We Beat the Street: How a Friendship Pact Led to Success is a book published in 2005 by the doctors Sampson Davis, Rameck Hunt, and George Jenkins that tells the story of how they were able to better their lives and to achieve their goals despite adverse conditions. A powerful and inspirational novel, We Beat the Street makes for good reading for just about anyone, but especially for those who are pursuing success in any shape or form.
We Beat the Street begins with the three authors noting that what happened in the book was completely true, and that they indeed had to overcome obstacles: “We started out as kids in the toughest neighborhoods of Newark, New Jersey, and today we are doctors. We had to fight drugs and crime and hopelessness. We had to overcome obstacles like poverty and apathy and violence in our community. Individually we probably would not have succeeded, but together, we were able to make it through high school, college, and medical school.” (1). It is stated that the book is supposed to show young people the importance of making the right friends and positive peer pressure (a clear contrast to negative peer pressure, which takes its form best in drug abuse and bullying), as well as showing “the necessity for strong role models in the lives of young people. The three of us suffered because we didn't have many, and we hope to offer young people today three strong, positive role models they can depend on.” (2). They then say that the road to success can be quite difficult, seeing how they made mistakes on their journey to become doctors. The book then moves on to Sampson: when he was young, a heavy bench accidentally collapsed on his foot, breaking it. When he was taken to the emergency room, he was given the correct diagnosis and treatment (he had to wear a cast for months), and felt great surprise that his foot didn't need to be amputated (it was bloody and swollen). This caused him to be quite interested in doctors: once he became a physician, his main focus was on emergency medicine, and he worked at the same hospital where he was treated for his broken foot. Rameck’s education began in the public system, but he was sent to Catholic school due to it resolving conflicts through largely peaceful means (in the public system disagreements were frequently judged in their correctness by the ensuing fight). While he did well academically, he had a lot of excess energy, causing him to frequently get into trouble, causing his principal and teacher to consider enrolling him in special education: Rameck corrected their statements, saying that he was only bored. Rameck eventually went back to the public school system, seeing that his family struggled with finances. George went to Louise Spencer Elementary: while he possessed a certain degree of restraint and curiosity, his older brother, Garland, lacked it (he was ten at the time and enjoyed shattering bottles on the ground). He was fortunate to have a teacher known as Miss Johnson who was both a passionate and capable teacher: she made him believe that he can achieve his dreams. One time, he and his class were taken by her to view a concert: on the way back, they came across a woman who was surprised to learn they were from the Central Ward: “‘But they’re so well behaved,’ the woman said with surprise. Isn’t that school in the ghetto?’” (24). George, shocked by the woman’s comment, is comforted by Miss Johnson, who informs him that he shouldn’t let people like her restrict his potential choices in life. He confides to her that getting good grades was a factor that would decrease one’s popularity, and she tells him to continue to work hard, seeing how he can go to college to gain knowledge and a good job if he only stays consistent.
