Friday's Photo of the Week . 19 January 2007

Basketball in Stead Park, NW . WDC

Saturday afternoon , 13 Janaury 2007

2007 Friday's Photos of the Week

2006 FPOTW

MAL 2007 "Out in the Streets"

While I am definately an extrovert, in recent years, ... and as a result of my life experiences, as a black male, ... I now tend to keep my distance ... from the crowds. Which may shed light on why, and not unlike Exhibitionism-Voyeurism, that my focus during the 2007 MAL was "Out in the Streets".

Click photo to view MAL 2007 Out in the Streets and 2007 MLK Day WDC photoset.

Having just purchased tickets moments before at the Washington Plaza Hotel when passing this hunk on the street I'd inquire if he would be at the Reaction Dance later that night. When he said yes my response was 'I'll see ya there!'

However, when nearing the 9:30 Club a few hours later that I'd reflect on my experiences at the Steele Club in Fort Lauderdale in November and at the Saint Black Party in March ... I decided to NOT attend the 2007 MAL Sunday night dance party.

MLK 2007

In the process of my 13 January 2007 Saturday Photo Walk I'd happen upon a HAZMAT - Bomb Squad in Dupont Circle and since I seldom go anything without my cameras I was able to snap some photos. Which, as a black male, always arouses unnecessary and unwanted suspicion.

Even though many people, themselves, have cameras, camcorders and camera-phones and, of course, will take pictures - when they see me ... a black male ... their first and last reaction is to criminalize me. An hour or so before taken these HAZMAT/Bomb Scare - Dupont Circle photos when in the course of my ongoing Logan Circle Project that I'd snap a photo or two of a man jumping in the street he'd walk up to me and say something to the effect that 'normally, I'd prefer that people ask me if they may photograph me ...'.

I'd explan that while I understand and, normally, before taking such pictures I make sure that subjects are aware of my intent and that my style of documentary photography does not lend to me asking each and every person "... for their permission ...". What I did not say, is that, people always expact for black men to explan to them what they (the black men) are doing.

Case in point, during the course of 06 January 2007 January Thaw Satruday Photo Walk, on two different occaisons young white teens ... demanding to know why I was photographing the historic window displays at the CVS Store at 13th and Pennsylvania and the Pink Store on Connecticut Aveenue ... as if I owned them explanation.

And then, they would proceed to follow me, through the streets. And as many others -photographing me ... photographing. Policing, overseeing and watching me. The way folks do - when see black men! Watching to see where I focus my camera and run up to me, on a bicylcle, and ask about drugs. So, it is perfectly acceptable for them to photograph me, secretly, but not not for me to photograph ... the way that I do.

I wanted to explan to the white man that, as a black male, I do not enjoy such freedoms. And that as a 53 year old gay black male, who practiced integration ... in sharp contrast to my white lovers, white friends, white tricks, white acquaintances, white colleagues, white peers ... I have less freedoms now than I had in 1963 when Martin Luther King Jr. marched onto Washington DC.

In fact, I can't walk through Dupont Circle or take pictures on P Street on Saturday afternoons without some white man approaching me about drugs. In the exact way that young white kids demand to know why I photograph window displays or that some young skateboarder emailed me saying "... I have reasons to believe that you stole my mittens ...".

When thaking these HAZMAT - Bomb Squad at Dupont Circle photos I could not help but reflect on the fact that ... as a black man ... Martin Luther King's birthday does not mean to me what it means to white counter part.

When explaining in a telephone conversation the meaning behind my new year afffirmation of "Deliver Me / Progression" I'd reiterate that it has to with the fact that in order to move move forward (progress) one must know the truth of his past (deliver me) and that as a black man one of the ways that another can affect my progression is to have spent their entire lives in a relataionship with me that was based on lies and untruths. And the policing and overseeing of me. Watching my every move. And waiting for me to exhale. Or to ejaculate!

Which is precisely what people do to black males!

When taking these MLK Day 2007 photos I could not reflect on the fact that, as a black man, I'm sick and tired ... of joining hands ... !

Instead of a camera, some angry black men might would put a gun in their hands!

I'm sick and tired!

Remembering Dr. King and the Tragedy of Gun Violence

Kenneth E. Barnes, Sr, CEO & Founder of ROOT Inc. remembers Dr. King and comments on the tragedy of today's gun violence.

