Dawoud Bey, Kenneth, Kenwood Academy High School, 2003, Chromogenic print, Courtesy of the artist, Rhona Hoffman Gallery, and Gorney Bravin + Lee

Interview Excerpt

Audio: (1.9MB mp3 file; 1 minute 36 seconds)

When I talk to people from Hyde Park and they find out I'm from Kenwood, they start talking about the school like it's the worst school in the city. I think it's one of the best, 'cause if it wasn't for school I don't know where I'd be. One of my friends just died recently—shot in the back of the head. He was walking down the street, him and a couple of friends of his. He was going back to meet his father 'cause his father was coming to pick him up. And then, everybody started running; he was the only one who got hit by the bullet. At first I really couldn't believe it, 'cause, like, in the neighborhood we stay in his whole family used to live around there, and he was like one of the main people that I actually spent time with. We used to go to the beach together, play basketball. He was a nice kid; all the adults in the neighborhood thought he was nice. It just makes me feel sad, you know, I wish I could have my friend back. That's why I try to keep my mind focused on other, positive stuff, such as school, making sure I do all my homework, so I can get the best grades I can get. I want to start my own record label, probably, and like open different types of stores and invest in, um... like neighborhoods I've lived in and everything: have new buildings built so there'll be less homeless, get people up off the streets.