"This is not a sham, not a game. This is the real stuff"

Marion Barry's quote is a pointer that life is not a game, yet rather a major issue. He is highlighting that life is not something to be taken lightly, but rather something to be taken seriously. He is recommending that we ought to not be misleaded by appearances or by what we assume we understand, however instead that we need to put in the time to look much deeper and recognize the fact of the scenario. He is likewise suggesting that we should not be misleaded by the suggestion that life is a game, but rather that it is something that needs effort and also commitment. By claiming that this is the "genuine stuff," he is stressing that life is not something to be ignored, but instead something to be taken seriously and worked hard at. He is reminding us that life is not a video game, however instead something that needs hard work and dedication in order to accomplish success.