One influence on my decision to say in Treme was its proximity to a number of small, but tremendously historic African-American landmarks that I hadn’t visited before, like the St. Augustine Catholic Church, which is the oldest Black Catholic parish in the United States and site of the Tomb of the Unknown Slave.

As the St. Joseph’s revelry began to disperse for different parts of the city, I noticed a man kneeling at the foot of the monument, writing on a brick that had fallen away from its enclosure. I stood too far away to read over his shoulder though, and take pride in minding the business that pays me.

HOWEVER, calling myself curious would be an understatement (please do not say the words “I wonder” in my presence unless you’re ready to find out), so I absolutely returned later to read the message he’d left. I was so touched that I decided to photograph the Tomb of the Unknown Slave right then, instead of waiting for daylight.

Scrawled atop the brick in chalk were the words, “God know him.”

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where i wandered: