Gang Leader for a Day

I said, with the goal of understanding the lives of young black men in order to design better public policy.

For the first time, I became fully conscious of just what I was doing: tagging along with the leader of a major crack-selling gang.

see people getting rides to the store. Who do you think is doing that? Before you go yelling at J.T. and the rest of them, you better understand that they’re family, too. And they’re helping—which is more than I can say for you.”

you want it right away. Well, the CHA ain’t doing nothing. So I have to find ways to take care of it.”

fact, she discussed it with a measure of pride, highlighting her ability to put the gang’s ill-gotten gains to good use.

As I walked back to my apartment in Hyde Park, everything seemed fundamentally different.

Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) was indeed tearing down the Lake Park projects in order to build condominiums and town houses.

He had a few glittery gold teeth, a sizable diamond earring, and deep, hollow eyes that fixed on mine without giving away anything.

He checked out everyone who was on the scene, as if making a mental list of what each person was doing.

“Did that live up to your expectations?”