Perseverance — Page 13
Part I – Life Before Islam 13 wouldn’t have it as incriminating evidence. I took that gun, an automatic 32 caliber colt, put it on my side, and went off to Chicago to make my fortune on the streets. I left for Chicago around 1945 with less than $800. CHICAGO CHAOS Upon reaching Chicago, my first strategy in making money was to find the biggest drug dealers. I encountered a man named Vince who knew the most notorious dealers. I did something which no street-smart man would do. I gave Vince some money for drugs before getting the drugs. I knew he wouldn’t come back with the drugs, but I did it because I wanted to gain popularity with the people in the drug circles. As word would spread, the drug dealers were sure to want to get to know a buyer who would pay up front. People on the street started to call me The Guy who gave Vince the Money. I also went around giving generous tips at clubs and wearing fancy clothes. A person lavishly dressed with style was viewed as someone with sense and money…someone who had it “all together. ” One incident occurred in a restaurant I frequented. A man came and sat next to me and jabbed me with the barrel of his gun. He told me to go outside and, at gunpoint, he told me to give him the dope [i. e. , narcotics]. I replied that I didn’t have any and he said that I shouldn’t be seen in these areas again. On another day I saw him again at the same restaurant and it was payback time. I took a Coca-Cola bottle and waited outside for him. I was going to do to him what he did to me, and then some. I