Freeway: Crack in the System

Freeway: Crack in the System, a thought-provoking 2015 documentary, introduces audiences to a complex and layered narrative of politics, corruption, and the war on drugs in the late 20th century United States. Directed by Marc Levin, it tells a tragic tale that spans multiple aspects of American society, including the unethical power houses to which the crack epidemic can be traced.

The documentary offers an in-depth exploration into the life and times of notorious drug trafficker 'Freeway' Ricky Ross, one of the key figures in America's crack cocaine epidemic during the 80s. Ross’s story serves as a microcosm of a broader narrative, shedding light on the United States' turbulent history during that time.

Ricky Ross was a drug dealer who grew up in the historically impoverished areas of South Los Angeles, was illiterate until the age of 28, and yet managed to build a multi-million-dollar drug empire that expanded across the US. Known as a 'business genius' on the streets, his legacy lies in the distinctive marketing strategies he employed, spreading crack cocaine pervasively, turning it into an unprecedented plague that primarily affected African American communities. His tale is a paradox in many ways, providing a perspective that straddles between victimhood and villainy.

The documentary also details Ricky Ross's complex relationship with his supplier, Nicaraguan drug trafficker Oscar Danilo Blandon. Through the entanglement of their lives, Marc Levin uncovers a deeper conspiracy involving the CIA, Reagan administration politics and the Iran-Contra scandal. As a result, the many facets of one man's life serve as a gateway into understanding a far-reaching political scandal that had serious domestic ramifications.

The involvement of the CIA in drug trafficking was more than a controversial assertion, it was a direct implication that the very institution that was supposed to protect American citizens may have directly contributed to the crack epidemic that devastated thousands of lives and communities. As such, the documentary doesn't shy away from exploring discussions of government complicity, covering an exposé by journalist Gary Webb whose groundbreaking work in the mid-90s linked CIA activities with the rise of crack cocaine.

In addition to illuminating Ricky Ross's rise and fall, Freeway: Crack in the System broadens its scope to address systemic issues. The misfortunes of the inner-city youth, the pull of the illicit drug trade, the insurmountable economic disparities, the outrageously high sentences for crack possession and sale, and the industrial prison complex that disproportionately affects African American communities all play a role in the narrative.

Key personalities featured in the film include Michael Levine, a former DEA agent, and attorney Eric Sterling who was credited with helping to draft the mandatory minimum sentencing laws but has since become a vocal critic of such legislation's futility and unfairness. The documentary also makes use of historical footage, court documents, interviews with drug dealers, journalists, prosecutors, professors, and even archival footage of congressional hearings, to construct a dense and investigative narrative that is both compelling and painfully revealing.

The movie’s greatest strength is that it manages to demystify the crack epidemic, presenting it not as a result of cultural or societal decay, but as a double-edged crisis rooted in political maneuvering and socio-economic disparity. Amidst the heartrending personal accounts and shocking repercussions, a daunting question emerges: What if a good part of the most destructive drug epidemic in American history was inadvertently fueled by the very institutions that were supposed to protect its citizens?

Freeway: Crack in the System effectively opens a conversation about mass incarceration, racial disparities, fair justice, and the devastating impacts of the crack epidemic. It’s a plunge into a dark chapter of American history that holds up a mirror to the societal failures and ugly truths behind the seemingly straightforward narrative of drugs, crime and punishment. It's a potent, well-researched, and thoroughly engrossing documentary that will leave viewers pondering long after the credits roll.