Jumped Off The Porch

An ode to the deconstruction of the crack era in Washington, D.C. a time when a particular shoe became a symbol of status among drug dealers. Owning it meant you were “getting to it,” a mark of success in a community deeply vulnerable within the nation’s capital.

It examines the pursuit of opulence in a population struggling against systemic forces, drawing a parallel between the labor of African Americans, who built both the city’s monuments and its middle class; and the way their contributions are often overlooked. Much like these monuments, the human cost and lasting ramifications of the era are rarely acknowledged in mainstream narratives.

The floating shoes in the sky echo a ritual from my youth—throwing sneakers over wires above the trees, creating makeshift memorials for those we lost. In this way, the piece not only reflects on history but also serves as a tribute, honoring lives too often forgotten.

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Year: 2025