A cheap, powerful drug emerges during a recession, igniting a moral panic fueled by racism. Explore the complex history of crack in the 1980s.
Direction
Nelson's unflinching archival assembly.
Writing
Reframes 'crack epidemic' as manufactured crisis.
Editing
Reagan clips hit like horror movie jump scares.
Director
Stanley Nelson
Nelson George
Self
Felipe Luciano
Self
Ronald Reagan
Self (archive footage)
Nancy Reagan
Self (archive footage)
Bill Clinton
Self (archive footage)
Hillary Clinton
Self (archive footage)
Walter Cronkite
Self (archive footage)
John Kerry
Self (archive footage)
Dan Rather
Self (archive footage)
Geraldo Rivera
Self (archive footage)
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The infamous 100:1 sentencing disparity (crack vs. powder cocaine) wasn't reduced to 18:1 until 2010—and thousands remain imprisoned under the old rules.
The documentary reveals how 'crack baby' hysteria produced an entire generation of stigmatized children—later studies proved the effects were massively overstated by junk science.
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Reactions from the web
If nothing else, I'm glad Netflix is getting people to watch documentaries again.
@Galactic123 719
This goes to show you why people have so little trust in their government.
@MarvinsBareFootNow 257
“The drug so powerful, it will make you sell the clothes off your back.” Oh damn shit, that's deep.
@SASASASA-o8m 217
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