Curtis-The Streets

Curtis could be a royal pain in the butt, and there were times when I swore that I would have nothing to do with him again. But, you see, there were his kids and his wife, and the hard luck stories that would drip out of his mouth like honey. Curtis was black, and had grown up on the mean streets of Detroit.Curtis and his family basically lived off the streets in Seattle, too, making Aurora Avenue their basic abode.

Aurora Avenue, as you know from my previous posts was gang and drug laden in the nineties.Cheap motels, used car lots, vacant buildings, and indifference on the part of the City of Seattle, made it easier for crime to fester and reproduce itself.

Curtis was a skinny guy, and looked anything but tough, but he was well connected on the Street. I remember the first time that Curtis, who had seemingly taken a liking to me, told me that he was known on the streets as  Detroit. Wow, after all anyone carrying the name of a bad-ass city like Detroit, might be someone good to have as a friend. I was beginning to understand the intricate social structure of the
Street. The Street was intricately set up like a major corporation. ( I am digressing from Curtis for a few minutes, but I want to talk about the street social and economic structure.)

The under belly of any major city is where the actual heart and soul of the city resides. In this under belly there are fascinating colorful cultures. The drug gangs are so intricately organized that it would make a Wall Street Corporation weep with envy.They have product, a market, sales and distribution, all highly, highly, organized. It is actually amazing to watch in person. If these kids, and they are kids, would put their business savvy to work in the business world, they would be rich beyond belief.

I have gone so far off the topic of Curits that I must stop for now. I just want those who have never really experienced city street life to know a little background on the mind sets of the street people. I will continue in my next post with the story of Curits and the streets.