Poet Thomas Sayers Ellis wrote a poem called "behind the monuments." You know the monuments: the White House, the Capital, the Supreme Court. Who built them, what master craftsperson cut the stones and laid them, do you know? In his poem he spoke of what it was like growing up in the 1970's and 80's at 7Th and O streets NW in a housing project in the nation's capital.

On June 26, 2009, Mayor Fenty cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony for the re-opening of Eastern Market--a monument. But parts of it had never been closed.

Everybody was there: the community which had raised money, made phone calls, kept shopping, rallied around; the merchants, food, arts/crafts/flea market, the church leaders, community leaders, some homeless folks and all the DC political elite. And me! I heard everyone speak, including Mayor Fenty, Ward 6 council member Tommy Wells, Chair of the Board of the Eastern Market Community Advisory Committee (EMCAC) Donna Scheeder, select members of said committee, Robin Eves Jaspers, director of the office of property management (OPM), non- voting member of congress Eleanor Holmes Norton, and more. The media were there, print and cyber, listening to and recording this monumental event on TV. It was a beautiful day. These speakers praised, thanked and gave accolades to themselves, the community, the contractors, EMCAC, Mayor Fenty, the contractors, the inside food merchants, OPM, Congress women Norton, council member Wells, everybody, except...

These speakers acknowledged the hardships, devastation's, and sacrifices that the burning of Eastern Market had brought upon everyone--the community, the inside food merchants, except...

Not once did any of the speakers acknowledge the existence of the non-food vendors or outside produce and food exhibitors. Those who make their livings in front of the monument. This was no oversight, but a statement of how important the outdoor actives on Saturday and Sunday are to City leaders and community movers and shakers. Think of this as a metaphor. Some folks often ask "Why are they so hostile?" or "Why are they always so anger?" It's funny how, when you have helped build, grow and maintain a thing over decades in spite of obstacles and trails, yet when it come to reaping the benefits, "they" forget your contributions, or, better yet, act as if you never existed. At the Last Eastern Market Tenants Council meetings, artist Quest Skinner reminded all those in attendance that during the winter months, the non-food merchants "hold it down for ya'll, by setting up outside when it is to cold for the farmers to be there. We keep people coming to the market." All agreed; no one denied this fact.

At one of the two meetings between management and the non-food vendors, photographer Joe Shymanski said, "I feel being at Eastern Market is a privilege." History tell us that there are always those who came before, who "held it down " for us. Inside the north hall now is a curious exhibition, telling one version of the Eastern Market story. Every photo there gives names and titles to those in them, except that the largest, most diverse group is lumped together under "flea market." However, many started coming to the Market only on Saturday as art and crafts exhibitors. No names , titles, years spent at the market, or occupations are given for these artists and vendors. Another metaphor: remember those old National Geographic photos, the ones where a man in a hat (he always has a name an a occupation, i.e. explorer, hunter or discoverer) stands beside a bare-breasted "other," often in "exotic" plumage. We don't know whether it is the viewer or the maker of these images who prefers that the subjects being dehumanized and objectified smile at the camera in those photos.

There is as African proverb that says " until the lion has his own historian, the story of the hunt will always be told by the hunter." This is a salute to those who "held it down" outside the monument and are now gone.

ROLL CALL

1. ALEX MADISON (painter) 27+years

All artists at Eastern Market owe him thanks!

Was known for his pen and ink drawings of Miles Davis and was one of the first artists to show at Market 5 Gallery. 2.MARYALICE AND JOHN MUNZER (vintage, antiques)20+years

I never thought they saw me until the day Maryalice called me over and gave me a book on metalsmithing.

3.GENE LOHMAN (glass artist) 5+years

Wonderful artist and person.

4.CATHY JACKSON (vintage jewelry) 20+years

Her vintage jewelry was excellent.

5.KENT ASH (farmer) 25+years

I can still taste his dried apples, cherries, and pears.

6.DANNY ASTON (produce merchant) 20 years+

He smiled said goodbye for the evening on Saturday and was gone Sunday. I remember Becky cried all day Sunday.
7.BILL ANDREWS AND TOM SHERMAN (antique glassware) 12years
Crystal, Depression glass, Fiestaware--they had it all and knew their stuff.
8.CARLTON FRYE(flowers) 20+ years
Grouchy, with beautiful flowers, he was always working.
9. Larry Hansen (photographer) 10+ years
Known for his Georgia O'Keeffe-like photos of flowers.
10. MR. BOOKER T. WASHINGTON WARD SR. (baker) 25 years+
An old-style gentleman and a fine baker.
After 18 years at Eastern Market, having been fortunate enough to have know these folks and privileged to share my work with many more, I find that singer Ben Harper expresses my sentiments beautifully:

"Glory behold all my eyes have seen
I am blessed to be a witness."
Witnessing,
Sonda T. Allen
Turtle's Webb

When I wrote this...

with much love and heartfelt thanks
this is dedicated to Mr. John Harrod founder of Market 5 Gallery, the arts and crafts festival at eastern market and the flea market at eastern market.  He passed in August 2011.
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The Dark Room Collective: Where Black Poetry Took Wing

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/27/arts/the-dark-room-collective-where-black-poetry-took-wing