J. t. constantly rationalizes the activities of the black kings and maintains that the gang confers more benefits than detriments on the community. is there any truth to his self-justifications? are there ways in which the community would be worse off if the bks were suddenly to disappear?

Sudhir Venkatesh is a professor of Sociology at Columbia University who spent 7 years living in the projects of the city of Chicago, where a drug-dealing gang named the "Black Kings" led by JT operated. JT befriended Venkatesh and let him live among the members of the gang.

Even though JT had a college degree, he would prefer getting involved in the drug dealing business because it would be much more profitable. JT constantly challenged Venkatesh to rethink about the role of these organizations within society. JT argued that the gang was a source of income for many of the individuals who lived in the projects. These persons had families, who would benefit from the money that came from drug dealing, leading to better living conditions.

If the gang were to abruptly disappear, this would lead to negative short-term consequences, as the source of income of many individuals of this community would disappear, lowering the living conditions of their families.