There is no accurate estimate of the number of people dead; the only thing known for certain is that the death toll is still growing, with no end in sight. Neighboring counties have closed their borders to the refugees; the Sudanese people attempting to flee the country are now trapped in camps; the people are known by the world as "IDPs (internally displaced persons)."
I constructed a few small canvas tent and set up a mini IDP camp on the Ben Franklin Parkway. I chose a site that was close to the road, but not too imposing.
I then stuck the corners of previously contructed tent skeletons into the earth... this is when I met my first visitor. He was a homeless man; he asked me my name and what I was doing. He listened intently, I knew had no knowledge of the situation in Darfur. He wished me luck and told me he'd come back in an hour and see how it looked. Before he wandered away he said "I hope no one messes it up!" I chose not to give him a card.
I returned to my work.. arranging and rearranging the tents trying to figure out an interesting formation. When I was satisfied, I began laying the canvas to complete the tents. I looked up from my work and there was a tour bus, pulled over, and a tour guide approaching. She asked me "What's goin' on?!?" I told her I was working on a project to raise awareness of the situation in Darfur. She had never heard the word "Darfur." She listened to what I had to say; I couldn't help but feel she was just watching my mouth move, not absorbing anything. I gave her a card. She hopped back on the bus. They drove away.
When I was all but finished two women approached me. They were extremely friendly and extremely interested in my work. One woman was a graduate of Moore and was excited about "forward thinking." They both took a card. I thought they were leaving when one reached into her bag and said, "I'm so glad to hear that you are concerned with the physical well-being of others... but you know sometimes we have to think about our own spiritual well-being. This can tell you how they go hand in hand." She handed me a Jehovah's Witness newsletter. I thanked them both, and they were on their way.
I went back to work and completed the tents. I then took the remaining cards and tied them to the front of the tents. I saw two classmates (wink wink, you know who you are), we yelled hello/goodbyes.
I cleaned up my stuff and sat down on a bench. I watched a number of middle-aged power walkers take notice and continue exercising. I watched two police officers look at the tents but neither one mentioned them. I decided to head back to school, but as a last minute decision, I chose not to clean up the tents. I left them behind. I snapped one more picture.
I walked away, I'm pretty sure no one noticed.
