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Culture on the Cheap
From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: Sonia
Sonia, forty-six years old and the mother of five, is a crack addict who “sells her body for drugs.” Smart, polite, and well-spoken she told me and my friend Nina of her life-long battle with her addiction. She started when she was twenty-two, an overwhelmed single mother of three children working two jobs. She got into prostitution, becoming “a five dollar whore,” trading sex for drugs with neighborhood dealers.
When we asked her how much money she needs a day for the drugs she said “as much as I can. I can’t stop. I get some money, go and buy it, smoke crack, relax for thirty minutes. I have to get some more. It’s non-stop. Until I keep walking back and forth and nothing nothing nothing gives, that’s when I will say, ‘God says go home.'” She has a “significant other,” a wonderful man who’s been with her for seventeen years. He does not drink, smoke, or do any drugs.
She has been clean before, something she says can only come from her. She started crying telling us of the eight-year period when she was clean. “I went to a program, mothers and children, everything was great, I came out, got a job, felt good, had money.” She fell back four years ago.
When I asked her how she wanted to be described she responded, “I am good person with a very bad disease.”
Many of you have undoubtedly seen the work of Chris Arnade. He has been a major contributor to my photo pool for some time. He is also a really nice guy. His latest series is called Faces of Addiction and Sonia is part of it. If/when you have the time, gentle readers, do take a moment to read the stories he has assembled thus far. It is really compelling stuff.
From The New York Shitty Photo Pool, Part III: Luis
Chris Arnade (who took the above photograph) writes:
Luis, a day laborer from Mexico and heroin addict, has been living with Jamie and some others for the last month. I found them soon after the sanitation department had come and taken away all of their possessions: Winter blankets, carts, clothes, everything. They spent the cold, wet day collecting new beddings.
Luis and the rest were in good spirits. He insisted on having his picture taken with the Santa hat. I asked him if he was okay with me posting his picture, and he said “Yes, who knows, maybe my family in Mexico will see it.”
You can view Chris’s set, “Faces of Addiction”, by clicking here.
From The New York Shitty Photo Pool: Bobby B, Revisited
Chris Arnade (who took the above photograph) writes:
Bobby B, one of my favorite characters from this summer. I finally made it back to give him a copy of the first picture I took of him (Bobby B). “Damn I am good looking” he said with a big smile.
When a friend of Bobby B’s expressed concern about letting me take his picture, Bobby B said “No, don’t worry hes bona fide.”
New York Shitty Day Ender: Bobby B
Chris Arnade (who took the above photograph) writes:
I was back in Mott Haven to find a few folks and give them copies of their pictures, including Luis
Bobby B was hanging near the Bodega and after seeing Luis’s picture wanted one of himself. Born in N Carolina hes spent most of his life in the Bronx. Recently retired he’s soon heading back south. A warm smiling man, he choose to show a little attitude for this picture.
His friend said “Don’t let him take your picture, he might be the po po” Bobby B replied “I aint worried about no police, its the lord that’s gonna judge me, and this here boy sure ain’t the lord”
Miss Heather
New York Shitty Day Starter: Public Service Announcement
This item hails from Chris Arnade and (once again) hails from Mott Haven.
Miss Heather
From The New York Shitty Photo Pool, Part IV: Style Wars
Of this (which hails from Mott Haven) Carnade writes:
Louis wanted to show me the wall that was upset with and protesting, because of the use of satanic symbols. He was nice enough to show me around his part of the Bronx, an area I need to spend more time in.
Great shot!
Miss Heather
NYS Flickr Pool
