Overview

The Street Gypsies, as described by the author, is about the urban underclass of street characters who lived in Chicago's Uptown community during the 1970s. They were a society of free spirits. They were sometimes unsavory but almost always colorful characters who were street hustlers surviving on the streets by wit and grit, invariably getting caught up in the addictive nature of the lifestyle. The culture was probably a manifestation of the times. During those years, there was high unemployment in America. The economy was in a recession. It was also a time of social unrest and rebellion that spawned a number of radical groups. There was an anti-establishment climate that was fueled by the drop-out drug culture that carried over with its hippie influences from the 1960s. Add to that, the elements of the sexual revolution, the civil rights and women's movements. It was the glory days of rock and R&B. All of this was the context for the mindset that prevailed within the street gypsy culture. Survival was made an art form by these resourceful and spirited characters. This book gives the reader an absolutely exhilarating stroll through the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. It is brilliantly written and a must read. -James Wakefield, Gurnee, Illinois A fascinating inside look at the life of a street hustler. -Stacey Klemstein, Author of The Silver Spoon (www.staceyklemstein.com) This wild and gritty personal account is a story that only those few who have survived it can tell. -Paul Johnson, Prime Financial, Chicago, Illinois

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