This is Ricki. She's homeless. And poor. She's been waiting in line in a Kmart parking lot for three hours, no shade, scorching summer. She's been waiting to get her FEMA claim number. She's heard they've been giving two thousand dollars in aid, but she's worried because they will only direct deposit it in bank accounts, or mail her a check. She's worried because she's poor, and doesn't have a bank account to direct deposit into. And she's worried because she's homeless, so she can't get the mail the check might be in.
Ricki is only 32. When I asked if I could take her picture she was worried she'd look bad because she hadn't done her hair. I told her she was beautiful. And I meant it.
2 comments:
THIS, my favorite, is a fantastic shot. One of my favorites. xox m
posted by: girlbrainiac on 9/18/2005 11:01:15 PM
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Ricki is beautiful. Her hair is especially beautiful. Her shirt is beautiful. She may think, you may think, she is poor but she is not poor. She is rich in memory and in life. May be the south shall rise again, but this time not in hate and racist fervor, but in righteous fervor for the future that must be, to replace the future our false president's has in mind.
posted by: bthree on 9/18/2005 12:32:41 AM
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the cruel irony here is her shirt. 3 hours in line to get a number, over a week without proper food, water, or basic living necessities, and still, her chest is covered in red, white and blue. For a country to let down the people who love it the most, who continue to believe in it as their world comes crashing around their ears, that is a tragedy.
She is beautiful on so many levels, my heart hurts a bit.
posted by: sincupcake on 9/17/2005 3:21:42 PM
She is beautiful. All these shots share a haunting beauty - though I've never been further east than Colorado Siege's pictures brought me south nonetheless.
His mom apologizing for hairy legs, Ricki worried because she'd not done her hair -- these things make me happy to be human; they are the depths of selfless love bursting forth. These are people caring when it must be hard to believe they themselves are cared for.
Well -- you are cared for, and you have touched many strangers. We sure are more alike than different.
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