On assignment from Black Oak Society, I was tasked with shooting two women for an exhibition called "Give Black Raleigh Her Flowers". The exhibition celebrated the powerful matriarchy that has helped shape the rich black culture of Raleigh, North Carolina.
All images made in 2021.
Octavia Rainey I
Octavia Rainey sitting in the parking lot of Grace Church, at the intersection of Boyer Street and Hill Street in Raleigh, NC. Having lived in Raleigh since she was born, the Southeast Raleigh Community Advocate has a firsthand account of the gentrification in the area. In this image, Octavia sits between a newly built house on her left and a home built long before the new houses on her right.
Medium: Digital Photograph
Octavia Rainey II
Octavia Rainey inside of her home of 55 years in Southeast Raleigh, North Carolina. Her family has lived in the College Park neighborhood for over 80 years. The gentrification taking place in Southeast Raleigh not only displaces the natives, but also does not represent the rich black culture of College Park. The College Park neighborhood was founded in 1910; over a century of black culture on the brink of extinction.
Medium: Digital Photograph
Octavia Rainey III
Community Advocate Octavia Rainey outside of her home of 55 years in the College Park neighborhood of Southeast Raleigh. “We do not want to look like 5 Points or Oakwood,” states Octavia.
Medium: Digital Photograph
Octavia Rainey IV
Community Advocate Octavia Rainey outside of her home of 55 years in the College Park neighborhood of Southeast Raleigh. “We do not want to look like 5 Points or Oakwood,” states Octavia.
Medium: Digital Photograph
Octavia Rainey V
Community Advocate Octavia Rainey outside of her home of 55 years in the College Park neighborhood of Southeast Raleigh. “We do not want to look like 5 Points or Oakwood,” states Octavia.
This image was curated into the “Give Black Raleigh Her Flowers” exhibition.
Medium: Digital Photograph
