WASHINGTON - One side of high society does not always get the attention it deserves but one local woman is determined to change that.

Wherever there is a social event in Washington involving African Americans, you will likely see Mickey Thompson with her camera.

The U.S. Marine Corps veteran and widow of a D.C. judge says she started doing photographing these event nearly a decade ago because she thought black social events and black people at other social events were largely ignored by mainstream media. So she launched her Social Sightings page.

"I want to show the positive side of what African Americans do," Thompson told us.

She snaps the pictures, pays for the layouts and if necessary, buys space in a range of publications to show off black society. She has used money from her inheritance to pay for it. Thompson says she shells out "quite a lot, over a hundred thousand. I mean I really do try to put my money where my mouth is."

The people she features, lawyers, judges, lobbyists and ministers, appreciate what she does.

Reverend James Terrell from Second Baptist Church said, "She does a wonderful job of chronicling our community."

"I'll get a call from someone who said, 'I saw you in the paper,' so you feel like a mini-celebrity" said Retired Judge Mary Terrell.

Washington has a long black social tradition: the Omega Phi Psi Fraternity's Mardi Gras Ball at the Washington Hilton. Thompson would never miss it.

Thompson says her goal is to get her own magazine to do this and she hopes and Marine Corps determination will help her succeed.

Thompson said, "'Find something you like to do and figure out a way to get paid.' Now I've found something I love doing but I haven't quite figured out how to get paid, but I'm working on it."

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