“Drugs were for Black People:” Sean Strickland on Why Racism Stopped Him From Doing Drugs

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland said racism instilled by his grandfather shaped his childhood view that “drugs were for Black people,” a belief he says contributed to him avoiding alcohol and drugs. Sean Strickland recalls racist beliefs behind abstinence from drugsThe US-born UFC champion began by questioning the legal status of alcohol while describing himself as a libertarian. One of the things that saved me from drinking and doing drugs was that my grandfather was so racist,” Strickland said. “Even in American History X, there’s a scene where they get mad at them for doing drugs,” Strickland continued. Then it was reinforced because I thought drugs were for black people, so I never did it.”