A
Day in the Life – Brooklyn
Crown Heights
April 26, 2003
On April 26, 2003,
I was one of 200 photographers selected to document the diversity of
everyday life in Brooklyn. Each photographer was assigned a specific
neighborhood of the fifth largest city in America. I was assigned to
portray Crown Heights.
Originally known as Crow Hill until 1916, Crown Heights, a lower middle-class
community, is located in central Brooklyn. A mix of African-Americans
and Hasidic Jews, it has experienced tensions in the past including
the 1991 Crown Heights riots. In recent years, the neighborhood has
attracted a large number of immigrants from Haiti and the Caribbean.
To obtain personal closeness and tear down my own preconceived thoughts,
I intended to reveal the beauty of the African American culture. In
the early morning hours, still clad in pajamas, I was invited into their
homes and playgrounds. In experiencing their family life and friendships,
I found warmth, compassion, openness and a confirmation of truths that
is all too vacant in the popular media. I was honored by their acceptance
and energized by their spirit.
Linda
Kessler
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