Yvette Carnell: Why Brazilian Crack Dealers are Better than African-American Crack Dealers
by Yvette Carnell
Think all crack dealers are gangsters and thugs who couldn’t care less about the people they hurt? Think again. In Brazil, drug kingpins have given orders
Brazilian drug dealer. C/o Al Jazeera
to halt sales of crack in an effort to save their communities. This from Al Jazeera:
But since a rock of crack can be purchased for only R$5 (less than $3 USD), the most desperate and downtrodden users tend to congregate by the hundreds in and around Rio’s favelas, where it can be easily purchased.
That is partially why, in an unprecedented move, some drug traffickers have unilaterally decided to stop selling crack in the favelas they control.
In both Mandela and Jacarezinho favelas – combined home to more than 100,000 residents – crack can no longer be purchased. Two drug bosses, who control each favela, gave the orders to halt sales.
A dirt road bordering Mandela favela that previously was known to be one of Rio’s largest concentrations of users (known as “cracolanidias” in Brazil) is where hundreds of users and sellers would congregate day and night.
The road is now clear of any signs of users or sellers.
Brazilian drug dealers cared enough about their people to stop selling them the poison that was destroying their communities, but I bet you won’t find an African-American crack dealer who is willing to do the same. Allegedly, Tupac was in discussions with rival gangs on the topic of lessening the impact of the drug trade on ordinary black people around the time he was killed, but now the narrative has been hijacked.
Today, African-Americans applaud former crack dealers who once wreaked havoc on their communities as a way of “coming up.” The two examples which immediately jump to mind are 50 Cent and Jay-Z. They are multi-millionaires now, but they got their seed money from crack sales and, for the most part, black people couldn’t care less. Even Oprah couldn’t care less, since she said down with 50 Cent to discuss how he rubs his grandmama’s feet, as if that makes up for his total lack of humanity on other fronts.
In black America, it doesn’t matter what you did to get rich, or who you hurt, or how many lives you ruined, just that you got rich. We worship money, not humanity. So what if entire families were torn apart by addiction, who really cares? If your mama got strung out and started selling herself, and your daddy got locked up, then that ‘s on you. The only thing that matters is that 50 and Jay are ballin’. They got paper, right? So what if it was at your expense? That’s all part of the game.
Mainstream Black America, for the most part, takes its inspiration solely from money. By narrowly focusing on who has money, and paying no attention to how they amassed their wealth, we have made ourselves small, and without a moral core. And we can’t really hold anyone else’s feet to the torch of moral virtue so long as we allow degenerates, such as retired crack dealers, to walk among us as heroes. If you want to take back the moral high ground in America, this would be a great place to start.
For my part, I’ll never forget who these men are, and how their road to success was paved with crack heads and a disintegration of the black family. And if I were President, Jay-Z would never have made his way to the White House lawn, much less the Situation Room.
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Oh, shut up! You don’t know everybody’s situation for selling dope in Black America. They do it because they’re desperate and to feed their families, not because they like to. African-American men like 50 Cent and Jay-Z are from the hood, no father figures, no strong guiding hand and drug dealers were their role modes. They were products of their environment. Unless you have walked a mile in their shoes, don’t judge them and they don’t sell crack anymore! We ALL make mistakes and NOBODY is perfect. EVERYBODY has a past and none of us are puritans and for the record, Brazilian crack dealers are not better than crack dealers in Black America! Drug dealers wouldn’t exist if people didn’t do illegal drugs and nobody twisted theses drug addicts arm and force to blow their money on that poison and do things to support their habit. Please, in this day and age, they’re not ignorant about the dangers of illegal drugs. Nuff said!
STOP MAKING EXCUSES THESE BRAZILIAN ARE IN A MORE WORST SITUATION THAN AFRICAN AMERICAN YOU CAN GO OUT AND GET A DUCKING JOB GO TO LABOR READY BUT NAH MOTHER f*****s WANAN SELL DOPE AND BLAME IT ON RACIMS WHEN THEY GET POP
So far we have two simple minded responses to the story, but what did you expect. Their responses are inane, their diction and grammar are insane and their thinking lacks quality. With so little to contribute, they should have kept it to themselves. Whoever reared those clowns should be ashamed. If Trevanne and diablo are examples, we are on our way to life far worse than historic slavery.
Trevanne Foxton and DIABLO responded to the article, which is what this section is for. You didn’t, your comment is truly inane, your diction is trying too hard, your grammar is imperfect, and your thinking is elitist. You insult their parents/guardians, and offer nothing more than destructive criticism. You should be ashamed, you simple-minded troll!
