Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy Today

In the early 1980s, during a period of recession, crack emerged as a cheap and powerful version of cocaine. While powder cocaine was often associated with wealthy white users, crack quickly became a fixture in lower-income, inner-city neighborhoods. Systemic Corruption and Conspiracy

: Nelson highlights the shift from "beat cops" to heavily armed units in body armor, marking the beginning of the militarized policing seen today. Harsh Sentencing and Lasting Impact Crack: Cocaine, Corruption & Conspiracy

The documentary sheds light on the legal disparities that decimated Black and Brown communities. In the early 1980s, during a period of

: The epidemic and subsequent policing strategies led to mass incarceration, the vilification of Black women (the "crack baby" and "crack mother" myths), and the destruction of families. Harsh Sentencing and Lasting Impact The documentary sheds

: It explores the "conspiracy" theory that the U.S. government, specifically the CIA, turned a blind eye to cocaine smuggling by the Contras in Nicaragua to fund anti-communist efforts, allowing the drug to flood American streets.

The film investigates how high-level corruption and political agendas may have fueled the crisis.

Watch the official trailer to see how the documentary explores the 'shadowy origins' and systemic impact of the crack epidemic: