Michael Bailey

ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPH:

My picture is a selfie with my Middie hat on. My hoodie says “My block, my hood, my city,” and it’s taken in front of a place that I call home. I graduated from Middletown High School in 1972. I bleed purple, and I just love my community. I am empowered by the Middie Pride that I believe needs to be like a wave everyone gets on all over this city.

I took this selfie and posted it on my Facebook to show that I had Middie Pride—joining the rest of the individuals in our community who were expressing their pride. I do believe it starts with each individual. If you understand Middletown—how it evolved from a paper mill, steel mill, tobacco, and Coca-Cola companies—you can understand the different parts of our community.

We are a very loving, kind, and generous community. We may scrap a little bit. We may fuss a little bit. But whenever there’s a crisis, we come together to make sure we’re protecting one another and showing that we love this city.

My 70-plus years in this community, through the struggles and challenges in life—racism, poverty, classism—I could go on and on. But it’s still a wonderful place to raise your kids. A wonderful place to get up in the morning, walk wherever you want to walk, and talk to whoever you want to talk to.