Demetrius Lee (with ball), 31, grew up Uptown, 3rd Ward, corner of Feret and Philip.

We came back after the disaster and we were able to rebuild and it feels good to be back. It feels so good cause there is no other place like New Orleans, the culture, the people. Besides everything that people hear on the news about the killing it ain’t really all that, there is a lot of love here in the community. We are all out here playing ball, having a good time after work, we are all friends, we all grew up together. This is what we missed being separated during Katrina, just being back home, seeing familiar faces just feels so good. I really hope that the city can get back to where it was before Katrina.
Things have been slow with our parks there was problems with the trailers taking over public parks and courts, but now after a year or so they are starting to take the trailers away, so that’s better, but we are here and here for the long haul.

Interview by Will Steacy

All photos courtesy of -Wyatt Gallery
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