Some made lives making music. Others lost their lives, physically or metaphorically, in confrontations that never should have happened. The story of Charles, who didn’t want to take his kids’ money, will stay with me. Your writing is a powerful act of witnessing.
Not even that photo of the incomparable Billie Holiday prevents this from feeling such a sad catalogue of injustice and human misery. But her voice always gives us hope. As does yours, Deirdre.
“Murder of someone’s emotional well-being rarely makes it to court, even though that happens all the time.” This whole work, Deirdre. Wow. Thank you for writing this and just holding these stories the way you do.
I wonder if the pieces that one starts writing, and then for some reason stops, but keeps coming back to, picking them up, adding a little, then putting them away, always keep improving or growing richer or somehow simmering creatively until they reach a state of being ready... and just being so right. Like the stories within this post, of Gary, and Brandon, and Jesus, and... the sense that there are so many moments in a person's life where, if something had gone slightly differently, or been one or two inches the other way, it might not have happened the way it did.
All of which is simply a long-winded way of saying thank you for both the stories you told, the people who peopled them, and the words you used, simple ones which touch on pain and hope and loss in ways that don't let a person who is reading them... forget.
You are exactly right to draw the connection between jazz artists/photography and these terrible moments of injustice and human pain, Deirdre. That is some stark imagery, and your witnessing captures perfectly the intersection of fear and violence, and our need to relieve the relentless horror with something beautiful. Snap.
You are documenting this history, as stories that need to be told, with such compassionate insight from “the other side”.
Like the chiaroscuro of the brilliantly interspersed photos.
I think the way you present these is perfect.
I can imagine them - each with a page of it’s own, in a black and white hardcover book with glossy pages. I don’t know why, but that’s what I see when I read these.
the juxtaposition of the images and the stories is incredible. I particularly loved "maybe these are exactly the right people to watch over all this: artists and their work that contain so many things at once."
Interspersed jazz photos break up the tension of story unfolding like a Dragnet show. “Just the facts m’am. “ reality creeps into the coffin creaks with cadavers unclothed. Stories retold. Only the case is closed. DOA. Good show with close up encounters.
Some made lives making music. Others lost their lives, physically or metaphorically, in confrontations that never should have happened. The story of Charles, who didn’t want to take his kids’ money, will stay with me. Your writing is a powerful act of witnessing.
I just needed to sit down and reread your comment a couple times. Thank you, Rona.
Not even that photo of the incomparable Billie Holiday prevents this from feeling such a sad catalogue of injustice and human misery. But her voice always gives us hope. As does yours, Deirdre.
Thank you so much, Jeffrey. That means a lot.
“Murder of someone’s emotional well-being rarely makes it to court, even though that happens all the time.” This whole work, Deirdre. Wow. Thank you for writing this and just holding these stories the way you do.
Thanks so much Erin. I have lots of these and I'm still trying to figure out the best way to frame them all.
I think how you managed to do it with these images was stunning, Deirdre.
Thank you.
Sometimes reading gets to be too hard. But we have to keep on, and not ignore. Or we would be part of the problem.
This is one of your best!! Ugh I’m sad and reflective and sad again
Me every day.
I wonder if the pieces that one starts writing, and then for some reason stops, but keeps coming back to, picking them up, adding a little, then putting them away, always keep improving or growing richer or somehow simmering creatively until they reach a state of being ready... and just being so right. Like the stories within this post, of Gary, and Brandon, and Jesus, and... the sense that there are so many moments in a person's life where, if something had gone slightly differently, or been one or two inches the other way, it might not have happened the way it did.
All of which is simply a long-winded way of saying thank you for both the stories you told, the people who peopled them, and the words you used, simple ones which touch on pain and hope and loss in ways that don't let a person who is reading them... forget.
Thank you, Miguel. Your comments are always so generous and thoughtful. I’m grateful to have you as a reader!
You are exactly right to draw the connection between jazz artists/photography and these terrible moments of injustice and human pain, Deirdre. That is some stark imagery, and your witnessing captures perfectly the intersection of fear and violence, and our need to relieve the relentless horror with something beautiful. Snap.
Thanks Troy.
It seems we have a knack of powerfully transporting one another to places otherwise unknown.
Your choice of images combined with shadowy injustices... seriously Deirdre, this is amazing writing!
Thanks Susie. those images were too beautiful not to find a way to use
Perfectly done 👌🏼.
The images, the text.
Both different ways to simply witness.
No judgement.
You are documenting this history, as stories that need to be told, with such compassionate insight from “the other side”.
Like the chiaroscuro of the brilliantly interspersed photos.
I think the way you present these is perfect.
I can imagine them - each with a page of it’s own, in a black and white hardcover book with glossy pages. I don’t know why, but that’s what I see when I read these.
Snaps, indeed!
Thankyou 👌🏼👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I love that Sarah! That’s a great idea. Thank you so much for reading.
the juxtaposition of the images and the stories is incredible. I particularly loved "maybe these are exactly the right people to watch over all this: artists and their work that contain so many things at once."
Thanks Will. These photos really knocked me out!
Interspersed jazz photos break up the tension of story unfolding like a Dragnet show. “Just the facts m’am. “ reality creeps into the coffin creaks with cadavers unclothed. Stories retold. Only the case is closed. DOA. Good show with close up encounters.
Richard I always love your haiku style/news scroll comments. Thank you