I Don't Know My Neighborhood Anymore
Part llll
By
Joseph Young
The photographs in this essay can be seen as a meditation on the H Street Northeast corridor in Washington, DC where I have lived for the past 25 years. The revitalization has forced out longtime residents in droves because the rents have skyrocketed too damn high. As the revitalization takes place all around me, my sense of belonging has been shattered in ways that I have never felt before. Realtors have also renamed the H Street Northeast corridor the Atlas District, named after the Atlas Theater at 13th and H.
This is an affront to my pride and human dignity. But, I, for one, absolutely refuse to call it by any other name because to do so would be tantamount to objectifying my own black body. What an incredible insult to this community of longtime residents who held it together on a shoe string during the tough times. It may have been seen as a ghetto to the new arrivals but as for me and mine we call it home.
The commercial area around the Atlas Theater is not the only section of the H Street Northeast corridor that has been renamed. Further west, the pioneers have christened it NOMA.
This is an affront to my pride and human dignity. But, I, for one, absolutely refuse to call it by any other name because to do so would be tantamount to objectifying my own black body. What an incredible insult to this community of longtime residents who held it together on a shoe string during the tough times. It may have been seen as a ghetto to the new arrivals but as for me and mine we call it home.
The commercial area around the Atlas Theater is not the only section of the H Street Northeast corridor that has been renamed. Further west, the pioneers have christened it NOMA.
Chick-fil-a and Pierce School Lofts, formerly a D.C. Public School. Lofts sell for as much as $ 3 million. Pic taken at Maryland Avenue and 14th Street, Northeast, Washington, DC. 2018 © Joseph Young
New construction, formerly a D.C. Public Library, honoring Robert C. Christian. Pic taken at 13th and H streets, Northeast, Washington, DC. 2018. © Joseph Young
The Maryland, formerly housed the Faith Bible Church. Pic taken at Maryland Avenue and 14th Street, Northeast, Washington, DC, 2018. © Joseph Young
New condo development, replaced several Black mom-and-pop businesses. Pic taken at 14th and H streets, Northeast, Washington, DC. 2018 © Joseph Young
Station House, a two bedroom rents for nearly $5,000. Pic taken at 3rd and H streets, Northeast, Washington, DC. 2018 © Joseph Young
New housing development. Few Blacks work on construction site. Pic taken at 4th and H streets, Northeast, Washington, DC. 2018. © Joseph Young
Home Sweet Home. Pic taken at 4th and L streets, Northeast, Washington, DC. 2018 © Joseph Young
Woman and Dog, with Washington House in background. An entire block was razed to make room for this development. Pic taken at 3rd and K streets, Northeast, Washington, DC. 2018 © Joseph Young
Doc-less-bike, with Tishman/Toll Brothers apartment development in background. Pic taken at 2nd and L streets, Northeast, Washington, DC. 2018 © Joseph Young
Atlas Theater. Pic taken at 13th and H streets, Northeast, Washington, DC. 2018 © Joseph Young
Joseph Young is a photographer living in Washington, DC. His photography has appeared in the Washington Post Magazine, Washington Times, Washington Afro Newspaper and the Washington Informer. He earned a bachelor degree in art from the University of the District of Columbia, with a focus on photography, as well as, a bachelor degree in English. He is also a grant recipient from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities for his photography series on the homeless in the nation's capital. His photography has been included in a group show at the GalleryOonH in Washington, DC, and Gallery 42 at the University of the District of Columbia and the School of Communication's Malsi Doyle and Michael Forman Theater at American University.
