This is not satire -- this is really happening to a very good man who has built a beautiful studio out of a nothing neighborhood and who thought he was living the American Dream. He is well known in Philadelphia and personally well known by friends of mine. He has been married to the same woman since youth and is a caring father. He is a black man whose work is art, not black art or political art, but fine art. James has given back to all kinds of students -- white, black, hispanic and other. He has had five of his works included in the prestigious Philadelphia Museum of Art and many private collections; and is now in his older years and with serious illnesses, is being persecuted by the self-important bureaucrats in the City government. It is a travesty. Please go here and read about James Dupree:
Save Dupree Studios (video of the studio and some art work)
JamesDupree.com (Home page and links)
This guy is now struggling to avoid having his life's work in building his studio grievously devalued by government overreach. Here is a black man who has achieved a measure of success in a field where artists normally struggle and starve, has done it through his own hard work and talent, and ironically in these days of political correctness, the City of Philadelphia is using "Eminent Domain" to push him under, as the video explains.
Mayor Nutter, Return the Deed to James Dupree (petition circulated by Dupree's supporters)
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Any of you guys with Philly or Pennsylvania ping lists, Art ping lists, Kelo or eminent domain lists -- would you kindly ping this out? Thank you so much.
Another great video about the legal aspects of the Dupree cause, with details about Kelo and eminent domain abuse. Even though the City has seized Dupree’s deed, he still has to pay taxes. They have offered him a truly crap building in horrible location at nickels on the dollar, but many people have urged James to take up a legal fight:
Philly Artist Fights City Hall Over Eminent Domain Abuse
Where are Jesse, Al and even Bill Cosby to help this Philadelphia artist?