From Grit to Growth: Surviving South Philly's Streets

What if the streets of South Philadelphia were both a perilous trap and a training ground for resilience? Join me, Sterling Brown, as I share my journey from the gritty 70s and 80s neighborhoods ravaged by the crack cocaine epidemic and gang violence to finding hope and purpose. My story is one of survival, growing up amid chaos, sneaking into block parties for fleeting moments of joy, and facing the harsh realities of addiction and violence. With no parental guidance, my path was strewn with obstacles, including the trials of foster care and the emotional scars of abuse and neglect. Despite it all, I discovered the strength to persevere and transform my struggles into successes.

In this inaugural episode of the Struggle2Success Podcast, I explore the pivotal choices and turning points that defined my life. From being caught up in the streets, struggling with substance use, and watching family members grapple with crime, I eventually found my way to a sense of purpose. Through shared experiences, I hope to inspire others facing their own trials to find courage and determination. Tune in to hear how resilience and hope can emerge from the harshest of circumstances, reminding us that no matter where we start, success is possible with the right mindset and unwavering resolve.

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Transcript

Announcement: 1: 0:00
If you have ever been told by someone that you’re not capable of attaining success, if you have made mistakes, or if you’ve lived in an underprivileged neighborhood, then this podcast is for you. You are now locked into the Struggle2Success Podcast. The Struggle2Success Podcast aims to inspire individuals to navigate life’s challenges with courage, fortitude, and unwavering determination. So, if you’re in your car, jogging, or somewhere else trying to find the calm in the storm, then join the Struggle2Success Podcast airing every other Saturday. Remember, life is trials. Stay focused.

Sterling D. Brown: 0:37
Hello, wonderful people, and thank you for joining me for the very first episode of the Struggle2Success Podcast. I’m your host, Sterling Brown. Let me share a bit about myself. I’m a correctional officer, a former police officer, a father, a friend, and a loving husband. As we know, all stories start somewhere, so I’m going to start this story where I grew up—in South Philadelphia during the ’70s and ’80s around the Martin Luther King projects.

Sterling D. Brown: 1:07
At that time, many neighborhoods, including mine, were being ravaged by the crack cocaine epidemic. There were about four to five street gangs within a 20-block radius, constantly fighting and shooting over the dream of getting rich from crack cocaine. Even worse, below Washington Avenue, the Italian mafia had control. If you weren’t Italian or white, you faced serious problems. Just passing through there was a battle. Going to school or to the store meant being bullied. Without an older sibling around, I often got jumped because I fought back. Navigating the chaos of my neighborhood, one thing became clear—it was all about survival. But even amidst the violence and addiction, there were moments when I tried to be happy. Picture this: my friends and I played a game of who could count the most red and blue crack vials—called “tall boys”—scattered across the playground. When DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince released their hit single Summertime, we would sneak into random block parties, get soaked in the open fire hydrants, and then, inevitably, someone would start fighting—and the next thing you knew, shots were being fired.

Sterling D. Brown: 2:26
At 13, without my parents, I was on my own. The city became my playground. I hopped the L trains or went down to the Schuylkill River, joyriding on the moving freight trains. At night, I watched the pimps and prostitutes on Broad Street. My neighborhood was a war zone, with innocent people getting shot and drug dealers on every corner. My inner circle consisted of my grandmother, Nanny. My mom was addicted to heroin and finding her in the crack house was expected. My older brother was in and out of prison, and I later learned my dad was serving a life sentence. When my grandmother passed away, I was placed in the system—the Department of Human Services. Every inner-city kid knew that once you were in the system, you rarely got out.

Sterling D. Brown: 3:14
I moved from group home to foster care, always hearing, “Pack your bags, you’re getting replaced.” Many foster families took in at-risk children not to give us a better life, but to improve their financial situation. I didn’t know it at the time, but foster care providers could get $400 per child per week. I was physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausted and abused. My dreams of a future were shattered, and by 16, I was caught up in the streets. All I wanted was a haircut and the latest Jordans, but what I really needed was a home and someone to love and appreciate me. It became easier to mask the pain with materialistic things—to forget where I lived, that my mom did drugs, and that I had family members who were criminals.

Sterling D. Brown: 4:04
Soon I started smoking marijuana and experimenting with cocaine. I remember going to court alone for truancy, then being sent to Glen Mills’ group home for boys. Being off the street wasn’t a bad thing at that point. When I was released, I had nothing—no home, no family, no food. I remember walking from Center City to North Philadelphia’s Fairhill and Somerset, where my foster cousins were heavy into selling cocaine. They made me a runner, holding cocaine and money. I remember back then I bought my first pair of Huaraches for $350 in less than two hours.

Sterling D. Brown: 4:43
One by one, I saw my cousins get arrested and go to jail, only to be bailed out and treated like celebrities. I didn’t want to end up in jail, but I was one foot in and one foot out. I eventually left the corner for a while, and when I came back, everyone had been arrested in an undercover operation. Working at the outlets, I still wasn’t ready to give up the streets. I had seen too much and made too much quick money. Like many of us who had gone through similar or worse experiences, I didn’t see a way out of that lifestyle.

Sterling D. Brown: 5:19
I’m reminded of a quote by Steve Jobs, who said, you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. The events in our lives are shaped by our responses to them. Making positive decisions takes patience and learning from bad ones. The solution isn’t always easy. I was one foot in and one foot out.

Sterling D. Brown: 5:43
When others ask me, “When did you start making positive changes?” they’re often surprised by my answer. I asked for help. Despite the abuse, I wanted help. I didn’t know how or who to ask, because even when I received help, it was often from the wrong people. And you know what? It’s okay to be afraid—and even our pain can propel us toward something better.

Sterling D. Brown: 6:07
Asking for help is crucial, but it’s equally important to find the right people to help us. As we journeyed through the turbulent streets and times of my past, we saw the harsh realities of survival, the allure of the streets, and the cycle of despair. Yet amidst the chaos, there were fleeting moments of joy—reminders of life behind the concrete jungle. Through addiction, violence, and abandonment, one truth emerged: the power of resilience and the potential for transformation. Despite the scars of my youth and the darkness that threatened to consume me, I just wanted to live. Join me in our next episode, when I’ll discuss the choices, I made that led to a greater struggle—and ultimately to success. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it. I appreciate you, and until next time, remember—life is trials. Stay focused.

Announcement: 7:02
Thanks for checking out this episode of the Struggle2Success Podcast. To connect with the show, you can email us at struggle2success.p@gmail.com. Make sure you like and subscribe so that you never miss an episode. And remember—life is trials. Stay focused.