She Said “Yes!”
NASA Engineer. Future Astronaut
Carmen. She wears the flight jacket of her recently deceased father, Lt. Rolando Diaz. Lt. Diaz proudly served as an aviator with the US Navy for 18 years, a career that spanned multiple overseas tours aboard the USS Nimitz as an E-2C/Hawkeye and C-2A/Greyhound pilot. After retiring from the Navy in 1996, he began his second career as a commercial airline pilot for 26 years until his untimely passing in September 2022. Rolando was set to retire in January, around the time of his 65th birthday. “By adamant request, I inherited my dad’s sage green flight jacket this Christmas”. Carmen adds “as the eldest child, I have always felt pride for my father’s career choice and probably benefited most from the experience of a military lifestyle that impacted all of my youth.” The day this photo was taken Carmen had visited Arlington National Cemetery to watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and also pay respects to an old friend’s sibling who is buried there. “My father and I had never visited Arlington National Cemetery together in life, so it felt natural to wear the jacket to bring his essence with me that day.” Lt. Ronald Diaz is resting at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Florida.
Recently Returned Citizen. New Orleans native. Facing new challenges of being homeless and unemployed.
Leonard Proctor, 91 years young. Mr. Proctor was born in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C. and began working at Potomac Hunt Club in 1947 at age 17 after his uncle taught him how to ride and care for horses. His wife passed away 20 years ago. He had a son who died of a sudden heart attack about 5 years ago at age 50. He has another son who is 60 and recovering from a stroke that still lives at home with him today. According to Mr. Proctor he never was a drinker or smoker. "I can't complain" he says. "I have lived a good life"
Rodney Stotts is a falconer. I had never heard the term before I received this assignment. Once I began some basic research on Rodney I became energized for this shoot, like no other in a very long time. I have met and photographed dozens of internationally known celebrities, actors, television personalities, performing artists and politicians. Yet there was something about Rodney’s journey that captivated me beyond the normal preparation for a shoot. Rodney is a man who grew up in Washington, D.C. during the height of the crack epidemic that plagued so many poor minority communities across America. His is a journey from dealing drugs to becoming one of the few licensed African-American falconers in the nation. There is a film about him called “The Falconer”. He has started a non-for-profit called Rodney’s Raptors, created to introduce young persons to the world of falconry.
Pete. I have photographed Pete several times over the last few years. He is a very smart and high energy man, seemingly always in constant motion and willing to engage and share his opinions, often unsolicited, on any given subject. Pete is also homeless. Recently, he actually was still enough for a sit down where I finally got to know more about him. Pete was born in Sudan in 1970 and arrived in the United States in 1994 as a refugee. He and his family landed in Metro Nashville, Tennessee. At first, according to Pete, things were fine, but then work became unsteady, his wife divorced him and left with his children, property and money. Suddenly, he was lonely and destitute. It is unclear when he arrived in Washington, D.C. but he felt he needed to escape the desperation, depression and sense of failure. If he could not achieve his idea of the American Dream in Nashville, why not try the Nation’s Capital? Yet, even in Washington, success has been elusive. Pete seems to have resigned himself to his situation and no longer pursues professional and financial goals. He lives on the street, refusing to go to city shelters. During our conversation, a lady passed by and asked Pete if he needed assistance. She said she worked for the city agency responsible for aid, safety and care for homeless citizens. Pete did not mince words. He told her how unsafe many shelters are and that he would rather take his chances on the street. He also railed against what his sees as corruption, inefficiency and mismanagement within the bureaucracy where funds rarely, in his experience, reach those for whom they are intended. Pete and I continued talking for a little bit longer. He ultimately confessed to me that he is hurting deeply inside and especially misses his children, who are now adults and who still live in Nashville. On occasion, he speaks with his daughter via telephone, but he has regret about the estrangement, yearns for more and is not optimistic about full reconciliation with her. After dozens of encounters with Pete, which have always been fun-I promise you he will make you laugh out loud-I am thankful that he invited me into his more serious, vulnerable heart, soul and life.
Two weeks ago, during the week of the now-infamous storming of Capitol Hill, I met Patriot J at one of the many Pro-Trump “Stop the Steal” rallies and marches. A law student and musical artist, he was gracious enough to allow me to photograph him and ask several questions about his passionate support of the now former President. Here is his remarkably candid response.
“I just turned 24 on the 8th of this month. I’m in my third year[of law school] and I’ll be graduating this spring. I go to a school in California that I prefer not to disclose as I’ve had disgruntled lefties report my conduct on Twitter to my school’s administration in the past. I’ve traveled to DC four times now. The first two were semester-long stints from Jan-May of 2018 & 2020. During 2018’s spring semester I was working on the Hill for former Rep. Steve Knight (CA-25) [my home district]. Spring 2020 I was back working on the Hill for Representative Paul Gosar (AZ-04) as a legal extern. My most recent trip a couple weeks ago was to celebrate my mom’s birthday, which is on the 2nd, and I wanted to witness the #stopthesteal pro-trump protest demonstration that took place Jan 5 & 6.
