Cut and Conversation at Blue Brothers Barber Shop
In May, Southside Stories trainees Manila Southammavong and Zahra Perkins spent two Saturdays learning their cameras at Blue Brothers Barber Shop on South Salina, under the guidance of mentor Kayla Breen.
Blue Brothers is one of the oldest Black-owned barbershops in Syracuse, though it hasn't always called South Salina Street home. It is old-school with no frills, just what's needed to get the job done right. It sits next door to Ze Mart, and shares that same friendly neighborhood feel. Both Saturdays brought a steady flow of customers, and the strong sense of community was hard to miss as old and current friends walked through the front door.
At the center of Blue Brothers is owner Derrick Franklin, a barber whose steady hands and easy presence with customers made him a natural focus for the students' cameras. Barbers and family members David Blue and Dexter Bullock round out the shop, each bringing their own rhythm to the chair. Over those two mornings, Manila and Zahra worked to capture the community atmosphere, including hands at work, reflections in the mirror and waiting-area conversations that make Blue Brothers feel less like a business and more like an important fixture of the South Salina block.
