"A Billion and One Times Before"

Elvert Xavier Barnes Photog
"My Nigga be In Jail"
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Halloween 2003
Spoken With My Tongue
"To Be. Or Not"

"A Billion and One Times Before"
a 'Signs of Our Times' photoessay . 2004 Election Campaign Posters
Elvert Xavier Barnes Street Photography & 'Writings on the Wall

The above pictures were taken the week or months before the Nov 2, 2004 Election Day and not unlike what I have done each election year since 1992. In connection my ongoing series "Signs of Our Times" but in an attempt to document historic campaign paraphernalia of the day while at the same time capture historic landmarks, unique buildings or sculpture and the architecture of the times when I would take a few pictures on November 2 several blocks from the SW DC voting station ... at the corner of 4th and M Streets ... focusing, at first, on a Carol Schwartz sign which I've done every election year since 1992 and, in the process, positioning myself so as to depict the Waterfront Mall as a backdrop, since in a few months it as we now know it will no longer be two cops who had followed me from down the street rushed over and while lecturing about "Homeland Security' would inquire as to what and why I was photographing.

I replied that, historically, around this time of year and particuarly on Election Day I will snap shots of campaign signs and other paraphernalia and in the process will also capture historic or important landmarks, as backdrops I would then further state that I, in fact, had purposely made it a point to not photograph anything nor anyone in proximity of the voting station.

I would then remind one of the officers who, in recent months, I have observed in and around my neighborhood and, in fact, have gone out my way to speak to and respect him that "man, you know me". And I know him. To which he would infer "i don't know you". And when I state folks have a tendency to over-react to and 'suspect' black men and that as 51 year old black man I am sick and tired of having expereinces in sharp contrast to that of white friends many who are involved with drugs and, yet, never get stopped. Yet, if I go near them or they telephone me when I leave my apartment the police will rationalize some reason 'stop me'..

And then the one cop that I know and he knows me said "if you don't wanna listen then we'll keep you a little longer'. Which, as a 51 year old black man, I've heard "a billion and one times before". The other cop would then ask me for my name and address and then proceed to ot the information down in his notepad in the exact same way that in 80's when I'd jog through Georgetown or on Capitol Hill that they would 'stop me' and almost asif they've been and with the exact same prononciatiosn and ennucuations that they now rationalize "Homeland Secriuty they', back then, would chant "... you fit the description ...".

Allow me to give you "the 411". Long before there ever was a Homeland Security or 9/11 ... as a 51 year old black man ... and, in sharp contrast to the exxpereinces of my closet white friends or white partners I've been approached not only the uniformed police but by many of my closet white friends and white partners whose right do drugs is assocaition with polcing and negation of me.

After a few more minutes of discussion it was decided that I could 'go' and continue photographing campaign signs. And though I did not say this to the officers as I walked away I thought to myself "Officer, don't play me for a nigger".

Because, as a 51 year old gay black man who practiced integration I know what it's like to 'be played for a nigger'. After all, I've been 'played for a nigger' at least 'a billion and one times before'. As many have tried to rationalize 'puting me in jail for taking pictures' in a similar way as was attempted by catering associates. Many who were white ... and while pawning me ... sold drugs.

"Please ... do not mistake me for a nigger!"

And as I bring this photo essay to a close I want it understood that when I voted on Novemver 2, 2004 it was for the innocent black men who 'be trapped in the system' and therefore 'can not vote".

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