Barbie K. and David Schwartz

DAY 226 Barbie K. and David Schwartz photographed exclusively for the 100 Men Hall People Project (100MHPP). 

Barbie: I was nine years old and knew it was the Black Hall around the corner from my grandma’s house. I would ride my bike and walk by all the time every summer. Nothing was going on here. I don’t ever remember a time when things were happening here. Now it could have been happening, and I wasn’t aware of it. First time I came here for an event was the first OPEN MIC night that you (Rachel) did. My family has been here for a couple of hundred years. The Hall was not talked about much in my family. My last name is Kingston and the Kingstons have been in this town for a couple hundred years. One block away, Agnes Kingston, my great grandmother, lived and she was one of the only white people to rent to Black people. And one of her eldest sons, Joe Kingston, opened one of the first underground Black bars on Keller Street (the building is still there), because Black folks were not allowed to go to white drinking establishments. Irving Kingston, my grandfather, her youngest son, lives at the same place today and the building is right behind his house.  

David: A few years ago we were doing some history research and some people were talking about it but nothing beyond that. I came recently for Brian and Jennifer Wilemon’s birthday party on Mardi Gras day.  

(Photo by: Gus Bennett | The 100 Men Hall People Project) 

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100MHPP RIGHTS USAGE TERMS: This official 100 Men Hall People Project (100MHPP) photograph is made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products or promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement by the 100 Men Hall People Project or Rachel Dangermond.  

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