When the needs for survival, safety, and society are met, some individuals strive for status.  In other words, they want to improve their lot and earn recognition from their peers. In New Orleans, blacks striving to achieve status have been frustrated by the mainstream at every turn. Discrimination based on race is no longer legal, but it is still present, and it is not even necessary to discriminate based on race against people without education or experience.

With little capital, a lousy education, lacking experience and connections few can escape upwardly. A criminal record, easily earned by a young black man in New Orleans makes it impossible. Relatively few individuals can overcome these barriers through shear determination to become engineers, politicians, bankers, doctors and lawyers. One in sixteen thousand become professional athletes. A handful emerge as successful entertainers.  Many more engage in manual labor, various trades, clerical or unskilled jobs. As honorable as these pursuits may be, the pay is low and status is hard to achieve when you live in poverty.

Some look to entrepreneurship. Some become shop owners and businessmen but there are substantial barriers and competition.

Then along came one of the most lucrative industries in America today. Fueled by generous federal subsidies this business provides low barriers to entry and high barriers to exit. No background checks are required of job seekers. The pay is high. The work can be interesting, sometimes exciting. Hours can be long but are flexible. Product demand is high and has been growing steadily for decades. The products inherently encourage repeat business. This is a mass market where customers have little power. New products are constantly being introduced. There is little government regulation and taxation is informal. Paperwork is minimal. Government intervention limits supply, keeping margins high, so profits are excellent.  Government aggressively enforces anti-monopolistic rules across the industry, concentrating heavily on big suppliers and distributors. There are no large domestic organizations dominating the industry. There are opportunities for international travel and knowledge of a foreign language could be useful.

What are we talking about? The airline industry? Agribusiness? Petrochemicals? No way. This burgeoning enterprise is the illegal drug trade in America. While other criminal activities attract some individuals dissatisfied with legal means for accumulating wealth, the drug trade is where the money is.

While stealing and murder are generally abhorred in all societies, selling drugs is widely accepted. While a few community members might be tempted to turn you in, most won't. Some become customers.  Dealers are flush with cash and spread it around by living flashy lifestyles. Glamorized in TV and song these people become role models for children.