MPW.66 / 2014 Devoted Family, Delayed Dreams by Demetrius Freeman
Photographer
Demetrius Freeman Atlanta, Ga.

Team Eppridge

Story Summary

Over a year ago, Lexi Donnelly traveled to Platte City, Missouri to bury a loved one. Now she is still here in neighboring Tracy: with a boyfriend, a one-year-old son, and a delayed dream of becoming a rapper. Lexi, 22, and her boyfriend, Virgil Hill, 23, have not seen much success in this tiny town with a population of 208. They spend their days raising Kashton, looking for jobs, and trying to keep their ambition alive. Living in a crowded home and expecting a second child, the young couple’s music dream slowly disappears as the immediate need for food, diapers, and other necessities overshadows their passion.