Any topic (writer’s choice)

You will write a 3-5 Page Individual Paper addressing your particular section of the overall group presentation. 

In your paper you should explain your angle of the presentation and then build your case. 

Bibliography expected.

My part of the presentation was about Len Bias and what has was left unchanged after his death.

below are some of my notes from the presentation.

Universities and how they treat

Still treat athletes like theyre disposable

Professional and college athletes are still taking drugs and dying

In the time since his death, a lot of people are unaware of his death as well as his cause of death

The war on drugs is still going on

Our society has proven that theyre more concerned with punishment than treatment

to a trope that would condition the country to a hyper-militarized police response to illicit drugs for decades to come

Theres a pattern to drugs and drug use

Stories surface about a new trendy drug

A high-profile death occurs which starts a panic

Anti-drug activist, as well as lawmakers, demand something be done

Rash legislation is passed

The stigma of black men and drugs

Black athletes have been experiencing stigma and stereotypes over drug abuse since 1986 at the peak of the crack era. These stereotypes have plagued the black community image and have been constant since the war on drugs began.

Media portrayal has been a huge reason for this. The media misrepresents stories and puts a greater emphasis on black athletes. In turn, it negatively affects the public view of the black community, which leads to negative real-world consequences for them.

Negative associations exaggerated and the positive associations limited

Again patterns in portrayals of African Americans athletes can be expected to promote public support for punitive approaches to problems which relate directly to the war on drugs