Each day, we experience another death, another tragedy, another loss of life to violence, and we have no answers. There are many people–good people–working to help families and the community cope with the hurt and pain that comes with loss, particularly tragic loss.
As we at Scoop try to support our communities, victims and families, we have partnered with Zarinah Lomax and The Apologues to respect those we have lost by sharing portraits and brief introductions into the lives of the families that The Apologues’ has featured.
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Victim: Dwayne Erik Green
Co-Victim: (Nana P) Statement The loss of my son has never completely healed in my heart. I am a shattered mirror with a million broken pieces.
Billy Joe Michel, Artist Statement: I feel honored to have been able to make this painting of Nana P. She has such a kindred spirit. A mother of four, a foot soldier, and a member of Mothers In Charge, Nana told me her story. Her resilience is inspiring. You could hear both–her kindness and strength as she spoke to me about losing her son Dwayne Eric Green at 38 years old, to gun violence. Nana had actually already been an active member in her community, helping comfort those around her who were grieving loved ones they’d lost to gun violence prior to losing her son. A year before Erik got shot her oldest grandson was shot and lost his eye. The tragedies were always close but never so close as her baby Erik. She was able to lean on her oldest son Darryl when the unthinkable happened. She was a teen mother when she had Darryl, and they grew up together as she raised him, so he was like a best friend
and was an integral part of her healing from Erik’s passing. Erik had a son and a daughter–both now have two children each that have never gotten to meet their grandfather because someone senselessly took his life 15 years ago. So many people are affected by these shootings, the deceased, those who are shot and survive, and all of their loved ones. The trauma moves like ripples and waves throughout the community.
The Pac Man behind her represents her story. Nana described how where she lives is this box, a few blocks that’s like a war zone — The box [Haverford Ave to WYALUSING 48th to 52nd]. So it’s like they are boxed in, and the people on the inside are killing each other. It reminded me of how in Pac Man you are running from things trying to kill you; but you are stuck in the box. I painted 4-bullets chasing Pac Man instead of the ghosts from the game to symbolize her son who died and her 3-other family members who have been shot as well but survived. Most recently, her nephew Nadir was shot 11 times two months ago and is still currently in the hospital after undergoing 20 surgeries. Over the years, Nana says not much has gotten better in the community. She compares the trauma living in her neighborhood to that of a soldier at war. The only difference is the soil. Something that bothered me that she said was when Erik passed, the cops who came to talk to her about it treated her like a criminal. They lacked the empathy and respect–a grieving mother deserves. To this day, the Mayor still has never met with someone in the community who has actually lost a loved one to violence. So she continues to be an active member in her community, because if we don’t care about our communities and those around us, no one will.
What is The Apologues?
The Apologues (under the fiscal sponsorship of the Federation of Neighborhood Centers) is a fashion and art exhibit that uses the arts to assist individuals in healing, empowering themselves, and advocating against gun violence and trauma that plague urban communities. Through the use of fashion, art, and music, The Apologues honors the emotions of untreated trauma through the realm of storytelling to trigger healing. We do this through the combination of self-portraits of victims and co-victims, wearable art, and musical experiences combined.
For more information and to support this initiative, visit our website, https://www.theapologues.org