Sampson writes in his section that his neighborhood was full of drug dealers and buyers: he and everyone else were so used to their behavior they would simply ignore them. In one incident, he was playing baseball with some of his friends. When their game was occurring, a local drug dealer known as “The Bomb” demanded their baseball bat. Knowing better than to refuse, they gave him the bat: he then proceeded to brutally beat someone who probably didn't have the money for the drugs he just consumed. That is, “The Bomb … marched over to the stairwell, cursed loudly at another man huddled there, and then proceeded to beat the man brutally with Sampson’s bat. The man in the stairwell, who probably had run out of money before he ran out of his need for drugs, cried out with fear and pain and then was silent. The Bomb emerged from the stairwell, breathing hard, but looking fiercely satisfied. He tossed the bat back to Sampson, who did not catch it, but let it fall to the ground. ‘Thanks, kid,’ the Bomb said. ‘Finish your game now.’ He disappeared down the street.” (30). After finishing their baseball game, Samson and his two friends tried to steal some Icees from a man named Jack who ran a store. He caught them pretty quickly, and dragged them to the back, where he kept two German shepherds. He brought them closer to it, causing them to actually believe they were going to be eaten. This served as a disincentive for Sampson to continue stealing, though he would still engage in improper behavior (due to his being negatively influenced by people like the Bomb who were doing misdeeds around him much of the time). When Rameck was twelve, he wanted to get involved in acting, seeing that he enjoyed it very much (especially the applause - it made him feel validated). However, if he really wanted to act part-time, he needed a picture portfolio that cost $150, a huge sum of money for his family. His grandmother gave him the money out of compassion and generosity, and Rameck swore he wouldn’t misuse it (and he didn't). However, when he got home, his mother (who suffered from drug addiction and also smoked) notified him that the electricity was off because she couldn’t pay the rent. She then asked him if he had any money. Not being a very good liar, Rameck gave her the money. The next morning, the electricity was still off. Rameck recollects that he might’ve become an actor if things were different: “Acting was something I really wanted to do … But sometimes we are forced to make difficult decisions. I honestly believe I had what it took to make it in show business. That money was the ticket to all of my dreams, but I gave it up. Giving my mother that money was one of the hardest decisions I ever had to make. I chose not to be selfish and to do what I thought was best for the family … even though she didn't use the money like she said she would, if I had to do it over, I would do the same thing. Only this time I would make sure she used the money to get the electricity turned back on. In life you are going to have to make some hard decisions. Always try and make sure you make them with the very best intentions. If you do that, no matter what you decide and no matter what the outcome, it will be the right decision, because you made it for the right reasons.” (43).
When George went to the dentist at the age of 11, he became interested in dentistry, seeing his interest in the medical equipment. Sampson at the age of 11 accidentally shoplifted: one of his friends, Eddie, told him he was going to start a carpentry business and needed his help to pick up a machine. Unsuspecting anything, Sampson innocently entered a store and walked away with a device. He was quickly arrested and taken into custody, but was eventually released due to his pleading that it was a misunderstanding. Two weeks later, a twelve-year-old named Razor who lived near him died in a car chase: “I couldn’t believe it when Razor died. Even though by age eleven I had seen more than my share of death and dying, Razor was a kid just like me. Actually, his death could easily have been mine. Given the opportunity at that age, I might have been foolish enough to try to steal a car-just for the thrill of the chase. But the streets could easily take a kid’s life-whether by drugs or guns or fights or just plain reckless behavior.” (59). Eddie later became a drug addict, and a positive role model named Reggie continued to help others (kung fu classes), including Sampson. Sampson in seventh grade could read at the ninth grade level, though he was desperate to conceal this fact from his friends, seeing that they were used to doing poorly. He was eager to go to eighth grade with his friends, seeing that they have waited for years to become seniors of the middle school. He was eventually told by his mother (who left school early due to her mother dying, causing her to be illiterate) that he would be going to University High School (it included grades seven to twelve). When Sampson took the test, he sat in proximity to a stranger who would soon become one of his closest friends (George). Rameck himself transferred to University High School when he was in ninth grade, which was unusual, and did well with little trouble: “Usually students had difficulty adjusting to the rigorous classes, especially if they had not attended University the first two years, but Rameck slid in easily and made good grades from the beginning. He even had time to audition for the school play. In a huge upset, because a certain student who had been at the school for years always got the lead, Rameck beat him out of the part with ease.” (67). However, Rameck still fought with others: in one particularly dangerous incident, he and his friends were insulted by people from Arlington. They quickly began a brawl when they exchanged insults, and Rameck and his friends escaped from them (albeit temporarily - they had cars) by getting onto a bus that provided public transportation. To their horror, the Arlington teenagers chased them in their cars, and eventually boarded the bus when it