James L. O'connor:
CLASS OF 1992
Carver High SchoolClass of 1992
New orleans, LA
Carver Middle SchoolClass of 1987
New orleans, LA
Helen S. Edwards Elementary SchoolClass of 1983
New orleans, LA
St. Philip the Apostle SchoolClass of 1982
New orleans, LA
Robert R. Moton Elementary SchoolClass of 1980
New orleans, LA
James L.'s Story
I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana and raised in the Desire Housing Projects where I spent my childhood years. Growing up in a predominately Black neighborhood wasn't all peaches and cream, especially when I came close to contemplating living the street life. Even though I struggled through school, lost some friends either to the streets or the prison system and going through a personal identity crisis, neither was attractive to me.
In Desire, I was known for my artwork, as well as me fixing up old fans and radios (and occasional tantrums) I was given an opportunity to paint and airbrush backdrops for local photographers to take to high school dances, winter formals, clubs and other events upon graduation. I would do this for twelve years.
In high school, I played saxophone in the marching band and was Drum Major my senior year (which I later hated). I was looking forward to playing in college, but th...Expand for more
e city had other plans. I had to go through the jury pool on the month of college registration. I only lasted one year in college.
Later on, I had experienced both the highs and lows in my life. I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2000 after losing a cousin and grandfather to it three months earlier. Then I lost my father to it. Just days after my father passed, I lost two nephews in a house fire. Then, in 2005, I had witnessed the tragedy known as Hurricane Katrina, where I had lost some friends. Family members were all accounted for. Most moved back to New Orleans. My mother is in Houston.
2001, my son, Nathan, came into the world. Now he's 7 years old and in the first grade.
I currently live in Dallas, Texas and I'm working on a 'pet project' about the projects, from which I was grew up in. As of now, parts of it are just blogs on my own MySpace page where you'll also find some of my artwork, as well.
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