Brotha Hustle: “Greetings, fellow hustlers and ghetto economists. I’ve come to realize that we live in a society of racketeering. Gone are the days of Hustle-Utopia (a.k.a. legitimate hustling society), a time when people made equal exchanges with each other, such as a product for a service. Today, lies mixed with the truth keep the insane craziness going.
“Corporations and agencies seduce vulnerable souls, like you, struggling with real-life issues, to buy an item adorned with a curvaceous, silky-skinned, super model blonde who serves as the HOOK-ER. Therefore, recognize that you have been tricked when your product breaks down on Madison Avenue.
“I urge you to re-create the perfect Hustle-Utopia society by being real with your clientele, avoid gimmicks and ploys, supply the demand and make your prices reasonable. Also, refrain from the use of statistical rhetoric to coerce a consumer to purchase a product he or she doesn’t need. In other words, quit lying to the people!
“My granddaddy Hustle succeeded in several professions with good work ethics, integrity and quality. He was a good hustler. And I will continue his legacy by selling the financially challenged public bootleg DVD’s, Ol-Skool-R&B Mixx Tapes, fresh-made pimento cheese sandwiches, recycled back-to-school supplies, pre-paid phone cards and plenty of Juicy Juice on ice. So, as the economy gets tougher, we might just co-exist in our own society as hustlers.”
The Mississippi Free Press produced this story through the MFP Solutions Lab, supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. This series digs into Mississippi’s systemic issues and sheds light on responses to them in other communities. Beyond just reporting on problems, these stories interrogate their causes and inspect potential solutions.