NY Daily News: Bed-Stuy Exhibition reveals Youngsters' Frame of Mind

AT FIRST GLANCE, it would appear Ahmed Manns of Bedford-Stuyvesant would have little in common with Pearl Shelby of Marvell, Ark.

Shelby's hometown, which is 45 minutes from Memphis by car, is exactly 1.4 square miles and has a population of 1,395. Manns' borough measures 71 square miles; its population is 2,467,326.

But when photographs by Manns and Shelby went on exhibit at the Skylight Gallery in Bedford-Stuyvesant's Restoration Plaza recently, a common theme was evident.

The big-city guy and the small-town gal both say kids need more and better recreational facilities.

The need is dire in Marvell, said Shelby, 20, a premed student at the University of Central Arkansas. No public swimming pools are available in her hometown.

"I don't think it's fair," said Shelby. Her photo essay, "Our Public Pool," shows kids cooling off in a wading pool.

Manns' photos show kids enjoying Brooklyn's playgrounds, but there also are shots of garbage......... click here to read more from NY Daily News.