stopped. They tried to drag one of Rameck’s friends off the bus (to beat him up), but failed. They quietly left, but continued to stalk Rameck via their cars. Rameck eventually got off the bus, and sped with his friends with great agility to a house of a friend, but not before being told by the driver that they’re going to get themselves killed: “Rameck thanked the driver for trying to help, but he and his friends had no choice but to walk down the steps of the bus and hope they could make it to Drea’s house in time. They left the bus, feet flying, and ran as fast as they could through yards, over fences, and behind trees as the Arlington gang chased them down the streets. Just as they got to Drea’s house, Rameck heard a loud series of sharp explosions. Gunfire! He and his friends rolled to the porch and huddled in a corner. The Arlington boys, screaming obscenities, sped away in their cars. Sitting up slowly, Rameck could see clearly several bullet holes in the wood of the front porch.” (71). Despite the negative events in his life, Rameck became friends with Sampson and George in tenth grade, making him even more determined to make something out of himself. However, he was quite close to trying drugs multiple times. For instance, when he celebrated his birthday in tenth grade, some of his friends offered him a “woolly”: “He watched as Hock took the tobacco out of a regular cigarette and then mixed it with the cocaine. He then wrapped the loaded cigarette back into its paper. Hock lit it, then passed it to the guy sitting closest to him. The dude took two puffs, then zonked out. His head bounced against the back of the car seat.” (77). Despite feeling very pressured, Sampson politely refused the woolly. On another occasion, he was encouraged by one of his friends (known as “Spud”) to become a drug dealer: feeling immediately guilty after picking up the cocaine, he gave it to Spud and left.
In eleventh grade, Rameck, angry to learn that the history curriculum focused largely on white people, organized a walkout: though it wasn’t too successful, it was impactful enough for African American history classes to be introduced. He himself acknowledged that he could’ve used much of his energy in this positive direction, seeing how sometimes he made stupid decisions. For instance, he almost ruined his life once when he decided to teach his biology teacher a lesson. That is, he took an aerosol can of silly string from a seventh grader and walked up to her before spraying it all over her in front of her class. Humiliated, she told the principal what he did, causing him to be suspended indefinitely. Even worse, she later developed an allergic reaction to the silly string, and threatened to press criminal charges. Rameck was talked to by the superintendent of the district and the biology teacher (whose face was slightly swollen), and he pleaded to be allowed back into the school, seeing that he hated the idea of roaming the streets and disappointing his family. Fortunately for him, the biology teacher said that he should be allowed back into school, seeing that he has potential, though he needs to learn self-control and foresight: Rameck gratefully remembers that he actually believed he had been permanently expelled prior, indicating the fear, worry, and despair he must’ve felt as he waited for a decision to be reached, clearly demonstrating the importance of prudence and thoughtfulness. George, Rameck, and Sampson in eleventh grade were informed of a presentation for a medical program that specifically benefits those who don’t have enough income: if they succeed in enrolling and do well in college and then medical school, most of their expenses can be paid. They almost skipped the presentation to play basketball, but were caught by a teacher who made them attend the presentation. After the forty-five presentation, the three of them made a pact in an attempt to become successful: they would stick with each other for the entirety of the journey and try to inspire each other respectively. Rameck got in deep trouble once again: a cocaine addict was smoking the drug near a playground of young children. To be more specific, although Rameck and his friends were involved in drugs (one of his friends, “Train,” gave the addict the crack for money), it was an unspoken rule that one shouldn’t do the drugs in the vicinity of children, seeing the potential negative impact: “There was a generally understood rule in the neighborhood that the school grounds were off limits for drugs. Little kids hung out there, and Rameck and his friends felt like they were protecting the younger children, even if it meant just in this one small area. It was a matter of pride, a code of honor, an unwritten law of the streets.” (102). Rameck, angry, beat the addict brutally with his friends, which can be read as catharsis for the terrible place the world can be: “For fifteen or twenty minutes they beat the man until he could barely move. Their anger at the man made no sense, but somehow he represented all the drugs, all the death, all the sorrow they saw on the streets every day, and their pent-up rage exploded all over the man’s body.” (103). Rameck, trying to impress his friends (and influenced heavily by anger), took out a switchblade and stabbed the addict in the thigh. After the beating, they calmly “walked to the store, bought three candy bars, then sauntered back to the parking lot of the school.” (103). The police eventually arrived and took Rameck and his friends into custody: they were then notified that the crack edict is critically wounded, and may die. Rameck spent Thanksgiving night (and the weekend) in a jail: “He spent four days in that detention center. He ate terrible food; endured embarrassment and humiliation as he used the toilet in front of his cellmates; and even heard, late one night, the horrifying but unmistakable sounds of a boy being raped. Rameck felt like a caged animal.” (106). He was eventually put on trial, but the crack addict didn't show up three consecutive times, causing the case to be dropped.