I was born and raised in northeast Washington , DC , in a section known as Trinidad . I grew up on Owen Place , a street between Montello Ave and Trinidad Ave, NE. My family moved to Owen Place in 1945, and, ironically, was the first African American family to move onto the block.

I attended Wilson elementary school on the corner of 6th and K St, NE. Wheatley Elementary is on the corner of Neal St. and Montello Ave, NE , within two blocks walking distance of my family home. Yet I had to catch a bus to go to Wilson Elementary over a mile from home and by pass Wheatley every morning.

As a child, I would wonder why but it was one of those mysteries not clearly defined by my family to me and it seemed as a child to be no big deal. My family was from the south and shielded the inequities of segregation and the evils of racism from my brother, my sister, and me. Racism and segregation was a part of everyday life accepted by families like mine from the south as part of their existence.

I remember being in the first integrated class of Wheatley when I entered the 5th grade and still was not totally aware of the segregated society that I had been a part of. I remember studying history and not really seeing or being able to identify with Black people, because all history at that time being taught consisted of the history of western civilization and culture or American (White) history. We leaned about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, Davey Crockett and Wyatt Earp were big frontier heroes. Even God was a white man with a flowing white beard and hair to match, and Jesus Christ was a younger white man with a darker beard and long hair down to his shoulders.

I succinctly remember one black person being taught as being a hero during the American Revolution, and his name was Crispus Attacks. I remember wondering at the time what made him a hero and why was he singled out. He happened to be in a crowd of people that were shot by English soldiers and he happened to be black. I never could figure out what was heroic about that nor, at the time, did I understand the significance of why he, of all the heroic Black people throughout history, was singled out and given to us (Black children) as being a hero.

This naivety of thinking remained with me up until my high school years. I remember about a black lady refusing to give up her seat on a bus. I remember about sit-ins and protests, about Medgar Evars being murdered, about a bombing of a church, and civil rights workers being killed. Even with all that atrocity my most vivid memory is of a remarkable man, a preacher, who began to become prominent as a spokesperson against all of the evils entwined with bigotry, segregation, and racism. He spoke eloquently yet forcefully and firmly. He spoke with a gentleness of conviction, and his powerful message of non violent confrontation as a means of battling racism began to resonate throughout America.

He stood up for us as African Americans perhaps as no other before him. He was, to me, our savior, our Christ. He led marches and protests against racist and segregation against some of the vilest and most ruthless people in this county. He was beaten, stabbed, locked up, attacked by dogs, and water hosed. Yet he seemed to rise, larger than life, above it all.

And he became my first hero. He opened my eyes like no one before me had. I began to listen to his speeches, enthralled by his every word.

I remember this great man being able to call a march on Washington and give perhaps the most magnificent speech ever delivered in the history of mankind, with the entire nation as well as the entire world enthralled.

And most vividly I remember that fateful day in 1968 when an assassin's bullet bought to an end the incredible life of this wonderful, magnificent human being. I remember crying unabashedly and unashamedly as if it was my own father that had been murdered. My first thoughts were how could they do this to this great man?

Now today I keep his philosophy and teachings ever fresh in my mind. For we are in a struggle today as important as the struggles that surrounded us in the 1960's demanding our civil rights. Just as the assassination of this hero by a gun, my son was murdered due to gun violence. And, coincidentally, his birthday is January 17.

Death by gun violence is the number one epidemic facing our young men today and it is not being addressed by our nation politic, just as our civil rights were not being addressed prior to the 60's. We must have a call to action, like Dr. King's movement, to address the epidemic of violence, of gun violence, of homicides, and of increasing incidents of youth violence if we have any hopes of pursuing Dr. King's dreams as a nation.

Kenneth E. Barnes, Sr., MS

ROOT (Reaching Out to Others Together), Inc.

811 Florida Ave, NW Washington, DC 20001

Tel: (202) 332-ROOT . Fax: (202) 332-8250

Toll Free: (866) 570-ROOT

Email: kennysr@rootinc.org

Web: http://www.rootinc.

Photo taken on 27 August 2006 in Washington DC during the ROOT Rally for Public Safety & Against Gun Violence. Though Mr. Barnes is of no relations to me I have supported his efforts at ROOT Inc.

