I remember that time... when we lived in Virginia’s Route 1 corridor and thought of the District the way we used to think of East Berlin, crumbling infrastructure and all. (Like driving on Chain Bridge and seeing the river through gaps in the concrete.)
As a parody song of the time put it, "Before you get to feeling so all alone, remember: Marion Barry must get stoned."<br>
At the time that Barry was making headlines, I was fortunate enough to be reading alternative press (including the Village Voice), and so had a much different perspective on Barry's terms as DC mayor. The strength of racism being what it is in America, White-dominated media focused on the sex and drugs. Alternative media told the story of a mayor who fought HARD against some pretty titanic forces (i.e., the United States Congress) to better the lives of the people of Washington DC, and to make the city a better place all around.
Thanks for this. I have memories of DC’s all-the-efficiency-of-a-Southern-city-and-all-the-charm-of-a-Northern-city days. My dad grew up in Capitol Hill during the Depression, and his grandfather worked at the Navy Yard when there was actual naval construction goin’ on. I had a friend who was in the MPD when H Street was emerging. I never thought I’s be nostalgic about DC, but that’s old age for you.
I lived in the vast, caucasian expanses of the west when Barry was in office and so have no association with him beyond 'crack-smoking mayor', so this was a very nice and educational bit of reading.
A rare individual, one who accepts responsibility for his actions, good and bad without blaming the bad ones on life, the universe and everyone around him. Great pic too!
"I hope that, when we finally destroy the current, viciously rapacious version of capitalism that’s been killing us non-rich people, there’ll be some time in between guillotinings for tributes to people like Marion Barry."
Copy/pasting that sentence so I can Like it a second time.
Like the glasses.
Speaking as one white guy who was entirely captive to the conventional assessment of Barry, thanks for the memory.
I remember that time... when we lived in Virginia’s Route 1 corridor and thought of the District the way we used to think of East Berlin, crumbling infrastructure and all. (Like driving on Chain Bridge and seeing the river through gaps in the concrete.)
As a parody song of the time put it, "Before you get to feeling so all alone, remember: Marion Barry must get stoned."<br>
At the time that Barry was making headlines, I was fortunate enough to be reading alternative press (including the Village Voice), and so had a much different perspective on Barry's terms as DC mayor. The strength of racism being what it is in America, White-dominated media focused on the sex and drugs. Alternative media told the story of a mayor who fought HARD against some pretty titanic forces (i.e., the United States Congress) to better the lives of the people of Washington DC, and to make the city a better place all around.
Thanks for this. I have memories of DC’s all-the-efficiency-of-a-Southern-city-and-all-the-charm-of-a-Northern-city days. My dad grew up in Capitol Hill during the Depression, and his grandfather worked at the Navy Yard when there was actual naval construction goin’ on. I had a friend who was in the MPD when H Street was emerging. I never thought I’s be nostalgic about DC, but that’s old age for you.
My nostalgia is for an entirely different city, but I know how it can grab you. And I have some old-DC pals who feel it too.
I lived in the vast, caucasian expanses of the west when Barry was in office and so have no association with him beyond 'crack-smoking mayor', so this was a very nice and educational bit of reading.
A rare individual, one who accepts responsibility for his actions, good and bad without blaming the bad ones on life, the universe and everyone around him. Great pic too!
Love the photo!
"I hope that, when we finally destroy the current, viciously rapacious version of capitalism that’s been killing us non-rich people, there’ll be some time in between guillotinings for tributes to people like Marion Barry."
Copy/pasting that sentence so I can Like it a second time.
Love the two smiles. Excelsior!