#bedstuyportrait

[ruddyroye]

November 8, 2106 Disenfranchised Driving and walking around with my sons today, although they are not in school it doesn't mean the schooling is also on break. First stop was a meeting with Dwayne Hill. I pulled over and started talking. "I voted today. I always vote Democrat. Today I voted for a better change. Being in the street for the past 12 year takes its toll. They didn't want me to vote today down at Ralph avenue. I was convicted of a crime so they told me it won't count. I voted anyway. I think Trump has that set up like that. But I need better than what he is offering. Right now rooms are $175 a week and welfare is $215 per month. They want you to do a work program but only want to give you fare to get to work and no lunch or nothing. How do they expect me to work with these hands?" #bedstuyportrait #brooklynphotography #streetphotography #streetportrait #makeportraits #makeportrait #leicamp (at Bedstuy Brooklyn)

[ruddyroye]

September 19, 2016 Mi Mumma Just got tired of watching her grow old whenever my sister and I went home to Montego Bay, so my sister and I struck a deal, either she stays here in Brooklyn with us for 6 months or I move back to Jamaica. My mom knowing how serious I am chose the former. So today we hit Brooklyn like.... went to look for @terukuwayama then back to the hood like .... #bedstuyportrait #brooklynportrait #brooklynphotography #streetportrait #streetphotography #makeportraits #makeportrait #leicamp

[ruddyroye]

September 17, 2016 The Lift I woke up with a hangover, even though I wasn't drinking. I was caught in "the fixed chaos." I was on my way out of town when from out of nowhere Walter Ward limped towards me. As he hobbled in my direction his whole face belied whatever pain he was feeling in his foot. His soul seemed at peace. In my turmoil his face gave me the inspiration I needed to straighten my own limp attitude. "I have been in Bedstuy for a while now, 1- something like 20 something years. I have watched it change a lot and right now it is not a good time, too many homeless people out here. It's not just black either, it's all nationalities. As a community we have to make that change. We are at the end of Obama's time and I haven't seen much change there." I took his photograph, lifted up my bag and strode with inspiration towards the train. #bedstuyportrait #brooklynphotography #brooklynportrait #streetportrait #streetphotography #makeportraits #makeportrait #leicamp (at MacDonough And Ralph)

[ruddyroye]

March 17, 2016 War zone??! The only reason I titled this pic this way is because of something the officer asked, "You walk without fear huh, and you say you live in this neighbourhood?" I was interviewing a young man at the corner of Halsey and Marcus Garvey when out of nowhere the Yemeni owners of the Bodega came out with a phone in his hands claiming that we had to leave. I of course asked him why and he told me immediately that we had to leave because the guy I was talking to seemed high. Michael Vesco, said that he lost his bed at the Bedford Shelter for men because he had spent the previous night in a hospital. The conversation continued. I told him that I was a journalist and was just conducting an interview when from out of nowhere he pulled a bat and started to hit me across my head. By the time I could recover, his 13 year old son came out with a Louisville slugger and started to hit me across my back. With all my strength I was able to fend off the blows, grab both bats and held them crisscross. "Go get the gun and shoot him in his head," the father urged his son. I was able to leave the store just as the police arrived. I was placed in handcuffs while they reviewed the video tape. They returned and removed the handcuffs. "Are you pressing charges," the officer asked. "Yes," I replied "He has a 13 year old son, are you pressing charges on him also? it's a felony," I thought about it long. Then I recalled how quickly he ran behind the counter when his father told him to go get the gun. "Yeah he was swinging the bigger bat," I answered. #bedstuyportrait #brooklynportrait #brooklynphotography #streetportrait #streetphotography #whenlivingisaprotest #iphone6plus Photo by a (Jamaican Doctor) AnDre Rawl (at Interfaith Medical Center)