Over-the-Rhine is Cincinnati’s poorest neighborhood, but it is rich in character, people, and spirit. As a photographer and a resident, I have tried to show the other side of this much maligned inner-city community standing in the shadow of Cincinnati’s downtown business district. It suffers the classic problems of urban neighborhoods; inadequate public education, population decline, homelessness, increased segregation, abandoned buildings, high unemployment rates, and lack of access to politcal power.

These photographs only attempt to present the history and dignity of a community. My art cannot convey in a single photograph the story of a neighborhood and its people and their struggles. Each person and every family has an important story to tell and that is the challenge of my photography - to convey to the viewer the varied tapestry of these many stories and their message, and at the the same time reveal and honor the dignity of the subject - my community and neighbors in Over-the-Rhine.

The average Over-the-Rhine per-capita income is less than $10,000 per year. Nearly one-third of Over-the-Rhine’s 7,000 citizens are children. Many families have single parents. The schools are in disrepair. Politically, the community of Over-the-Rhine is considered “broken.” Many suggest that getting rid of the poor in the neighborhood is one way to “save” the community. It is the battle against gentrification that fuels the frustrations of many of my neighbors.

In the midst of this hardship and the day-to-day struggle there are values that rise above the patronizing hand of well-wishing middle-class suburban citizens and a city government that looks at the poor as a roadblock to prosperity. There is a history, a pride and a sense of nobility in the hearts and people of Over-the-Rhine. There is beauty in the buildings and the families and the children. There is strength in the struggle to maintain a voice for what is right. In spite of the adversity, there is hope and joy in the spirit of this place we call home - Over-the-Rhine.

Coming soon; the book - BROKEN CITY

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R E L A T E D   L I N K S :

For more on Homelessness in Cincinnati, download this comprehensive study.

Cincinnati Enquirer 4/9/02: Cincinnati' Riots, One Year Later

Cincinnati CityBeat 6/6/02: Nightmare on Vine Street, WCPO’s Drive-by Analysis of Over-the-Rhine is Not a Victimless Crime