doors

‘doors’ is a love letter to West Baltimore and the community. The film is a visual tour and guiding light of the nonjudgmental views of the inhabitants of West Baltimore. As a West Baltimore resident, I observe and live through different storylines. I moved to West Baltimore from Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. As a result of the powerful sense of community I was raised with, I was aware of the violence and crime that surrounded me but never felt like I was in danger or in a neighborhood seen as less than others. Since my ancestors were brought to this country, we have been intentionally disconnected from our history and practices. We live in a country fueled by individualism that results in literal and figurative closed doors. In various places around the globe doors are less of a barrier or in some cases non existent. Long time West Baltimore residents talk of a time when doors weren’t locked and people lived in safety and community. We live in a country where an open-door policy is a scary prospect. Fear, violence, and distance keep us apart. The doors project represents safety. I was raised to understand that Blackness is an open door, so this is a visual representation for me of protection and care. Below is a clip of the project, which is still a work in progress.

Music: “Love's In Need Of Love Today” by Stevie Wonder

Shot on Super 8mm