On the one hand, she is a product of a particular background and macro level social forces existing in a particular temporal and geographic context. On the other hand, her unique personal characteristics--intelligence, sense of professionalism, commitment to conventional values, skill as a businessperson, and self-discipline--have contributed to her position as a deviant. Formerly a conventional black mother who did not use drugs, she became involved with drugs relatively late, after her husband died. She completed high school and college and was clearly capable of graduate work, but she abandoned the promise of a legitimate career for marijuana sales. She was in her mid-30's before she shifted from marijuana to crack. She controlled her environment in relation to specific strategies in order to achieve career success. 44 references