The commentary upon grammar and argument articulation illustrates the futility of your comment. While the two other comments may have lacked the sophistication that you may be accustomed to, it still addressed the subject matter and not the manner by which it was portrayed. Your own bias is what is truly saddening.
yvette, great article. in my opinion one of your best, if not the best!
“without a moral core.” You couldn’t have said it better.
This story is the exact discussion of what transpired several days ago at one of our community meetings. When the discussion began on politics, the conversation eventually mentioned Jay-Z and how shocking it was that Oboma would allow him into the White House. Attendees felt this would come back to haunt Oboma in November.
Not only did people get strung out on the crack cocaine; people actually DIED too!! These drug dealers are murderers. Some drug users were young children when introduced to drugs.
Jayz, and 50 cents, are nothing but trash, irregardless of how much money they now have. They are members of a group of black scum, that also includes Russell Simmons, PDiddy, Lil Wayne, Snoop Dog, and the rest of that ilk, that is leading to the destruction of the black community, and demeans, and devalues our race. Jayz, and 50 cents sold more destructive things than crack to our kids. They sold them on thinking that they were n*****s, and that violence against their own people was cool.
Yeah it’s easy to single out former crack dealers for selling drugs but how many times do we say anything about McDonalds and KFC for doing something just as if not more destructive to our community? The death and destruction that these companies are contributing to are just as bad but nobody seems to care, yet when you find someone who has moved in a different direction you want to act as if they should always be remembered for this. What reason is there for someone to stop selling drugs if all people are going to do is treat them as if they are still doing it? And I don’t buy this story about drugs not being sold in the favelas for one minute. Two people don’t control a entire country’s drug trade and if that’s the case then why not just go ahead and lock them up. Plus addicts aren’t addicts because the drugs are so easily accessible. If they start selling it in other parts of the country then they will just migrate there, so what change really has taken place? “Like I told you to sell drugs, Nah, Hov did that, so hopefully you wouldn’t have to go through that”
In every misdirection and lie there is some truth. I personally know some drug dealers that sell drugs to survive and to take care of their families, no I ‘m not condoning what they do but I’m realistic about why they do it.
For some of you that complain that blackmen are not taking care of their children, what if they cannot get a job and this is the only way that they know how, does that still make them bad people?
Consider this; the Kennedy’s had a history of illegal booze running, the bushs made deals with the nazis during the war, and many of the “upstanding and powerful whitemen” of this country have (and still do) profit from the misery of others. The koch brothers are polluting our air and water and at the same time buying politicians to alter laws in their favor. And as mentioned before KFC, Mcdonalds and such are posioning us with the garbage that they sell. How is this no different than the crack dealers except that because of a strong lobby what they do is completely legal.
If the story in this article is true, it simply would show the power that the kingpins have in those neighborhoods, but it also shows the naivete of the writer as well. If they are not in the “hood” that just means that they have to go somewhere else to get what they need. Besides like it was said before these are two people in two neighborhoods out of a whole country of millions so really does it have any real meaning as far as comparisions?
No, it means that they’re selling marijuana and coke to their people instead of crack. That’s not much, but it’s a start…
In the typical way that whatever comes across the Associatied Press Wire only to be regurgitated throughout the Blog community and even the main stream press without anyone even picking up a phone to actually call or speak to someone from Brazil. You just re-write their propaganda while putting a so-called Black Spin on it thinly disguising the overall sentiment. Which is truly dishonest. The drug dealer who obtains his main supply from whatever government he lives under through planes, trains, ships and automobiles however they get it to and out of various countries. Now instead of calling the whole mess on the carpet which is the bullshit War on Drugs. We now call one side of the parasitic relationship better than the other without once again ever addressing the root cause of why so many people want to use drugs in the first place? Lack of educational opportunities, racism, classism, socially maladjusted environments. All being held in check by whatever caste, race or class system still in place. Did you ever consider the government of Brazil is trying hard to get a hold of Billions of dollars of contract money that would come from hosting the Olmpics? Do you honestly believe after decades of some parasitic relationship that some scumbag suddenly had a change of heart? If you do and believe this “article” you are an idiot. The money the government of Brazil makes off of it’s USA sponsered War on Drugs will not allow them to legalize and treat this people with whatever psychological or social problems that enables them to use. Brazil wants that prestige and money from hosting the Olypics. So they will put the foot down and order their street salesmen to get in line and stop selliing in order to look like they are cleaning up the problem as soon as the Olympics are over in Brazil back to business. It’s just a basic tactical move to start to clean up the problem now with the 2016 Olympics around the corner. So all the drug addicts can be safely shuffled to some other neighborhood. Brazil gets to keep it’s American sponsered Narco-Terrorist money and all those fat assed ugly Americans who want to see the nice butts of sexy Black and Mixed Brazillian girls can enjoy their stay without being robbed or killed. Nice propaganda story Yvette your check in the mail?