When Sampson was in twelfth grade, he and some of his other friends decided to make some money by robbing young, inexperienced drug dealers (they used a gun to intimidate them). While they were successful the first time, the second time the police were nearby: while Sampson was able to get away, his car was seized, as during the night of the robbery, he was the driver. Furthermore, when Sampson was interviewed by a police officer, he was told that he had been betrayed by the people he was with (causing him to realize that his “friends” didn't really care about him, like most people in the world, ironically) and that since a gun was used, he is being charged with armed robbery. He was sent to a juvenile detention center, and when his parents visited, they told him that he might be tried as an adult: he could get three to ten years in prison. Before being put on trial, Sampson was notified by his lawyer that due to a potential plea agreement, he might not have to serve any time and wouldn’t suffer from a criminal record. Fortunately for him, the plea agreement worked, as he didn't deny that he was involved in the robbery: when he was released, he had served four weeks in a detention center. Sampson, true to his word, stopped spending time with friends who will only drag him down: some of his final words to them were that he was going to college. Said words were received by ridicule, but Sampson didn't care, leaving to walk his own path. When it comes to their fates, Sampson describes, “Two of them were murdered. Two of them are strung out on drugs. One of them is in jail. I have lost contact with the others.” (120). Sampson, Rameck, and George eventually graduated high school and applied for the medical program: the three of them got into Seton Hall for college. For much of the program, they were mentored by a woman named Carla Dickson, who had a hugely positive impact on them, seeing how she truly believed that they could succeed (she would call them “Dr.”). Furthermore, they had to complete a pre-college summer program (that occurred in the college). The schedules were tight and highly organized, pushing them outside their comfort zone as well as making them stronger people: “They were scheduled for precalculus, biology, chemistry, computer skills, English, and critical-thinking courses. The courses were intense and demanding, with no tolerance for the sloppy work and careless attitudes of high school … Classes lasted every day until five, and after dinner they went to required tutoring sessions, where each student got help in areas of need. Their test scores began to rise. In the evening the students were required to study. No television was allowed during study hours, and bedtime was mandatory at ten P.M., which none of them liked very much.” (130). After weeks of intense effort, they successfully finished the program and entered college. In one incident in college, Rameck let his anger override his better judgment once again: he grabbed someone (an arrogant white student) who insulted him and threw him fiercely onto the ground. To his amazing luck once again, the boy’s mother didn't press charges, and the school board refrained from punishing him. Rameck, Sampson, and George tried to give back to the colored community: they began an organization named Ujima that tried to encourage children to get an education. In Rameck’s words, “The name fit perfectly; it meant collective work and responsibility, and that’s what it really was all about-helping your neighbor. I learned the term from a book about the seven principles of Kwanzaa. That same book talked about the importance of catching our children while they are young, before they get a chance to go down the wrong road.” (145). While they were in college, they did rap music to vent their creativity: they enjoyed it so much they flirted with the idea of becoming rap stars. However, they didn't actually take that idea seriously, seeing how they had finished most of college by that point: the sunk costs were too high and the prospects of success in the rap industry were too low, thereby rendering the potential transaction both inopportune and unprofitable.
