After Anytown, USA, went bust
Documenting the struggles of a small Appalachian town
(CK Vijayakumar)Vijayakumar photographed several Ohio and Appalachian towns for photography projects while getting his masters degree at Ohio University. Coming from a post-colonial country like India, Vijayakumar was drawn to areas that had been exploited for their resources and cheap labor. And, indeed, Racine is hurting, with unemployment rates still well above the state and national levels. But when Vijayakumar walked Racine's streets and spoke to its residents, he found the roots of the town's struggles stretched further into America's industrial past."The people here had a different story," he said. "The proliferation of automobiles and the supermarket contributed to their economic slowdown. Locals started driving to the supermarkets in the neighboring towns to buy everything. The stores and entertainment facilities went out of business because of that."Vijayakumar's photos may tell the familiar tale of small town stagnation, but he also reveals those moments of shared levity — kids throwing snowballs, neighbors coming together for Sunday service — that can be unique to tight-knit communities."They really like their town," Vijayakumar said. "They think it is very peaceful and safe. Since everybody knows each other, they feel that there is always someone around to help."Below, take a tour of Anytown, USA, in this selection of photos from Vijayakumar's simply titled essay, Racine, Ohio:
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(CK Vijayakumar)**To see more from this series or other work from CK Vijayakumar, check out his website, Instagram, and Twitter.**
