ronniealvarez

[ronniealvarez]

I live in East Flatbush Brooklyn currently, a predominantly black and brown neighborhood. Most of it’s residents contain Caribbean souls of all ages along with the newly gentrified made faces. This is not known to be a highly Hispanic populated area, but of course there are Hispanic folks about. One in a particular, I met at, what I nicknamed the ‘Gentrification deli” -where there are no Doritos or Arizona's to buy, was a indigenous looking guy with a fat face, and red and grey cap. He stood out immediately because the place was ran by Middle eastern fellows.

My first interaction with him was when I ordered my first strawberry banana Belgian waffle. The moment we interacted he was unfriendly. He never smiled at me, his tone consistently brute, and the order always wrong. The machine required to make the waffle was a hassle to operate and interfered with their work flow. But it is still a menu option. I never knew why that could make him not want to be polite with me. I defiantly didn’t want to think irrationally and play something like the race card. I simply wanted my waffle made right with some kindness put into it. That never happened so I eventually stopped going.

Months pass and I decided to give it another go at the waffle. I immediately see the same green and red baseball cap, only this time it greets me with a smile along with a change in tone of a familiar Mexican like accent. He takes my order but this time only politely. I was stunned by his kindness and we exchange quick pleasant remarks. I felt something in me at that moment that changed the game forever. As I walked away I loudly said ‘ Cuidate Primo’, and his smile shoots wide faster bullet. He quickly screams “aye why you aint tell me you speak spanish” (in spanish). Every morning that i spend in that deli, he takes my order with a smile and in Spanish, and it wars my heart. 

Something about speaking the same language and a bit of the universe connected me to this man. I’m his regular and he’s my primo. 

[ronniealvarez]

Before Night Falls

Reinaldo Arenas - Before Night Falls

“I really think I only satisfied my curiosity.”,was the closing line of the chapter school of Before Night Falls. This sentence was a heavily accurate conclusion and/or self reflection of one's personal and imprinting experience. In the chapter school, Arenas tells us the story of the first time he lost his virginity along with the surrounding supporting context to help us better understand his orientation and lens. He exposes us not only to his personal experience but his experience is influenced well by culture.  Although there is discussion of taboo topics, Arena demonstrates formal and beautifully conveyed of the his experience as a gay adolesent.

What society is sure guilty of is their success in shunning or refusing the representation, exposure, and education of and for the LGBT Community. In the world, the media has done an outstanding job at explaining and portraying the way of life and moments that one experiences in the average human life. Many of these lessons taught are what one might call heteronormativity. While instilling into us that a man and woman go through puberty along certain lines of criteria, society is always diminishing/debunking any other possible way of life or state of being. The LGBT community has been victim to this for many years.

Arenas, innocently and detailed, paints the story of his sexual encounters, curiosities, and experiences as a young boy. He unapologetically writes the details of seeing the uncircumcised skin pulled back on Orlando’s penis. He tells of the times he would be in conversation with his young counterparts, about the joys of jerking off. Even the culturally distinct and explicit action of having sex with animals as young children. All of these factors of development of Arenas young adolescent life tell a story of science and sex that many are still unaware of to this day. Stories like these provide opportunity for re-education and tolerance. This is one of many story’s that allow the world take a look into what it’s like being a young gay boy. 

DISSIDENCE, HOMOSEXUALITY and LITERATURE cross paths inevitably. Literature is one of the earliest forms of media, a platform for society to connect, learn and engage. The knowledge of the world lies within literature. Now because of the tenacious effort to construct society a certain way, many minority groups get no representation of themselves. Mention of LGBT related topics in textbooks and novels were not tolerated or approved in many conservative school districts. Even when they were discussed, it was under a microscopic scientific lens or a negative/cautious light. Therefore Arenas writing of Before Night falls is magnificent and successful in opening the door the the experience and development of a gay individual. He talks about thing things he saw as a young boy in school, the things he’s felt when seeing homosexual behavior, the actions he had done with classmates, etc. The way he painted the picture was with perfect detail. 

This chapter was written so well it did not come off as inappropriate or arise any uncomfortable feelings. Instead I was being exposed to a different experience that offered what mine did not. I was learning about a certain type of person, which then will allow me to better understand future counterparts who are of that community. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-48242255

https://www.colorlines.com/articles/fidel-castro-owns-persecuting-gays-cuba

[ronniealvarez]

Photography NYC 80s: puertorican boy

[ronniealvarez]

Alejandro Buritica, a Columbian-American Queens native has built and is continuing to expand his art platform TWENTY THIRD AVE, where he expressed his artistic visions through multiple mediums of art. He is not just one thing. His art is not just one thing. With this said, the art will tell it.

I’ll never forget the first time I met this kid. He sat diagonal from me, first semester of Mr. Sands English 1010. At first I assumed him a Caucasian Italian because of his appearance but little did I know he was latino the whole time. At that point in life I had never met a Colombian of his complexion. I was still visually new to seeing such various colors and races within the hispanic/latino community.  One of the professor’s ice breakers caused an answer from me that caught Alejandro’s attention. He came to ask me about it after class, and then on we spent the rest of our days infusing our artistic mindsets together in diferent ways.

He has opened up a door to a different section of my city to me then before. I had never really been to queens and sure as hell didn’t think I’d want to know anything about it. But while my love’s growth for the city has increased, I now have an even more reason to see the art, and culture of Queens new york the way I do with Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx. I want to see the environment that is responsible for this young man’s ambitious and admirable creativity.