Friday's Photo of the Week . 12 January 2007

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NGA Sculpture Garden Ice Rink 2007

National Mall WDC . Sunday, 7 January 2007

2007 Friday's Photos of the Week

2007 MAL Weekend, 12 - 14 January

Entering its 37th year, the Leather Weekend celebration, which now includes two evening dances, a Leather Exhibit Hall, and many other exciting elements, coordinated by the men of the Centaur Motorcycle Club has been sustained by the Washington community, a multitude of Leather/Levi clubs, and supporters from all over the world.

Celebrated over Martin Luther Kings Birthday annually in WDC, the 2007 Leather Weekend takes place from Friday, 12th - Sunday, 14th January. As usual, registration, the main host hotel and exhibit halls are at the Washington Plaza Hotel. For information regarding events visit their website at www.LeatherWeekend.com. Or click photo.

Dear Mr. President: Send Even MORE Troops (and you go, too!) ...from Michael Moore

Wednesday, 10 January 2007

Dear Mr. President,

Thanks for your address to the nation. It's good to know you still want to talk to us after how we behaved in November. Listen, can I be frank? Sending in 20,000 more troops just ain't gonna do the job. That will only bring the troop level back up to what it was last year. And we were losing the war last year! We've already had over a million troops serve some time in Iraq since 2003. Another few thousand is simply not enough to find those weapons of mass destruction! Er, I mean... bringing those responsible for 9/11 to justice! Um, scratch that. Try this -- BRING DEMOCRACY TO THE MIDDLE EAST! YES!!!

Click photo to read more from Michael Moore's 10 January 2007 Letter to the President and blog posting.

Baltimore Magazine celebrates 100 years

100 years ago, the first issue of Baltimore rolled off the presses, making it the oldest continuously published city magazine in the continental U.S. According to Steve Geppi, Publisher of Baltimore, "Starting with the Janaury issue and continuing through the next 11 issues, we'll bring you anniversary perspectives that we think you'll find insightful, revealing, and uniquely Baltimore."

The Snuff Film

The Snuff Film
Originally uploaded by AnomalousNYC.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2007 Inductees

New York -- On Monday, 8 January 2007, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation announced its inductees for 2007:

Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five (Kid Creole, Cowboy, Grandmaster Flash, Melle Mel, Mr. Ness, Raheim)

R.E.M. (Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, Michael Stipe)

The Ronettes (Estelle Bennett, Ronnie Spector, Nedra Talley)

Patti Smith

Van Halen (Michael Anthony, Sammy Hagar, Alex Van Halen, Eddie Van Halen, David Lee Roth)

The five inductees will be honored at a ceremony on March 12, 2007 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City. Presenters and performers at the induction will be announced in February, 2007. “We couldn’t be more proud to honor this unique, diverse group of rockers, rappers, singers and poets. This is what rock and roll is all about,” said Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation President and C.E.O., Joel Peresman. Read more.

The above photo of Patti Smith is from her latest book, Patti Smith Complete 1975-2006 - Lyrics, Reflections & Notes for the Future which features never-before-seen photographs by Robert Mapplethorpe and Annie Liebovitz plus original artwork and text by Smith.

Friday evenings at the Smithsonian Jazz Cafe

In commemoration of my new year I began 2007 with the launching of several new ongoing documentary projects. One of which is Friday Nights in WDC.

Though I usually will glance through AOL Digital City and DCist Out & About: Weekend Picks having recently been acquainted with the Downtown DC Newsletter and looking for something new and different in the new year, on Friday afternoon I'd find many weekend events that interested me in the 5 January 2007 Downtown Events Update.

As a first installment of Friday Nights in WDC I stopped in at the Smithsonian Jazz Cafe. Where every Friday evening the Atrium Cafe at the National Museum of Natural History presents live jazz music from local musicians and features a full bar and savory dinners and desserts, provided by Guest Services.

On this particular evening, 5 January 2007, the seven-piece Afro Cuban jazz band, Afro Bop Alliance, performed latin jazz music while also recording a live DVD. See photos.

While the public is welcomed, in many cases, these events are gatherings for social groups as will be the case on Friday, 12 January 2007 when The Brooks Tegler Quartet is scheduled to perform at an event hosted by the My Friends & I: 40 + Cultural Arts Social Club.

To learn more about Brooks Tegler Quartet view his bio at the Starland Cafe which is where he performs.

To host a group event or party at the Smithsonian Jazz Café, please contact Jennifer Lee at (202) 275-2371.

