“That Dude” selling African masks in front of Carytown 7-11 interviewed by Toronto newspaper
The Toronto Star newspaper featured Richmond in a recent edition, citing that our fair city is on the way to Florida. While in town, the paper spoke to the man who sells African masks in front of the Carytown 7-11.
Phillip Henley has set up a couple card tables in the corner of a 7-Eleven parking lot and is selling wooden masks from Burkina Faso, Cameroon and other African countries, as well as “Nubian heritage peppermint soap” and green tea incense.
“Richmond is changing from a Deep South city and getting more modern,” he explains…
Henley says the city’s cops have cracked down on crime and panhandlers, although I was hassled for money by a guy in his best Jerry Garcia tie-dye who wanted money for having his picture taken.
The paper also made it up the road to the Museum District
Cars occasionally slow to a stop if they even suspect a pedestrian might be getting ready to cross the street, and Monument Ave. still features towering tributes to southern heroes Davis, Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee and J.E.B. Stuart.
There also, however, is a nearby monument to local tennis legend Arthur Ashe, one of the most successful black-American athletes of the 20th century.
It’s always interesting to hear what outsiders think of Richmond. If you spot the guy in the tie-dye begging for money, let us know.
…”Deep South City”…We’ve been through a lot of changes, mostly for the better, but I don’t know if I would ever have characterized Richmond as that. No offense to the “deep south” or anything…
What would Mr. Toronto know for “Deep South” anyway, aye?
(I am so sorry, I could not resist, for all my Canadian friends, I owe you a tasty beverage in apology!)
It is eh, eh!
I think it’s spelled “C” – “eh” – “N” – “eh” – “D” – “eh”…
Mr. Toronto does have some valid points but is way off base on the “Deep South” comment…hoser
If Richmond was never “deep south” then where did all these crackers come from?
“Cars occasionally slow to a stop if they even suspect a pedestrian might be getting ready to cross the street”
ORLY?
They’re probably talking about the white haired/rosy faced bum that panhandles the corner of Cary and Nasemond and buys malt liquor at the 7-11 on Cary and Auburn/Beaumont.
The Encyclopædia Britannica defines the Upper South as the states of North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Kentucky, and West Virginia.
Richmond is technically a “Mid-Atlantic” state; that is, Va., Del., Md. Pa., and sometimes W. Va. The discussion of 1861-1865 really jacked our stuff up. Then there’s August, and humiture, and well, all bets are off, then.