What I like about Trump the most is his anti-establishment energy. I was drawn to him because he was a political outsider who had the balls to take on both the Democratic & Republican establishments. I believe the most important part of his legacy was his ability to wake people up to the biased mainstream media. I was never a fan of our corporate press, which I believe is just an extension of the Democrat party. When I watched him get stadiums full of people chant “CNN SUCKS” I was hooked. I am also a fan of his policies. Strong border security makes sense. Getting America out of outdated trade deals was key to bringing more manufacturing jobs back in the country. His foreign policy was pretty impressive. No new wars, bringing troops home, and negotiating historic peace deals.
I don’t know if I would consider myself conservative or republican honestly. If I had to label myself, if anything, I would say I’m a populist. I want the government to work for the people and put in policies that take care of the people. Up until 2015, I was a life-long Dem. My ideological awakening was inspired by an introductory logic course I took during my second semester of undergrad. The summer after that semester Trump announced his candidacy and from there I was a fan. I don’t know if I consider myself a Republican because I only voted Red because of Trump. If the party goes back to their Neo-con, establishment ways, I probably wouldn’t support them anymore. In a battle between conservative and liberal, I definitely lean conservative but I don’t know if my convictions are strong enough to consider myself a conservative. There are things that I believe that wouldn’t necessary fall under the “conservative” spectrum. Like health care reform for instance.
I don’t really take it personal when another person, black or not, calls me names because of my beliefs. I know that it is more of a reflection of themselves than it is an indictment of me. I actually embrace the name calling, which is why I decided to name my independent record label Coonluminati. There’s not much left to be said to a man who embraces the epithet. It’s the B-rabbit in 8 mile battle rap approach. When people actually want to have a discussion about Trump and the Black community I try to get them to understand their perception of Trump comes solely from the mainstream media, then I point out the fact that the MSM is controlled. After that I try to highlight Trump’s accomplishments for the Black community like HBCU funding, fighting for school choice, or the First Step Act. I never intend to switch liberals’ minds when I talk to them, but I try to get them to see another side of Trump they haven’t considered or been exposed to.
My mother is a Dem, but she’s not as politically active as I am, so our political conversations aren’t too in-depth. My father on the other hand, completely different story. He is also a Dem and he’s been bombarding me with anti-Trump messages for four entire years. When my mom and I talk politics she usually just warns me about associating with such a polarizing figure Like Trump. I feel like as a mother, she’s always worried about my safety. There are times when she says stuff like “watch who you wear that around,” or “don’t bring up Trump around these people.” I never listen though. HAHA. During my third trip to DC, I flew out for a march for Trump that happened late in November, and she was super worried and concerned for me, but I made it back home in one piece so I think that quelled any fears she had.
I would describe my music as political hip-hop. I use rap as a creative medium to express myself, and politics is what comes natural to me and what I’m most interested in, so it pours out in my raps. I rap about political things because it is true to myself and that is all that I ever want to be. I’ve been fooling around with music for a decade now, but I began to take it seriously a couple years ago, and this past October I released my first album under the pseudonym Patriot J.”
You may find him on Twitter and Instagram @sirhottest and at his website, www.patriotj2024.com
Patriot J in Washington, D.C., January 5, 2021 (Rodney Choice/Choice Photography)
Joann Malone. In 1969, Joann, at the time a nun from Missouri, joined a group of other Catholic nuns and priests who broke into Dow Chemical offices in Washington, D.C. to protest the role of corporations in supporting the United States military during the Vietnam War. The group came to be known as the D.C. Nine. Here is an excerpt from their statement, written by Joann and issued to the press on March 22, 1969: “We are outraged by the death-dealing exploitation of people of the Third World, and of all the poor and powerless who are victimized by your profit seeking ventures. Considering it our responsibility to respond, we deny the right of your faceless and inhuman corporations to exist…You, corporations, who under the cover of stockholder and executive anonymity, exploit, deprive, dehumanize and kill in search of profit…In your mad pursuit of profit, you, and others like you, are causing the psychological and physical destruction of mankind. We urge you all to join us as we say no to this madness.” No longer a nun, Joann, still remains engaged in political and social activism. (Rodney Choice/Choice Photography)
Rodney Choice for Street Sense Media (Rodney Choice/Choice Photography/www.choicephotography.com)
Roy Lewis. Photographer. United States Army Veteran. Born in Natchez, Mississippi. For decades Mr. Lewis worked at Johnson Publishing Company in Chicago, Illinois where he was a contributor to Jet and Ebony Magazines. Since the 1970's, Roy has been based in Washington, D.C. where he continues to shoot, primarily documenting stories of political, social and cultural significance to African-Americans. Mr. Lewis will turn 83 years young next week.
Wesley. 55 years. Recovering heroin addict. Has been suffering major health issues because of decades of abuse. Has been in wheelchair for over a decade. Wes is very open about his addiction and how it has affected his life and health. He has been without a permanent home for many years. At some point he was living rent free with his sister and her family, under the condition that he stopped using. That was short-lived after she caught him under the influence and asked him to leave. In spite of it all, Wes is incredibly upbeat and optimistic. He will break out into song at any moment and share inspiring and encouraging words, a testimony based upon his faith in God and his belief that in spite of all, he is so very blessed.