Dude. Whatever. You should be willing to die before you kill your own people. And none of the mumbo jumbo bullshit you talkin is going to change that. Like everybody else in the black community, you’re full of d**n excuses.
Think deeper, your points are very interesting!
@!!!! you’re a dumb troll. @Think Deeper, you took the words right out of my mouth.
The sale of Crack in the Negro neighborhhood is the only employment opportunity available to many of our youth. This is either by design or necessity. One thing is for certain: No one is getting rich in a neighboorhood that has 3 times the unemploymet rate of the nationl unemployment rate. Our problem is not the sale of illicit drugs, but rather we suffer from lack of employment as well as employment within the community. When President Bill Clinton called for either a relocation of jobs too the Negro community or the relocation of the community where jobs were, in response to the Republicicans ” welfare to jobs “, he was vilified and Lou Whinskied. He knew, president Clinton, as well as we do, that the threat to our neighborhoods are unemployment, lack of employment within our neighborhoods, crime, high drop out rates in our schools and the welfare to work initives that has taken mothers out of the homes and placed them in minial jobs rather then in academic initives. Research has proven: that when community has high employment crime, drug use, teen pregency rates all decline. Research has further shown that when employment in a community is high that graduation rates increase and that the community overall has a social dynamic that supports instutions for greater childhood development. One of those instutions is fathers’ remaining in the household.
Our problem is not Crack nor the children that support their families through the sale of Crack. Rather, high unemployment that leads too the development of social dysfunction.
Sorry Yvette, You get an epic fail for this one!!! While it is good what the Lords of the Favela are doing, you comparing apples to oranges. There are major differences between Black American Ghettos and the Favelas of Brazil. First of all the Black American ghettos are homogeneous by design while the Favelas are multiethnic. Through the process of redlining and other white supremacist tools the ghettos were created to politically and economically tomarginalize the black people exclusively. In Brazil descendants of Africa find themselves on the lowest rungs of the totem poll but they (however disproportionate) are not there alone. The Favela consists of Africans, Indians, and Europeans, and a mixture of all of the aforementioned. And my description of the races are not even aligned to how the Brazilians self identify, it’s more of an American view on racial classification. While Brazilians have utilized white supremacy to oppress Afro Brazilians, there has not been this all consuming fixation on disrupting its citizen’s progress based on race. Not anything like the United States which has appropriated billions to stop the progression of African Americans. Again I know the Favela is struggling, but it has more elements of a class struggle than a racial one (not dismissing the racial overtones however).
Furthermore, there are many African Americans who regret selling hard drugs like heroin and crack. But here is a key difference, the drug lords run the Favelas, they don’t run the American Ghetto’s however. How can a drug dealer in America exercise the same control under the current police state. Drug dealers in the Favela routinely carrier weapons in the open, and carry out the drug enterprise with little to no attention from the cops, and it not the same way in America. I’m from the South Side of Chicago, and while it is persistent carnage and gang warfare, this activity still is done with a degree of stealth because there is much more of a police presence.
This brings me to this point. Yvette, do you know about drugs in America? In Chicago alone, Jeff Fort, the leader of the Black Stone Rangers, fought hard to keep crack from coming into areas in Chicago. He is not the only one. Larry Hoover attempted to transform the Gangster Disciples into Growth and Development with an attempt to lessen the carnage by reducing crack sells and violence. Now we can argue all day about whether his intentions where genuine, but the fact remains that when you attempt to reduce the negative effects that drugs and other ills have on the community you are met with a staunch resistance from the power structure. Those drugs are in the Ghetto for a purpose, and that is to preoccupy the inhabitants with self-destruction. This way the Oligarchy will not have any threat. Both crack and heroin were introduced to the community by government assisted conduits, and those who attempted to interfere with this activity have been discredited, locked-up, or killed.
You can’t look at the hip hop or rap community and attempt to discern what is happening in the hood. This community is heavily co-opted by those who want push self-destruction while blocking any other messages that may be self constructive. We have to remember that America is not only outwardly a superpower; it has the same industrial military tools to use on its domestic inhabitants. America is good at subjugation and imperialism (It’s the BEST regime out there for this). Under the white supremacist J Edgar Hoover, they were able to declare war on the black ghetto because it was producing a resistance that heavily threaten the oligarchy. And this isn’t some conspiracy theory s**t– this is African American History. J Edgar Hoover said in his own words that the Black Panther was public enemy number 1 and that government needed to destroy the conditions that would lead to the creation of a black messiah. The resultant==The good ole American Ghetto as we know it!!!
