From jail to a job: How one Alabama drug dealer’s life was transformed

The “street life,” as Deanglo, a Birmingham resident, calls it, has become a pop culture phenomenon in recent years. The fascination with, if not outright glorification of violent criminal activity and the spoils that sometimes come with it permeates the entertainment choices of many Americans, even in the Bible Belt.

Alabama sports website and liberal political blog al.com recently published an article glorifying a “son of Birmingham” who went on to become one of the “most feared, revered and dominant criminals” at the “top of the drug game” in New York City.

But for most Americans who find themselves caught up in the “street life,” the reality rarely matches the initial allure.

Deanglo knows this first hand.

“I was lured into a life of crime,” he recalls. “While in high school the influence of jewelry, nice vehicles, fast money and the want for other materialistic items kept my life in turmoil. My mother tried very hard to raise my siblings and me the best she could, but with an absent father I found more comfort in the street life. I turned to older members of the community for guidance and wisdom knowing they were not good company. I started losing focus and was involved in plenty of unnecessary situations. My friends were dying, my attitude changed for the worse, and I barely managed to graduate high school.

“After high school my life continued along a downward spiral,” he continues. “I had several incidents with law enforcement and my bad attitude was unchanged. I sold drugs to provide for myself and family and that made matters worse. Because I was now making money of my own, I began to think I was ‘the man.’ However, I eventually became lost in a world that I didn’t understand. I found myself incarcerated more than I would have imagined at such a young age.”

Deanglo’s story is sadly not uncommon.

Jefferson County District Attorney Brandon Falls reviewed a year’s worth of shootings in Birmingham and what he found reveals the reality of life on the streets of many inner cities.

“The majority of shootings are done for a ridiculous reason,” Falls explained, “usually involving one person ‘disrespecting’ another.”

But while being “disrespected” seems like an unimaginably low threshold at which to murder someone, Falls touches on the psychology of why that threshold may not seem so unreasonable to some people.

“The key to understanding disrespect as a reason for murder is simple: When a person has nothing else in the world, respect becomes everything,” said Falls. “If you grow up with no money, then respect is like wealth. If you grow up without a mother or father, then respect is like love. If you grow up without religion, then respect is like God. When you think of it like that, respect might not seem like such a crazy reason for a person to be violent.”

During his last stint in jail, Deanglo vowed that when he got out, he would never return again. But removing himself from the lifestyle and mindset described by District Attorney Falls can be a daunting challenge.

“That is where the WorkFaith Birmingham program came in,” says Deanglo.

WorkFaith is a is a non-profit Christian ministry that provides workforce preparation, job placement and long term support for adults in transition, and the chronically unemployed in Birmingham. Since its inception, a stunning 80 percent of the program’s graduates — many of whom have a criminal record or other significant barrier to employment — have obtained and retained a job for over a year.

“We help participants move forward in life through work and faith, utilizing the skills taught in a nine-day, 60-hour, 12-core-competency training,” explains WorkFaith’s Walvid King. “We specialize in assisting adults who struggle to get a job and keep a job due to challenging life issues.”

Dozens of Birmingham employers have flocked to the program, eager to hire driven individuals who have a sincere desire to work and attain the dignity that comes with it.

“When I entered the program I had no clue that it would be so much of an influence on my life,” said Deanglo. “I became more aware of many job related matters and it truly helped in the mental and spiritual areas of my life. WorkFaith Birmingham has opened plenty of doors for me, and has also opened my eyes to look at building a stronger relationship with God. I am very grateful to have participated in the experience and I thank God for good hearted people who are ready and willing to help you regardless of your background and situation.”

Deanglo begins a new chapter in his life next week — not in the streets, but at work.

“I will begin work next week and will use the skills they have given me for life development and to better my community,” he said.

For more information on WorkFaith Birmingham, visit their website.