It is such a common sight, as I drive from work, to see a group of young men hanging out in the neighborhood surrounding the high school where I work. Some of them I know. They were previous students of mine. The stance is always the same; one eye on each other and their other eye on the look out. They’re always aware of the action taking place on the street. So much is at stake.
Sometime I honk and wave at the one’s I know. Sometime I just wonder where they’re headed. I’ve known a few who never made it out the neighborhood. One that stays with me because he died so young; killed after starting a family and trying to get out. Once you’re in … sometimes there’s only one way out.
Yet I know each of these young men are like the values scales I have them practice. Depending on the pressure put on them, they change to be a different shade ; in the classroom so bright and fun, on the street — darker. If only the darker side could be erased away to reveal what I think is the truer shade.
I really like this prompt. Here’s another image I doodled this week.
Very nice illustration. It captures the feeling of them so well.
It’s a tragedy, how trapped some of these youth feel.
Terrific illustration. You really captured that street personality which is so often a front for just a bunch of regular guys struggling in a difficult environment. And your written description is really well done, too. Great job!
You did capture the swagger. I think all of us are this way to a degree. A certain wary, watchfullness when we step into the street.