466 McMicken

This photo essay is assembled from a body of work entitled 466 McMicken. Walking down McMicken, just north of Over-the-Rhine Cincinnati, I saw a family out on their porch, grilling hot dogs and playing cards. I introduced myself, and Woody, the head of the family, said I could come and photograph his family anytime I wanted.

I visited 466 McMicken, a property that had been condemned, off and on for a year. The house expanded and contracted when it needed to. Cousins, aunts, grandchildren and occasionally an ex-wife called the place their home. However many people were there, the grandbaby was always the focal point. It was great meeting them just after the riots of 2001, which tore the neighborhood apart.

Depending on whom you ask, more than a dozen African American men died at the hands of Cincinnati police. The death of Timothy Thomas was the beginning of the riots in April 2001. In 2002, especially around the anniversary of Timothy's death, you could feel tension buzzing in the neighborhood. Dissatisfied with lack of change over the previous year, protesters marched downtown. In the late summer of 2002 I began the project at 466 McMicken The photographs and the visits were an occasion to talk about tension in the city and what it means to be a family.