Kevin Cook (University of Missouri)
North Philly
In past decades, North Philadelphia has been hit hard by economic decline. The majority of North Philadelphia's residents are African Americans and Hispanic Americans. Despite its wealth of history, schools, cultural sites, and architecture poverty has earned North Philly a reputation as a slum. These images are a visual documentation of scenes and people in North Philly. Photos were made with an iPhone camera and processed with an Instagram filter.
Story: North Philly
Rainy
Rainy day on North Broad street in May 2013. Broad Stis a north–south street which lies between 13th Street and 15th Street (there is no "14th Street" in Philadelphia, because Broad Street takes its place). It runs through most major North Philadelphia streets.
Story: North Philly
Shelliano
Shelliano, 35, is a rapper and father of 5 from West Philadelphia. His mother Debra Cobbs, a crack addict, gave her son up for adoption at the age of 8. He lived in 13 different homes all over Pennsylvania thereafter. "Through my mothers addictions and the pain of wanting to be back home with her, I used to take words from my pain and make them rhyme together in my head." He was a popular hit at Industry Tuesdays at Club Flow, a staple in North Philadelphia, a weekly open-mike rap night. However, a shooting closed down the club. "Through these rhymes it was therauptic for me. I could only find myself because I was always by myself."
Story: North Philly
Broad and Olney
Today, Olney in North Philly is one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Philadelphia. The Olney station of the Broad Street Subway is the second most used (next to City Hall).
Story: North Philly
Dollarboyz
The Dollarboyz filmed a video in Philadelphia on July 23, 2013. They are a fulltime youth-led movement that provides services to youth of all ages mainly attracting thousands of children 11-17 years of age.
Story: North Philly
Champ
"I do this to get out of ghetto," said boxer Carl "Champ" Sampson of West Philadelphia. Sampson competed in the 2013 USA Boxing National Championships, April 1-6, in Spokane, Wash and hopes to go pro by the end of 2013.
Story: North Philly
Mz Blaque
"Blood splatters like the sun spread shining on me," raps Mz Blaque in the recording studio in North Philadelphia.
Story: North Philly
North Philly
North Philly
Story: North Philly
Germantown Football
Members of the Germantown Football team participated in the 2013 Bucks County Lions Club All-star game. The school closed its doors due to economic issues. Martin Luther King High School’s football team, it's rival, now includes players from the now-defunct Germantown High.
Story: North Philly
August and Jesus
August reacts to a picture of Jesus outside an apartment complex in North Philly