-Malik, Marin
My attraction to the streets is knowing that you always have a place to fall back on no matter what. A big part of it is the connection you build outside, and the brotherhoods that are formed. But still, people or no people, the block is always there.
Day or night, hot or cold, money in your pocket or broke, it will always be there. Even when your family doesn’t want you home, no friends are picking up your calls, and it’s two-thirty in the morning. I was still always able to go back home, to the streets.
The streets isn’t just a physical place, it’s a spiritual connection. That might sound dumb, but that’s what it is. I’m attracted to the streets because they are the one and only thing that has always been there. Not a single time have the streets flaked on me. Whether I’m fifteen or eighteen, in Algeria, France, or America, the streets are constant.
The pros are the community, the money flow, the connections and brotherhoods like I mentioned. There’s also that warmth you get in your heart when you are all alone at night on the block, but you don’t feel alone.
The cons are that it can push people away, burn bridges, lead to being locked up, and death. The death can either end your life, cause pain of losing someone, or affect innocent bystanders. I love the streets with all my heart, but they love nobody back. Anyone who says otherwise is a fool. The streets will double cross anyone. Regarding the streets, I don’t know what will be different when I go home because it wasn’t really the reason for me coming here. So many young people turn to the streets because they accept pretty much everyone. The factors of your life don’t matter. If you can do what has to be done, you will succeed.
Family is not unconditional, not actually. What I learned doesn’t matter. What I know is that the streets will always be there. I hope for positive changes.