Russia-NYC Photo Series 14

When people in Russia bring up Harlem in conversation with me, it is almost always in the context of “a very dangerous place,” as if they are picturing a scene from the 1970s film “The Warriors.” So, I found it curious when Anna walked by me in Sochi wearing a shirt with Harlem written across it. I didn’t get a chance to speak in detail with her and her boyfriend – they were tired from a near 7 hour car trip they made to Sochi for the weekend. Anna said she came from Krimsk, a town that was terribly damaged by flooding a few years ago, a tragic event that dominated headlines for several days.