Sam's Barbershop

In the East End of Newport News, Virginia—a neighborhood without banks, grocery stores, or movie theaters—barbershops and beauty parlors serve as vital community hubs. At the heart of this neighborhood stands Sam’s Barber Shop, a modest, one-chair establishment on Jefferson Avenue, run by LeRon Weaver, nephew of the original Sam.

From morning to night, a cross-section of the community—men and women, gang members, drug dealers, civic leaders, business owners, and children—flows through the shop. They come not just for haircuts, but to exchange gossip, debate politics, talk sports and relationships, and speak openly about crime, race, and life in their neighborhood.

Sam’s is more than a barbershop—it’s a safe space for unfiltered conversation and real connection in a community that often feels overlooked.

These photos were captured during video interviews with LeRon’s customers as part of the “No Snitch” multimedia project, documenting voices and stories rarely heard beyond the East End..