I would argue that folks, particularly folks of color, are still killed over cigarettes and alcohol and even less in this country. Lest we forget Eric Garner being choked to death by POLICE for selling loose cigarettes in the park. Or Trayvon Martin being shot down for walking past a house carrying a pack of skittles? I understand the point being made about the black market in Humboldt, but I believe the real issue here is societal. It is more than Humboldt, more than any particular place; it is the cultural idea that possessions hold as much value if not more than human life.
Re: “The Black Market's Legacy”
I would argue that folks, particularly folks of color, are still killed over cigarettes and alcohol and even less in this country. Lest we forget Eric Garner being choked to death by POLICE for selling loose cigarettes in the park. Or Trayvon Martin being shot down for walking past a house carrying a pack of skittles? I understand the point being made about the black market in Humboldt, but I believe the real issue here is societal. It is more than Humboldt, more than any particular place; it is the cultural idea that possessions hold as much value if not more than human life.