwide sensation with the best-selling album ever! In politics, Jesse Jackson made historic runs for president in '84 and '88, inspiring millions and showing how much political power and dreams were growing in our community. And let's not forget trailblazers like Harold Washington, Chicago's first Black mayor in '83, and W. Wilson Goode, Philly's first Black mayor in '84.

The Devastating Shadow of Crack Cocaine:

Okay, so while our culture showed immense strength, the mid-80s brought a definite, heartbreaking shift with the arrival of crack cocaine. This drug was super addictive and cheap, which led to it spreading like wildfire, especially in Black urban communities. It caused some serious social, economic, and health problems.

Here are some of the big ways it hit us:

• More Crime & Incarceration: The crack trade caused a huge spike in violent crime, particularly in our poorer urban areas. This led to tons of Black folks ending up in jail, often because of super harsh new drug sentencing laws. The Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1986, for example, created this wild 100-to-1 sentencing rule for crack versus powder cocaine, which totally messed with Black communities where crack was more common. By 1989, almost one in four Black men aged 20-29 was either locked up or on probation/parole. That's just wild.

  
  

• Family Breakdowns: Crack addiction often tore families apart. People struggled to keep relationships going and provide for their loved ones. This led to more child abuse, neglect, and homelessness in our communities.

  
  

• Health Issues: Using crack cocaine came with a whole bunch of really serious health problems like heart disease, strokes, HIV/AIDS, and mental health issues. These problems hit Black individuals way harder, thanks to existing issues like poverty and not having good access to healthcare.

  
  

• Economic Hardship: The drug trade and all the crime that came with it really hurt the economic well-being of our communities. Businesses got damaged or closed down, and it became even harder to find jobs or get an education.

It's super important to remember that crack cocaine affected everyone, but it hit the Black community extra hard because of all the unfair social and economic stuff that was already there. This drug epidemic really showed how much we needed bigger, all-around solutions to addiction, crime, and poverty in marginalized communities – a fight that's still shaping what we advocate for today.