I spent the day with the Newby family in Raleigh a couple of weeks ago. Antje and Tom had recently moved to NC from Detroit with their 3 kids after they both lost their jobs and were unable to find work. This resulted in the loss of their home and after months of search, Antje landed a new job at an ad agency in Raleigh.
Now Tom stays home with the kids, doing many of the home tasks and helping the kids readjust to new schools, new places and in many ways, a new life.
They have been through a lot, and there are many things that still have to be worked out dealing with their former life and the stress the move and unemployment has had on the family relationships, but it is a new start and one that many others are looking for.
Read Michael Luo’s story here
See the full take here
I visited the Woolworth store where the Greensboro 4 made their now historic stand against Jim Crow on a field trip in middle school with an african american teacher who had recently moved south from Illinois, I think. He told us about driving past a “Welcome to Klan Country” billboard outside Smithfield, NC and having to stop the car and wonder if he was really going to bring his wife and 2 kids to a place like that.
He did, obviously, and the anecdote drove home for me on that day the significance of the sit ins and the civil rights movement in my state and the country as a whole.
I returned to Greensboro and the store this past snowy weekend to photograph the new Civil Rights museum that has been put into the old store that once stood in the path of progress.
The museum opened to the public on Monday, February 1, the 50th anniversary of the sit ins, which eventually forced the lunch counter to integrate, but not before over 145 people were arrested for participating in the protests.
The counter has been restored and the artifacts brought from around the country to honor those who gave part of themselves to make others equal.
It was a proud day, the museum has been 15 or so years in the making, but we must never forget where our country came from… to make sure it never happens again.
Read the review by Edward Rothstein here
See the slide show here
Full edit for all the buyers out there is here
After selling the office equipment business he had run for 14 years, Don Kreamer was unable to find a new job. He and his wife Sheyenne struggled with bills until finally they lost their home to foreclosure and must move out by January 31st. They took a break from packing up their belongings to watch President Obama deliver his much anticipated State of the Union address.
Reporter Michael Luo and I spent the evening with Don and Sheyenne watching the speech and listening to their comments on the President’s words. After listening to what they have been through, and are going through this week with the foreclosure, it amazed me that they were not bitter, nor simply resigned to their fate. Don described it as being as far down as they could go and now things must go up, sort of how many feel about the country as a whole, we all just wish it would happen a little faster. I hope I am that positive if I ever find myself in a similar place.
Read Michael’s story here
In December of 2008 I photographed the deployment ceremony of Company D of the 1/252nd Combined Arms Battalion of the North Carolina National Guard, part of the 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, as they got ready to head out to Iraq.
This past weekend they returned home to Sanford, NC. Welcome back.
Sonya Duggins waits in the parking lot of the 252nd’s armory for her son Cpl. Holt Preston Duggins to be dismissed from duty
A couple of months ago, M. Scott Brauer, an old friend of mine from NY who now lives and works in China, asked me if I would do an interview on my ongoing War at Home project for his and Matt Lutton’s blog dvafoto. I agreed and the interview has been posted this morning.
Please give it a read and let me know what you think.
And if you are interested, here is a link to a downloadable pdf of a book dummy of the project so far.
Thanks
Remembering those who gave of themselves so all could be equal
I spent a couple of hours with Vince Spera and his family near Charlotte, NC the other day. Mr. Spera was one of the passengers on US Airways flight 1549 when it went down in the Hudson River a year ago today. Much has been written about the calmness of the pilots and crew, as well as the passengers, all of whom made it out with little or no injuries. Mr. Spera was one who made a promise to himself to spend more time with his family after the near death experience. So we made some photos of him shooting hoops with his kids, Gabe and Sophia, and helping them with their homework, tasks that he has committed to when he can be home from his work related travels.
The commitment to time with his family is something I can relate to, having a wife and 2 kids, especially being in a profession that takes one away from home for periods that can seem long and hard. We do it because we love the work, but always remember that our time with family is irreplaceable and should not be taken lightly.
Read the story, by Michael Wilson, here
See the full edit here
Driving through south western North Carolina on assignment the other day, could not pass it up, it had to be 100 feet tall.
Donate to MSF (Doctors Without Borders) to help out in Haiti by clicking the logo above
A fine organization who puts their efforts where they are needed
Best of luck to all residents of Haiti and those who are helping
