Powernomics

Part Two

Queensbridge Housing Projects, located in West Queens, New York was largely populated by low income African American and Latino families. With widespread poverty, drug use, and crime, it was the embodiment of a neighbourhood plagued by New York City's crack epidemic. The rampant neglect and hopelessness was more reminiscent of dehumanized dystopia than a borough in one of the great cities in the world.

An all-black Range Rover pulled up in vacant parking lot and was left running. Mobb Deep blasted through the speakers. Benjamin sat alone, thinking about the last time he was in this very spot. So much had changed in the past five years. He had lost his brother, his mother, and so many friends. Now at 23, it seemed as though his only connection to his past were these streets. His old neighbourhood was not a place one stayed when they had reached a level of success that Benjamin had achieved.

Distracted by the loud music, Benjamin didn't see the person creeping toward his vehicle from the rear. The man crouched low to remain out of view. Reclined in the fine leather seat, Benjamin's mind was a million miles away, taking a trip down memory lane. All of a sudden, the man popped up unexpectedly and pounded on the driver-side window, startling Benjamin. He nearly hit the ceiling until he saw who it was. Rolling down the window, Ben was met by a familiar face who was nearly crippled over from laughing so hard.

"Ah man, you should have seen your face!" the man said in delight. "I betcha you thought you were getting jacked, playboy."

"I knew it was you," Benjamin said, brushing it off and feeling a little embarrassed. "Get in the damn car, fool."

The man walked around the front of the vehicle, still laughing, and got in the passenger side. "Had you shook!" he said.

"Man, you play too goddam much, you know that? Amazing to think yo' ass isn't the one that's locked up."

"Nah, not me. I'm too clever for that."

Andre 'Dre' Brown was one of Benjamin's friends from back in the day. He was closer with Benjamin's brother Case, but they all used to hang out together. Ever since Benjamin had the opportunity to leave the hood and create a better life for himself, he never looked back. This decision was made easier with the passing of his brother and mother, and his best friend being locked up. Today was the day of Dax's release and it was Benjamin's first day back in the neighbourhood since he had left.

"So how's life?" Benjamin asked.

"Obviously, not as good as yours," Dre said, seemingly inspecting every inch of the interior. He looked in the backseat.

"You act like you've never seen a Range Rover before," Benjamin said.

"Is it just you in here?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Nothing, I just figured you would have like three bodyguards with you before coming to this neighbourhood, especially in such a fancy whip."

"You forget I'm from these streets," Benjamin said, "ain't nobody going to run up on me, Jack."

"You sure about that? A lot of people looking at you like a wolf looks at a steak. They be all salivating and ish."

"What people?"

"I don't know... people."

Still in the parking lot, the two sat and talked for a bit, catching up. The polished black vehicle with tinted windows attracted some attention, but only two people approached. Ben recognized them immediately. Flashing a smile and a wave, two other former friends got in the backseat.

"Yo, Money, what's good, my G?" one of them asked.

"No one calls me that anymore," Benjamin replied.