It can take a long time time for a story to find its audience. In 2014 I photographed Marion Barry’s funeral procession. As video producer I and had bumped up against Barry a few times and knew he was a true original and his procession would be something special. I was proud of the photos and story from that day but was never able to get any traction. On the 10 year anniversary of Barry’s death the City Paper finally published my piece. Here’s a link to the story and a few of my favorite photos.
If you’re interested in learning more about Barry I recommend this excellent book by Harry Jaffe and Tom Sherwood
“Marion Barry is important to the history of Washington DC. I came here in 1967 and Marion Barry’s activism and contributions were always present since I’ve arrived.
And not just in the city. Many people of wealth in Prince George’s county benefited from Marion Barry’s programs and contracts. Marion Barry opened capital to black people in particular and other people of color. Marion Barry opened that to everyone, he diversified access to capital. Marion Barry’s activism and contributions were always present since I’ve arrived. Whether as an activist or going into the school board and limited home rule we’ve achieved during that period. There’s not much in DC life that hasn’t involved him”
“We’re not from DC, I came here in 1970 and I’m telling you this really is not the real world because a lot of these places that you go to now, you would not have these opportunities that you have had in DC. He made it possible for us. Its true. I tell people, I came from Kentucky and the things that people have the opportunity to do, right now you could not do that in Kentucky.
In 1995 he initiated an affordable housing program – they called it the HPAP program – 132 homes were made available at a discount you could afford. Barry felt people should own their homes instead of renting apartments and he fixed it so it would be affordable. I got a three bedroom, living room, dinning room, kitchen and all it cost me was $109,000″
