An Uptown Portrait

An Uptown Portrait: Patrick

An Uptown Portrait is a bi-monthly photo series by journalist Amaris Castillo (@AmarisCastillo). The portraits capture those who reside in upper Manhattan and their candid quips on their side of town.

As a baby, Patrick Tolbert moved to Harlem from the Chelsea Projects. A few decades have passed since then – he is now 60 but has the energy of a young boy. Standing shirtless in Fred Samuel Playground by W. 140^th St. and Lenox Ave., Tolbert describes his neighborhood. “It’s like stepping on a landmine,” he says. “Watch your stepping.”  Friends will backstab you, he adds. Tolbert’s friend, sitting on a bench nearby, nods his head slightly. Under the shade of his newsboy cap, Tolbert’s eyes still twinkle. He smiles.  “Don’t trust nobody but yourself – and don’t trust yourself that much,” he says, his smile growing wider. “Because we make mistakes – don’t we?”

Check out more of Amaris Castillo’s work: http://vimeo.com/AmarisCastillo

Also Check out:

An Uptown Portrait: Natividad

An Uptown Portrait – Hugo

An Uptown Portrait – Alicia

An Uptown Portrait – Geanella

An Uptown Portrait – Maureen

An Uptown Portrait – Linwood

An Uptown Portrait – Robert

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