In a Special New York Times Report, Jay-Z Explains Why “The War on Drugs Is an Epic Fail”

Nationwide — In a New York Times short film narrated by rapper/ entrepreneur Jay Z (Shawn Carter), a very important history lesson is taught about the war on drugs. The video features the artwork of Molly Crabapple, and educates viewers about the Nixon administration and the Rockefeller drug laws in New York, which exploded the state’s prison population and ushered in a period of similar sentencing schemes for other states.

Viewers learn how African-Americans make up only about 13 percent of the United States population, but yet 31 percent of those arrested for drug law violations, even though they use and sell drugs at the same rate as whites.

The project came about when Dream Hampton, the filmmaker and a co-author of Jay Z’s book Decoded, approached the Drug Policy Alliance about collaborating with Revolve Impact, the social impact agency she works with that connects artists and influencers to community organizers.

Watch the video below: