#TGCITW
My first trip to Africa was in 2013. It was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. Especially considering I went home to a country of which I currently have family who reside there. A country filled with people who desire to come to this fairy tale land that we call The Greatest Country in the World. Upon returning home I am overwhelmed with a sense of appreciation; Appreciation for my life here in America. I am less concerned with the materialistic and fictitious pieces of my life; instead I am drawn towards positive energy and genuine love and acceptance of others.
So, I am back in the United States, the Greatest Country in the World, and I now see a familiar pain in others like the faces I have come across in Ethiopia. I see pain drawn from insecurities and desire for a better life. I see people pan-handling for money, just as the homeless on the streets of Africa. But how could that be possible in The Greatest Country in the World? No matter where we are, we seem to have these demons on our shoulders that feed into our insecurities; Demons of which we are amazing at hiding. But those featured in my exhibition may not be so good at hiding theirs. Yet, they have a story to share just like you and I.
I hope you enjoy my very first photography exhibition. • December 2015
Jimmy is sharp! Growing up on the south side of Columbus, Ohio, Jimmy attended St. Ladislaus Catholic Elementary, Barrett Middle and South High School. At South, Jimmy did not play basketball because Coach Gilchrist’s niece fancied him. “[Coach] said he was going to make it hard for me,” he smirks.
Jimmy is sociable. I know that he certainly enjoyed our conversation. He talked about when he first started getting into trouble at 15. Jimmy was the kid in the car while his buddies robbed a place. “Wrong place. Wrong time,” he explains. He landed in Tico Juvenile Detention Center after the time his neighbor was taking him home while having marijuana in the car. “I felt like my whole life, no one wanted to hear me out. You black, you lie. That’s it.” He stated shaking his head.
You can find Jimmy riding his bike in the alleys not the street. “Nobody that wanna live and got common sense is going to [ride in the streets]. It don’t make no sense to do that.”
If things could have gone his way, I could see Kevin Louis Wells in front of a class full of students conducting a lecture. He is probably one of the smartest guys I have ever come across. Kevin is well spoken and charismatic. I kneeled down next to him as we got a history lesson.
He had our full attention as he educated us on the documentary of Caesar’s Messiah, which detailed the Roman conspiracy of the Christian gospel. He spoke of race and his belief that black people are the original habitants of earth. He quoted literature and books to support his beliefs and emphasized throughout our conversation that, “someone should always be able to back up what they say with facts.” But he knew too much.
Many would call Kevin a conspiracy theorist. He used to make a decent living driving a taxi in the early 2000s. I asked him how he got to the point where he is now and he responded, “I was stupid, man. They sent her after me.”
Everyone knows Padam! Padam could barely keep his eyes open as he takes a puff of his cigarette waving side to side. “I am an alcoholic,” he quickly confesses before I could even get a word out. Padam interrupts our conversations with Jimmy and Kevin on two totally separate instances. Funny thing is, they both knew who he was and kindly greeted him!
“Take a picture of me!” he demanded with a smile.
“Daniel. Just like in the Bible.” Daniel has faced countless unfavorable situations but remains in high spirits. “Everyone always asks me how I can be so happy, and I’m homeless with no job and I have cancer,” he looks up, “because I have God.”
Daniel became homeless 6 months ago after he lost his job. He worked in construction for a small private company. Unfortunately, the business closed down soon after the owner passed away. “I sleep out at Goodale Park or the Park of Roses behind here,” he points. We questioned why he did not choose to go to a homeless shelter and he yelled, “They got bed bugs!” He attempted another shelter downtown and though there were no bed bugs, he was assaulted or “jumped,” as he described, in his room by other residents. Daniel prefers the outdoors.
What a humble soul. Nathan was hanging on the corner with his ex-girlfriend. She teased him for allowing us to take his photograph and ask a few questions. She explains, “they want you to be a part of their project so people can feel sorry for you.”
Nathan attended John Hay High School in Cleveland. He moved to Columbus in 1990 for “better opportunities”. He got a job with a temp service but nothing panned out. His ex giggled as she continued to make mean comments, “but look where you ended up!” Nathan drops his head in shame. It was obvious that Nathan wanted to get back on his feet; he recently joined a transitional program that will hopefully help him do so. It is unfortunate that negative people surround him; such as his ex who constantly reminds him that (though she is clearly in the same predicament) he does not have much. We asked him for his number to follow-up and invite him to the final showing and she interrupts Nathan. “He ain’t got any minutes!”