People (Dupont Circle): Larry, The Antique Collector

Though I must have passed through Dupont Circle a few times since, until 25 March 2007, I had not engaged in my ritual photo walk through Dupont Circle since 06 January Thaw photo project.

Party due to the cold weather and the fact that I recently spent some time in South Florida but, primarily, because I don't like the way that I am discriminated against and mistreated in Dupont Circle, as a 53 year old black male. As was the case on 06 January 2007 when a white guy that I've known for many years approached me about drugs. In the same way thjat he has always appraoched me, not only in Dupont Circle, but at bars as well ... almost demanding that I fetch him drugs.

I left Dupont Circle on that afternoon, mad as hell, because that white man knew exactly what he was doing, when in the midst of my Dupont Circle Photo Walk that he almost demaded that I contact a white friend and former catering associate to see if it was ok for him to drop by to pick up some pot.

And when I explained that I no longer associate with caterers of the past who also discrminated against me in the exact same ways as he has done, he said "I thought you told me that you had another close friend who deals pot." Reminding him, AGAIN, that I do not smoke pot and while it is very true that I do know several people who deal pot, since they and I are not as close as we once were I, as a black man, did not feel comfortable contacting them pertaining to such matters. Since they, all who are white, practice the exact same discrimination against me as does he.

Once home, I was so God Damn mad that I vowed "If that white man ever, again, asks me about drugs, in Dupont Circle or in any bar, I swear before my God I'm gonna go upside his white head with my black fist!"

While the following weekend I did walk around Dupont Circle from the Dupont Circle South WMATA Station to P Street at Dupont Circle East I made a point to not walk through Dupont Circle ... until recently.

When taking taking pictures at the Tidal Basin on Sunday, 01 April 2007 of the 2007 Cherry Blossom Festival both my cameras began to malfunction in the exact way at the exact same time. I returned home, mad as hell, remembering similarly scenarios in years past.

Not to be deterred on Monday I continued with my 2007 National Cherry Blossom Festival Project by visiting the Cultural Stage at the Jefferson Memorial. My purpose, in the process, was to test the cameras to see if they worked properly.

The older Rebel EOS did not function at all while the newer Rebel XT opererated fairly well. Or, so I thought. However, once home, many of the pictures did not come out and several could not be transferred from the cf card to my computer and quite a few could not be opened.

On Tuesday evening I strolled through Dupont Circle for the 3rd or 4th time in two weeks to test out the Rebel XT before deciding what steps to take for repair and/or replacement. As I entered Dupont Circle from the south side, and not unlike a flashback, my Easter, Over the Years (2005) project came to mind.

It was then that I remembered that flashbacks often occur when I walk through or reflect on my experiences in Dupont Circle.

After taking a series of photos when I saw Larry I did something that I seldom do. Though I always made a point to spend a few moments with Arnold Selvala before his February 2005 passing.

Larry, an antique dealer and collector, who I have observed for many years is a frequent visitor to Dupont Circle. In September 2005 he mentioned that he would soon be selling his old apartment building and moving to a smaller place. It was actually just a few days after I had purchased my first digital camera and he was one of my first Dupont Circle subjects that I'd capture with the new camera.

Some months later when I spoke with him, in Dupont Circle, he said that the move had been made. And that he liked his new place much better than where he had lived before which, if my memories serves me correctly, was a small apartment building that he owned.

On Tuesday evening, 03 April, Larry asked if I knew of that the summer flea market in Baltimore which is due to open in a week or so. I said that I did not. But, that Baltimore is one of the places that I have plans to explore, photographically.

Though I can not now recall the name of flea market when searching the internet I came across the STATION NORTH FLEAMARKET that certainly interests me. When I run into Larry, again, perhaps in Dupont Circle, I'll ask if he'd be interested in joining me for a day trip to Station North Flea Market.

As well as an ongoing subject in my NAKED TRUTH - ORAL HISTORY Project.

Larry, the Antique Collector, represents the second installment of my People - Dupont Circle series.