After finishing college, Sampson and Rameck went to medical school while George focused on becoming a dentist. Rameck was arrested on bogus charges by a white policeman who was blatantly racist: Rameck noted that DWB - “driving while black” - is a felony in their eyes. To be more specific, the white policeman told him to pull over, which he did. When he got out, the policeman told him that he “interfered” and resisted arrest, and found a “weapon” in the car - a fishing knife in the glove compartment. He was put on trial: the first time, his lawyer didn't even bother to show up. The second time, the policeman filing charges against him lost the fishing knife: seeing that the evidence was gone, the trial was closed and Rameck released. When Sampson took the state board medical exam the first time, he failed (he missed the requirement by just three points). The second time he took the exam, he did well, and he completed medical school. Eventually, the graduates of medical school were paired up with potential positions on the appropriately named “Match Day”: “On Match Day, Rameck gleefully opened his letter, which confirmed his position in internal medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick.” (172). However, Sampson had procrastinated when it came to requesting a specific position, causing himself intense disappointment: he wanted to pursue emergency medicine, but there seemed to be no positions offering him that opportunity. Fortunately for him, after some research (a search on the internet, that is), he found a residency opportunity at the Newark Beth Israel Hospital: although all the positions seemed to be filled, one of the residents canceled their plans the day before he called, opening a spot for him. Also, “He would be returning as a doctor to the same hospital where he was born, the same hospital where he was taken when the rock crushed his foot, the same hospital where the seeds of his interest in medicine had first been planted. Dr. Sampson Davis was going home.” (175). Sampson, Rameck, and George graduated from medical school on May 26, 1999. “Sampson, the man with determination and drive. George, the man with the long-range vision. Rameck, the questioner, the activist, the cheerful encourager. The three friends, who had grown from awkward, confused teenagers to men proudly walking across a stage to accept medical degrees, had brought each other through. It was a moment of well-deserved glory … Individually, their roads had held impossible obstacles. But together, their combined strength had taken them through to success. They had beaten the streets.” (179). More information is then provided about the authors: “Drs. Rameck Hunt and Sampson Davis graduated from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Dr. George Jenkins graduated from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Dental School. Dr. Sampson Davis was for many years an emergency-medicine physician at the same hospital where he was born in Newark, New Jersey. Now he is a board-certified emergency-medicine physician at East Orange General Hospital and St. Michael’s Medical Center, and a consultant for the Violence Prevention Institute focusing on gare awareness and preventive medicine in Essex County, New Jersey. Dr. George Jenkins is a professor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and Dr. Rameck Hunt is a professor and director of the outpatient clinic at St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey.” (182-3).
Personal thoughts:
We Beat the Street: How a Friendship Pact Led to Success by Sampson Davis, Rameck Hunt, and George Jenkins is an inspirational, powerful, and motivating read, made all the more impactful in that the content actually happened. This story clearly demonstrates that achieving one’s ambitions is possible, even if one finds oneself in an unfortunate, terrible situation (amid a terrible reality that allows for such things as drug abuse, murder, material disparity, and hatred to exist). The story of Sampson, Rameck, and George effectively supports the importance of friendship and of having friends who will benefit you positively: as the popular saying goes, “show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” What’s captivating about this story is how Sampson, George, and Rameck could have remained deprived of opportunity and education: Rameck violently assaulted and humiliated people but was given the opportunity to reform, Sampson’s plea deal worked in his favor (his other friends at the scene all served jail time), and George could’ve simply given in to the negative influences around him. All in all, this book is an entirely worthwhile read: I highly recommend We Beat the Street: How a Friendship Pact Led to Success to anyone interested in overcoming obstacles, the factors leading to success, the unfairness of life, the importance of friendship, and education.
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