The Smithsonian Jazz Cafe takes place on Friday evenings from 6 until 10 pm in the National Museum of Natural History Atrium Cafe. Which is located at Constitution Avenue and 10th Street, in NW, Washington DC. Admission is $10. Children under 12 are free.

Cash Bar: 5:30-10pm. Dining: 6-9:30pm. Shopping until 7:30pm.

Included in Friday Nights in WDC, if clicked, the above photo of the Afro Bop Alliance links to my ongoing Smithsonian Jazz Cafe project.

Capturing the times with historic images

The Downtown Update Newsletter dated 9 January 2007 reports that The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) has posted historic images of the city's past on its website for all to see. See F Street Downtown as it was during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

DDOT's preservation efforts are a part of a history project sponsored by the DDOT Research and Technology Development Office with support from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). To view these photos, visit District Department of Transportation and click on "Transportation Planning & Research" then click on “Historical Photo Archives”.

For more information or if you are interested in contributing to this project, please contact William P. Carr, at williamp.carr@dc.gov or 202.671.1371.

One of the reasons that I photograph, the way that I do, is because I am quite confident that, years from now, my historic images will be regarded as an important documentation of our times.

Click above photo to visit Historical Photo Archives.

J18-03 Photos Never Before Seen

On Saturday, 18 January 2003, I would document one of the largest anti-war demonstrations to have marched through the streets of Washington DC. Which in commemoration of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday proceeded from a morning rally on the National Mall along Independence and Pennsylvania avenues, pass the US Capitol, through Capitol Hill and down 8th and M streets to the Navy Yard. Though the organizers, A.N.S.W.E.R. International, estimated half a million, the Washington Post and other press rounded the figure closer to 200,000. Which, in any case exceeded the 100,000 who, on 26 October 2002, marched onto the White House.

Click photo to view J18-03 never before seen images which, the film negatives, were not processed until today, 8 January 2007. 2002 and more 2003 WDC MLK Day photos may be viewed at my 2005 MLK Day Commemoration photoessay.

WMATA 2007

Since the first snow of December 2005 and not unlike my recent Rush Hour project seldom, in the course of my travels, have not photographed my journey along the subway. As was the case when on Thursday evening, 4 January that I'd rush to the Washington Post Building's Auditorium at 1150 15th Street in Northwest for the first Blogger Summit. Only to realize, once I got there, that I was a day early.

On the way to the Washington Post several delays were experienced along the blue line, from L'enfant Plaza to McPherson Square. For example, the train was on hold for more than 10 minutes at the Smithsonian Station before preceeding to Federal Triangle. And once at Federal Triangle and Metro Center the same train waited longer than usual. Perhaps 5 minutes at each.

On my return trip home I would take a series of photos, including the above. Which when clicked links to my WMATA 2007 project. Previous projects include WMATA 2006 and WMATA.

In DCist's Transit on Thursday/Friday: Remainder's Edition it was stated that "the pickin's of new Metro-related photos in the DCist Flickr pool were pretty slim (hint, hint)."

Well, that may be true, but in recent months the photos that I tag as DCist which often includes WMATA photos never seem to appear in DCist Flickr Pool.

Hint. Hint!

Yellow/Green line WMATA TRACK WORK / Gallery Place photos taken @ 4:05 PM

This WMATA Track Work series photo was taken at 4:05 PM at the Gallery Place Station, lower level, during which time announcements were made over the intercom that trains going in both directions of the green and yellow lines were using only one track. Which was the opposite track. While there may not be any connection, we now know that a train derailment had occured minutes before, just one stop north, at the Mount Vernon - Convention Center Station at 3:45 PM.

When snapping these Men At Work and WMATA photos at 4:05 PM I (and perhaps no one at the Gallery Place Station) had knowledge of the Mount Vernon - Convention Center Station derailment.

Kirstin Bruner / Art Exposure @ CVS-McPherson Square through 10 Jan

I'm not too sure exactly when the trend began but, for several years now, I have taken notice of the historic images window displays at several CVS stores. In particular, at Dupont Circle West and on Capitol Hill - Eastern Market which I would report on in several blog postings.

Unlike the historic images that would remain on display for an extended period of time at the Dupont Circle and Capitol Hill stores, both which reflected on the history of the respective neighborhoods, the window exhibitions at the McPherson Square CVS Store, located at the corner of 15th and K Streets, in NW, WDC which features mixed media and more contemporary art changes very frequently.