Great Write Up Eric Wright, I enjoyed reading it more than what Ms. Yvette wrote. I truly believe, “Classism” is a much more bigger issue within the Black Community than anything else. This blog post borders on bigotry against African Americans in a lower socio-economic position. It is rather sad. Keep judging, Ms. Yvette.
Excellent Article! How can we discourage our young people to pursue another Path when people like this is put on a Pedestal? The Statement being made is…….. it’s Ok, to contribute in The Distruction of Our People, as long as a Person was trying to Provide for their Family. That is ridiclous thinking. This cancer has invaded the Black College Campuses and has Stunted The Growth of Black Intelectualism and additionally the Moral and Economic Development of The Black Community. Peace@!
This is a topic that I struggle with because of their known drug background but at what point do you forgive? It is very wrong what these young men indulged in however, they were young men who have grown up and it seems for the most part, changed their ways and we seem to forget that no one forced these people to take drugs. A drug dealer doesn’t exist if there is no one buying the drugs! You can’t place all of the blame on drug dealers.
Can anyone explain to me why the dubious histories of the black wealthy are exploited and not the “old money” of the rockerfellers, mellons, bushes, rothechilds ect or not. Everyone of them have started gaining wealth illegally but is rarely mentioned. Granted I’m not condoning why or what they did in the past, I’m more interested in what they are doing now or in the future to at least try to make up for their past transgressions.
You are correct in that we all have a past that is sinful. Some of us might not have sold crack, but we have committed extortion, prostitution, robbery, bribery, adultery, fornication, or other deplorable acts that demonstrate a lack of morality or respect for God. So, if we wish to judge, let us judge everyone (including ourselves). What actually matters is how we conduct ourselves in the present.
This is an interesting article and one that takes some courage to highlight some of paradoxes within the black community. However, I personally take exception with Brazilian Crack Dealers being better than Afrian-American Crack Dealers.
First of all, crack dealing or any other drug dealing operation is appalling whether it’s in the favelas, the ghettoes, the barrios or any other urban, suburban, or rural area. Its an explotative, parsitic and inhumane act that undermines our entire society.
But I must say that the comments speak to a broader issue within community. Some of the commentators seemed to provide a basis for these acts. There is simply none. We all know that a large majority (I would venture to say over 90%)of drug dealers don’t sell drugs to feed their families. Drug dealing is attractive not because it provides simple necessities. Its attractive because it feeds a desire for a higher end lifestyle. (And I’m not discounting the affects of capitalistic society) So let’s not kid ourselves. There are other legal options for mere survival.
Unfortunately, this drug dealing occupation is not ostracized or otherwise frowned upon to the degree that is totally unacceptable, in large part, by our community. The entire drug dealer-to-crack user dynamic is one that really needs examining. The drug dealer is hardly ever shunned. He or she is allowed in our community (even most homes) with impunity. He can cohabit in our homes, as long as kicks back a little something. Whereas the crack addict is ostracized. He or she is not allowed anywhere and is met staunch objection at every turn, even though they are the victims. And, yes they are victims.
Now, we can spin this any way we like and provide excuses for this dynamic. The bottom line is; If we don’t take the tough stand and get beyond the bs emotion about the conditions that may or may not lead to this trade, the byproducts of this trade, which includes, but not limited to, drug abuse, violent crimes (more importantly, outrageous homicide rates), and dysfunctional and pathological behaviors, will continue to haunt (no pun intended) our communities and rob us all of the true capabilities.
As for Jay and 50 being held up on pedestal while constantly reminding us, either via music, interviews and other media outlets, of their career path, the above comments speaks to this as well. They and artists like themselves feel no pressure and repunction from the purchasing public and hip hop connosieurs to change its narrative, and thereby change its, and subsequently, pop culture’s idea of a mogul. Hip hop has to police itself, unfortunately.We have to say “enough is enough” and stop supporting that type of artistry. Multi-national corporations are too locked in the genre to allow for any other stakeholders, such as conscious or positive artists, to change its narrative.
That’s why this article is important to continue highlight the hypocrisy within our community and shed light of the continuing destructive behaviors.
Cheers to Ms. Yvette Carnell
Addtionally, Mr. Wright good articulation of your view point doesn’t make it right. These dudes are pariahs in our hood and should be held by us as just that. Nothing more, nothing less.
I can’t believe people are actually arguing over such an insane matter. Crack dealing under any circumstances is WRONG!! It is criminial behavior. Wake up people!