Marion Barry Research Paper

The films The Nine Lives of Marion Barry and Anita, contribute to history in allowing us to go back in the past to see how we as a society chose how to handle scandals, which creates certain expectation and set boundaries during the era in which they occurred. With this information, we can then redefine the differences between events in the past and compare them today. For example, Barry was elected into office countless times after countless drug scandals surfaced about his coke addition, yet Anita Hill’s reputation was destroyed after she accused Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment. Many would consider this to be great injustice, resulting in confusion. As a result, the media plays such an important role in helping us understand and in showing how some scandals are very specific to time, place, and culture which is why people react differently to them. To begin, Barry served as the second Mayor of the District of Columbia from 1979 to 1991, and again as the fourth mayor from 1995 to 1999. During the time he was mayor he helped many who struggled after the riot of 1968. He advocated controlling white supremacy, but his leadership tendencies declined as he was exposed to sex and drugs creating his whole career to be marked as a sandal. Yet, despite destroying his reputation, his charismatic

They would disappoint real leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr. who fought for justice. Instead of making the government stronger, corrupt leader such as Thomas and Barry weaken the system and give African Americans a bad reputation. This is why is it important know things like this actually happen and we can not make the same mistake to have someone unworthy in office even it goes against black protectionism. We should be supporting the ideal candidate not someone who represents us