In July, 2000, Ann Wiker created Art Exposure, Inc. as part of the revitalization efforts in Downtown Baltimore. The organization consists of displays of local artists' original artwork in lobbies of office buildings, theatres, law firms, universities, hotels, cafes and restaurants. The artwork is rotated on a four to eight week basis and is offered for sale. The program started with nine artists and five buildings (venues for displayed artwork). To date, there are over seventy artists and forty venues participating throughout Baltimore, Frederick, Annapolis, DC and Columbia.

At this time, though most are located in the Baltimore/Columbia MD area listed amongst its participating venues is the Southern Railway Building which located at the corner of 15th and K Streets in NW Washington, houses the McPherson Square CVS. Which in recent months, the window exhibitions have caught my attention.

Due, partly, to my ongoing Historic Images Window Displays at CVS Project but, also, due to the fact that it has always been my intention to exhibit my photographs in public spaces, including storefront windows. One of my projects under development is to curate a Dupont Circle, Over The Years photography exhibition for the Dupont Circle West CVS store.

However, for now, I'm almost certain that in the next few months I will be contacting Art Exposure, Inc.. Perhaps, with plans for developing future exhibitions at the Southern Railway Building - CVS Store.

Though Art Exposure exhibitions are held in the interior of the Southern Railway Building, currently on display ... at the exterior ... and in the windows of the McPherson CVS Store are the acrylic paintings of Kirstin L. Bruner. Which will be on display through 10 Janaury 2007.

Click above image, which tagged as Kirstin Bruner - Art Exposure - SRB - 1500K - WDC may also be viewed in Art Exposure - Southern Railway Building WDC and Art News 2007 photosets.

A black Cadillac DeVille with license plate "Washington DC 800-002"

Shot at 4:08 pm on New Years Day, 1 January 2007, on Pennsylvania Avenue and 4th Street, NW, this picture of a black Cadillac DeVille with the license plate "Washington DC 800-002" depicts the Presidential Motorcade transporting President George W. and First Lady Laura Bush from the Gerald Ford's 'Lay in State' Funeral at the US Capitol to the Blair House Mansion for a meeting with Mrs. Betty Ford.

Click photo to view more Motorcades 2007 photos. Or visit Gerald R. Ford 'Lay In State' US Capitol 1 Janury 2007.

Friday's Photo of the Week . 5 January 2007

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Gerald R. Ford State Funeral (Arrival) @ the US Capitol

National Mall . 3rd Street . WDC . 30 December 2006

N E W S G A T H E R E R S

2007 Friday's Photos of the Week

Sergeant Brett Parson / MPDC's GLLU

When Parson took over the gay unit in 2001, two years after it was created, he added a heavy dose of law enforcement to what started as a community outreach program. "We are not just going to protect gay people," he told Police Chief Charles H. Ramsey. "We are going to do real police work."

Other law enforcement agencies across the country -- Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago -- have officers who deal with the gay community, but none has a separate squad like the District's. In addition to four full-time officers, there are eight auxiliary and reserve officers, including one transgender member, Tomi Finkle, a retired U.S. Capitol Police sergeant who now carries a LadySmith .45. Read more.

Sergeant Brett Parson, a Washington DC area native, is head of the DC Metropolitan Police Gay and Lesbian Unit (GLLU). In existence since June 2000, GLLU is staffed by openly gay and lesbian members of the department and their allies.

In July 2006, the GLLU was awarded the prestigious "Innovations in American Government Award" from Harvard University’s Ash Institute for Democratic Governance and Innovation for reaching out to an under-served community and creating a model for community policing. This is the second time that a District program has received this $100,000 award – last year the District’s SEED School was a prize winner.

To learn more about the MPDC's GLLU visit their website at www.gllu.org.

NOTE: The GLLU office is not a full service police station and does not have regular business hours. In case of an emergency, dial 9-1-1. A member of the GLLU is alway on-call and available via the On-Call Pager at 1(877) 495-5995.

Click above 3 January 2007 photo of Sergeant Brett Parson to view my MPDC 2007 project. See also MPDC 2006 or MPDC or Cop Duty 2007 or Cop Duty 2006 or Cop Duty.

WDC's 2007 Mayoral Inauguration & City Council Swearing-In

WDC's 2007 Mayoral Inauguration / City Council Swearing-In

Washington Conventer Center . NW WDC . 3 January 2007

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