[ronniealvarez]

The churros is a symbol of latinx solidarity in NYC. I’ve seen over 100 of these all my life and have unfortunately haven’t had enough 😩.

[ronniealvarez]

I Like It Like That 1994 film shot in the Bronx NYC. A step into the chaotic lives of a puertorican bronx couple.

[ronniealvarez]

Latinx graffiti art in Williamsburg Brooklyn 2019

[ronniealvarez]

BAM is the Brooklyn Academy of Music offers a wide range services. One of these services are entertainment at the BAM ROSE CINEMA. This small but highly influential movie theater, shows independent and major motion pictures from all over the world. These films have played such an influential role in my life I decided to collect every and/or ticket I purchased.

On one of the nights I needed to clear my head, I took myself to BAM the only place I could think of that would make me feel better. This particular night they were showing Selena. Selena was of the most influential artist in the Hispanic community, especially the Mexican community. Her and her siblings were musical geniuses from young and performed Tejano music for many years until they perfected their craft. They traveled the country and US, lead by Selena and her beautiful voice. Interestingly so Selena was in fact not well versed in Spanish. She touched into her roots truly by attempting and successfully singing in Spanish within her musical career. This has inspired many, including myself to become more confident in our Latino roots while learning the language of our people.

[ronniealvarez]

BIEN CUIT I worked as porter at a French bakery on Smith Street, in Downtown Brooklyn. There, there was only one other porter and he was a tiny well built old man. My soon to be right hand man’s name was Elias, and he was driven to do his best job everyday. He spent his very first second on the clock looking for a detail to perfect, a crumb to sweep, ad problem to fix, or a witty joke to crack. He was practical and caring like most old men but he was different. Elias had a youth to his work ethic. He found a way to make things easier for himself and for the job. 

When it was cold and he seen me without gloves loading garbage, he would force me inside. He knew it was best for me to handle the heavy duty stuff but he was to sweet to care. There were many things missing at the store in terms of equipment for the porters but Elias always seemed to make due. Me on the other hand did not want to work without the proper tools. Therefore I would spend my personal money on mops and scrubs. The little things to make the job easy but Elias did not like that either. He insisted that I was a good boy that needed to save his money and let the store handle it. He admired me and always treated me like an adult.

One night we fell into a wonderful back and forth of questions and he allowed me to take a step into his life.

The entire interview/conversation was in Spanish but here translated : “I worked at this bakery for 10 years!! I spent many many years here cleaning and maintaining the fort. My children are all in Mexico but my wife and I are here in Brooklyn. I work hours here everyday keep myself busy you know”

Elias was the number one reason why I decided I really have no excuse to not put effort into the things I do and to always work in hard in life. 

[ronniealvarez]

Aileen and Justin, two bronx bred Puerto Rican High school sweethearts❤️🌍🙏🏾

With their two kids in south bronx, they both tough it out like most of the inhabitants of the borough. Aileen was a 4’11 rough around the edges person. She was what you would call a person who was born in ‘the jungle’. That’s what the city was, a jungle. She was one of the ones who made the jungle what it was.

She of course like many Puerto Rican’s spoke pretty crappy Spanish. She spoke when she needed to but always said the words right and in the proper context. She knew how to whip up proper rice and beans and call out a gringo when she needed to. She was what the Bronx was and is. She is a jungle bean

[ronniealvarez]

“He got deported back to Columbia for being involved in narcotics.” I always thought my girlfriends grandfather was a badass for being an OG nyc Columbia mafia man. She never talked about her Hispanic side, maybe it was because black people aren’t encouraged to validate their Hispanic side. Nonetheless she was a beautiful Afro Latina who lived in the spring creek towers in East NY. We met in Highschool and I always found it pretty cool that she was a mix of Jamaican and Columbian. Unfortunately her family was very in touch with their culture, therefore she wasn’t either. I found it difficult encouraging her to speak Spanish and become more familiar with the things of her culture. She was shy around me, and intimidated by how fluent I was in my Spanish skills. I hope one day she finds the confidence that once had to find to be the proud Afro Latino I am today. (Me, right side. My girlfriend, left side)

[ronniealvarez]

Chipotle Dominican Grill

I started working at chipotle in spring of 2019. Never did I think that my position there would lead me to become more indulged in my Dominican roots. On the coast of Bryant Park, was my store, filled with an all Dominican Staff with the exception of a few South American Latinos . At that point I only knew about 10 percent of Spanish; I was nervous and intimidated by the hicks and fluently speaking coworkers, who I felt would not accept me when they realized I didn’t know enough about the culture I claimed. Month after month, the closer I got with my staff the Spanish and culture I learned. I let out phrases here and there, which then gave my coworkers the impression that they can speak to Spanish with me with no problem. This was the worse and best thing for Afro-Latinidad. When I was told “limpia abajo y lavas tus manos antes tocas la comida” I had to suck it up a figure out what was said

.Every last one of them was from the Bronx, from Fordham to kingsbridge. And me the barely credible Dominican ,was from Brooklyn, a land with little to no Dominicans compared to the Bronx. I wasn’t sure if being from Brooklyn added to the fact that I didn’t know what ‘patra’ meant but I’m grateful for my two years at that stores. I’ve never felt closer to my Dominican side then before.