With this piece, my aim was to shed light on the profound impact that these two former presidents, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, had on people of color in America. The title, "From School to Prison Pipeline," symbolizes the far-reaching consequences of their policies, which perpetuated a cycle of poverty, educational inequality, substance abuse, mental health and mass incarceration.

Reagan's infamous comment about "welfare queens' perpetuated harmful stereotypes and demonized marginalized communities, and his aggressive war on drugs ignited a chain reaction leading to mass incarceration. This legacy, which traces back to the Nixon administration, brought forth policies that flooded crack cocaine into inner-city communities, causing immense harm. Shortly after, Clinton's campaign for tougher crime policies and the passing of the 1994 crime bill further skyrocketed the rates of mass incarceration.

The amalgamation of these policies resulted in a devastating impact on communities of color. Educational opportunities were diminished as funding for impoverished areas was drastically cut. The gap between the haves and the have-nots widened, perpetuating cycles of poverty and limited access to resources. The consequences of mass incarceration and its long-lasting effects continue to reverberate through our society.

My aim is to provoke critical thought and encourage conversations on these pressing issues. I invite viewers to engage with the undeniable reality of how these policies shaped the lives of countless individuals and communities, emphasizing the urgent need for change and addressing systemic inequalities.”