This young man went by the street name of Drifter. I photographed him on several occasions in the southern part of Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood on Sunnyside. Sunnyside seemed to be the center of activity for the Gaylord gang in the mid-1970s. He looked like he was barely 15 but told me he was in the gang. When I photographed him, he hung his arm around this girl and stooped down, trying to look cool. Her reaction is what makes this shot for me. It’s hard to say whether its a grimace or a brave smile. He’s very into the moment, but she seems to be trying to conceal her discomfort.
