Wicked

Jule was born into wealth, but money never bought him a place in the world around him. Raised in upper-class Spanish Harlem during an era when racism and discrimination were still deeply woven into American society, he grew up feeling like an outsider in his own neighborhood. From the first grade onward, white classmates constantly singled him out and bullied him. The private schools his family could afford offered him opportunity, but they couldn’t shield him from the prejudice that followed him through childhood. Then, in 1969, when Jule was only twelve, tragedy struck. His mother was killed after being hit by a speeding truck. Losing her shattered whatever sense of security he had left. The person who became closest to him was Adewele Adesina, a Nigerian boy known as “Town.” Their friendship began in the third grade and lasted through every private elementary, middle, and high school they attended together. Adewele’s family had been established in New York since 1910, and his family lived in the same upper-class section of Spanish Harlem. Town had already developed a reputation in the neighborhood. By the age of nine, he and his cousin were involved with a Nigerian street gang, fighting back against kids who targeted them because of their race and background. Jule watched from the sidelines for years before finally joining at thirteen. By fourteen, Jule was fighting almost every day alongside Town. Their friendship became more than childhood companionship—they considered each other brothers. Jule eventually left the gang in 1972 and joined another crew in 1974. His new gang was a mixture of Black, Dominican, Puerto Rican, and Italian members. Although his allegiance had changed, his loyalty to Town never disappeared. Town remained his brother, confidant, and partner in the streets. By 1981, Jule had entered the drug trade. One year later, he had accumulated approximately $5 million, giving him wealth and influence far beyond what most people his age could imagine. Now, in 1982, Jule lives between two worlds. He is the wealthy child who was never accepted, the grieving son who lost his mother young, the former gang member who survived years of street violence, and the ambitious young criminal who built a fortune from the underground economy. At his side is Town—the friend who knew him before the money, before the reputation, and before the streets changed him. No matter how powerful Jule becomes, he never forgets the one person who stood beside him when they were just two boys trying to survive Spanish Harlem.