November 23 will mark 10 years since Marion Barry passed away.
Growing up in the 90s as a white kid Barry was the butt of a lot of jokes in my community. I was ignorant. I knew nothing about Barry’s prominence as a civil rights activist, his role in helping create the black middle class, nor the targeted attempts to take him down.
As I grew into my 30s I came to see the other side of Barry. As a video professional I would come across Barry throughout the city, particularity in Anacostia. He was everywhere – attending press conferences, opening banks, or acting in other ceremonial capacities. It was very clear he was well loved – not universally perhaps, but very deeply. He had earned a reverence and appreciation amongst those he helped.
In 1960, the District became the first major American city to have a majority black population. In 1970 the African American population peaked at 71 percent. Last year, that population has shrunk to 41 percent. To understand DC – what it once was, and what it has now become – one needs to understand Barry.
Before passing, Barry wrote a last will and testament instructing that his body be carried by horse drawn carriage from the Wilson building through the streets of Anacostia so he could say goodbye to his people one last time.
I knew that was going to be something special. I grabbed my camera and jumped on a bike and set out to photograph and interview the people along the processional. Almost every person I spoke with had a personal story about how Barry had helped them in a profound way – a housing program he initiated which allowed them to buy their first home, a jobs program Barry created which blossomed into a career, a scholarship which allowed someone to go to school, a loan program he initiated which allowed a business to succeed.
Barry was no saint. Few of us are. But he helped so many people and he made such an impact on the District. Barry deserves to be recognized for the good he brought to his people. His presence is sorely lacking in today’s Washington and we are poorer for it.
“I came to pay my respects. The mayor gave me my first job 30 years ago. I started out as a janitor in the local schools and am still working today. He gave me the confidence to hold on to a job and start a career and it wasn’t easy because I am handicapped. Barry changed my life” Barry’s body being carried out of the Wilson buildingA man and his son trying to catch a glimpse of Barry’s casket. Juliette Bethea holds a rose which fell off Barry’s casket.
“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”Cora Masters being escorted down the Wilson building steps by Mayor Vincent Gray and DC council chairperson Phil Mendelson.“There will never be anyone like him in this city. No one stood by us and took care of us like Barry. He helped the whole city. He took care of US. No one in the city is looking out for us now”Cora Masters – Civic leader, professor, and Marion Barry’s former wife leaves the procession. “A lot of people don’t know what Marion Barry has done for this city. We’ve been knowing him all our lives. Washington was chosen by congress. Barry was elected by the people. So there will never be another. Not ever” “I am a nurse because of Marion Barry. Barry sponsored a nursing program in Takoma Park at the Columbia Union College for the people of the have nots. I was a have not at the time, but now I have a good life and I thank Marion Barry for that.”Barry’s casket being pulled through the streets of AnacostiaBarry’s godson Antonio Walker walks besides Barry’s casket. A woman giving Barry a final salute
“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. “I wanted to come out here mainly because I wouldn’t have had a home without Marion Barry – he’s the one who set the foundation for the home that I live in in right now.
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″Children lining up to see Barry passing on Southern AveHere Christopher Barry is greeted by children lining the processional route along Southern Avenue. Later in the day Christopher came and found me and asked for my card so he could get a copy of the picture“Marion Barry got me my first job as part of the summer youth program. I was in a DC government job and I still work there today. The program taught me responsibility—it opened a door for me. People will miss Barry’s caring. He cared for the people of Ward 8 and overall DC period.”“Marion Barry’s passion was for the elderly and the young. My son went to Ballou and Barry would go over there and encourage the young people. He would give them a dream to shoot for. And Barry was passionate about keeping the youth off the streets and giving them the tools to create a career. The Youth Program was likes bricks, giving young people the chance to build themselves up. And the District benefited from that because it helped our youth become productive adults who are able to hold down jobs”“Marion Barry was a good man because he had remodeled all the schools around 4th Street. He helped remodel Ballou. He helped remodel Simon and he gave Hart new windows. When we were in school we let up ballons for him just to thank him for everything that he done around here that was nice. I feel very bad that he passed away because he won’t be able to make any more schools.”A group of woman holding signs for Barry “Marion Barry did a lot for the city. He had his ups and downs but he did a lot. People are going to rag on him—like they always do—but the people that live here know that he did a lot for us.”A brass funeral dirge playing tribute to Barry “Marion Barry was a neighborhood man. He socialized. He came to this liquor store right here. No one else will understand us like him because he walked in our shoes. These newcomers out here don’t even want to come out of the office. Marion Barry walked the neighborhood. He’d shake your hand. If you didn’t have any money he would go into his pocket and give you a dime.” “He helped us, to you know pick yourself up. Help build up your character. Dust yourself off. Take pride in yourself. Marion Barry came into your house and ate with you. I ate dinner in his home with his first wife once. Ain’t no one else going to be like him. Carol Johnson says “Barry is the only one in Ward 8 that is interacting with Ward 8. He comes to this park right here and plays horseshoes. We’ve been knowing him all our lives”.“Marion Barry helped me through a lot of situations. He didn’t force us to do anything but he made it easier for us blacks to get jobs if you wanted one. Ain’t no one else going to be like him. It’s going to be rough without him” RIP Marion Barry.
This last year I’ve had the privilege to work on a PBS show looking at how climate change is impacting sacred spaces across the globe. Here’s some behind the scene shots I took between my normal job as a cameraman and assassinating the DP. The show will be out spring 2025.
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