Avon Barksdale

Avon Randolph Barksdale is a fictional character in the American television series The Wire, played by Wood Harris. Barksdale is one of the most powerful drug dealers in Baltimore, Maryland, running the Barksdale Organization. Stringer Bell is his second in command, insulating Barksdale from law enforcement and potential enemies. Working for Barksdale and Bell is a large organization of drug dealers and enforcers. Accepting nothing less than absolute power, Barksdale is shrewd and intuitive, although not as cerebral as Bell. Barksdale was partly based on a real-life gang leader who ran a drug dealing operation in West Baltimore. 2Biography 3Criminal organization As of season one, Barksdale remains a furtive but increasingly powerful force within West Baltimore's drug trade. His territory includes both the Franklin Terrace housing project and a nearby low-rise project referred to as "the Pit." Barksdale runs the organization with his second-in-command, Russell "Stringer" Bell, but isolates himself and Bell from the drug trade and eschews overt displays of wealth. He has a number of enforcers, most notably his old friend Wee-Bey Brice, and several lieutenants running drug crews in different areas. Beneath the lieutenants are hoppers who trade drugs and look out for polic