If you a man, you gotta protect yaself

“If you a man, you gotta protect yaself. If you can’t, you either pay someone else to or you ain’t gonna be protected,” he said. “Ain’t nothin’ wrong wit’ payin’ for protection.”

Adam sat up. “I asked if guys did it willingly. If somebody’s making you pay protection money, that’s not willing,” he said.
Buck shrugged. “If you a man, you gotta protect yaself. If you can’t, you either pay someone else to or you ain’t gonna be protected,” he said. “Ain’t nothin’ wrong wit’ payin’ for protection.”

From Buck the Ex-Con