New America Speaks! Vol. 3 Cafe Cultura Community Speaks Project #51 Youth in Telling Our Stories Program
New America Speaks! Vol. 3 Copyright Š 2018 by Youth in Telling Our Stories Program All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission of the author.
To the resilient students in our Spoken Word class. It has been an honor to work with you all. Although our class was small, you stories were enormous. You have so much talent and potential and this book will always remind you of what you can achieve if you put your mind to it. #CafeCultura #XpressYourself #TellingOurStories
Acknowledgments Thank you to New America staff for another opportunity to guide your students in finding their voices. Special thank you to the young poets for pushing yourself to be great. Remember: “It is our responsibility and choice to express ourselves and lift our voice, together building unity, leaders in our community. This is how we tell our stooorrrryyyy!�
Foreword It has been an honor to partner with New America School Lowry. We used our “Telling Our Stories” curriculum to teach a spoken word class. We enjoyed the energy students used to share how they see themselves and the world around them. They wrote insightful poems that show their potential. We look forward to staying connected, as they develop into the leaders we need. Enjoy and share their words! For those who do not know about our organization: Café Cultura is an award-winning arts, culture, and youth development organization in Denver that promotes unity and healing among Indigenous peoples through creative expression while empowering youth to find their voice, reclaim oral and written traditions, and become leaders in their communities. Café Cultura has been providing positive, creative, and engaging community spaces for the Denver metropolitan area for more than ten years. After the passing of respected elder and veteran poet Abelardo “Lalo” Delgado, we accepted responsibility to continue using our oral and written traditions to provide opportunities for creative expression often not offered in schools or in the larger community. Café Cultura also drew inspiration from the movement connecting Indigenous people from throughout the Americas. We use creative expression to unify people representing southern Indigenous nations, known by terms such as “Chicana/o” and “Latina/o,” with those Natives of northern nations, referred to as “American Indian” or “Native American.” Café Cultura hosts one of the best open mic venues in the Denver metropolitan area, and the only space focused on family and youth. We also conduct highly engaging and culturally relevant spoken word/poetry workshops for underserved youth throughout Colorado. Café Cultura partners with select organizations and schools to facilitate an intensive workshop series, publish youth
poetry, and organize participant showcases. In an effort to develop young leaders within our community, we also coordinate a youth leadership program for Indigenous youth. If you or your organization is interested in collaborating, feel free to contact us. For more information about our open mic events, workshops, youth leadership program, and other programs: www.cafecultura.org info@cafecultura.org 720-460-9203
Table of Contents A Letter To My Future Self by Hector ...............................................1 El Juego de la Vida by Citlaly ...............................................................2 My Strength by Manuel .........................................................................3 The Pride by Rebeca ..............................................................................6 The Work by Anonymous ....................................................................8 Disappointment by Hector ...................................................................9 The Reason by Citlaly ......................................................................... 10 Learning the Hard Way by Manuel .................................................. 13 A Reflection by Hector ...................................................................... 14 Pride by Citlaly..................................................................................... 18
A Letter To My Future Self by Hector Hector, in the future, I hope you accomplish lots of positive things. I hope you graduate and make an impact on society. Make money and shape the world in the correct way. Bring unity to this disaster, this shitty world in which we live. I hope all your past experiences bring motivation and have this cruel world come together. Hector, you will be the impact America and every country needs. Make this world racism-free. Bring this puzzled world together for the best. The challenge is on. I have to get educated. Work to make my change come true!
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El Juego de la Vida by Citlaly Life is like a volleyball game. Alcohol is being set up for me like a perfect set. But my parents have taught me better. Pero si hay veces que tomo la botella, and I am guilty of it. But when I know it’s wrong, I spike it out of my way. I am not perfect and I have made bad choices, It is a weight on my shoulders, But I am not quitting. I will fight through the game. As a girl in this generation, society wants me to look a certain way, but I know I am not it. It does not matter because I know that I will be a better player than I was in the last game. I grow from these mistakes of mine and the lessons my parents taught me.
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My Strength by Manuel I am Manuel and come from a family of 5. I look in the mirror and see a proud man who comes from Denver. In my dreams, I imagine having my own company. I am proud. I cry when I overthink. But thinking makes me laugh. My love for my mother feels like eating a warm tamale from her. I am strong. It is unfair that I do not know my grandparents. I feel angry when I think about losing. If I could change one thing, It would be seeing life differently. I am Manuel. I will never forget where I come from: Denver, the place my family’s roots expanded. The beautiful Rocky Mountains welcome us every morning. Here, the blue sky is endless. This is my home, where I first took my first breath. There is no place I would rather call home, my home, the Mile High City. I am the warm soup that brings my family love,
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the soup that got my grandma’s family through life. This soup fills my stomach with masa, beans, potatoes, and most of all, my grandma’s love. She would cook lots of cactus, which is 100 years old. My grandma would make it for all her kids, on the root they grew up on in Zacatecas. It brings my family together even when we are at rock bottom. My food is called masa. I warm my heart with its delicious taste and spiciness. I will never forget who I come from, the man who left his home at 16 to give the root he was going to plant for a better life. This hard-working man thinks about others before himself. My abuelita always told me that I had a great role model in front of me, a man who will always look after his seeds that are ready to grow into strong big trees. I come from my pops, Jose Manuel Estrada, a hard-working man who works hard for his family and still does since day one. He is the man I will tell my kid stories about,
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how his struggle was real and how he started his life. I will always remember the streets my family grew up on, where it all happened: 11th and Dayton. There, all the neighborhood had cookouts on hot ass days with all my tias and tios, primos and primas reunited like the frijoles en la olla my abuelita would always make for us. Those late nights are family kickbacks with all my tios handing out money like Bolo being throwing a Mexican party. As I wake up in the morning I see a picture of my beautiful mother who gave birth to me and lived a poor life with her 24 brother and sisters. She is the woman who keeps me going every morning. I wake up, thinking about what Tupac said, “There ain’t a woman alive that can take my mom’s place.” My mom is the strongest woman I know, the most beautiful rose that has been planted. Everything I do, I do for her!
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The Pride by Rebeca I am a delicious cheesy pupusa, made from best cooks. I come from Mexico City, but my heart goes for food from the hands of the experts’ hard work and creativity. I will always remember the times that the family would go get pupusas or learn how to make them, enjoying great times full of smiles and good vibes. I will never forget that amazing taste, better than a quesadilla, more like a gordita filled with queso topped with the tomato sauce and the curtido We spend all year long eating pupusas. I am en anillo de quinceañeros the round, gold crown. I come from La Joyeria del Mexmall, from the hands of the Chinese creator. I am Mexico City, DF and the freedom of going out a la esquina por unas mollejas con chile y limon. I come from the smell of rain on the brick walls, washing in el lavadero. I will always remember the walks en la Basílica de la Virgen de Guadalupe and the late night strolls to San Pablo to get tacos,
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the freedom. I will never forget the happiness that I felt there, the vacation time, los puestos en cada esquina. I am a cap and gown that walks across stage to receive that diploma. I come from hard work and pressure, from almost giving up to being smacked in the face by reality. I will always remember my family’s words before I graduated, “No va a ser nadie en la vida”, “por mensa”, “quiere estar limpiando baños,” “no se va a graduar.” (you will never graduate) I still remember all the hurtful things said and the pressure of being a disappointment. I will never forget the look on their faces when I gave them my cap and gown packet: the regret, but also, the pride and shock. Quien va a limpiar los baños ahora? (Who will be cleaning bathrooms now?)
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The Work by Anonymous I will always remember the day my brother got home, so excited to tell me that he got a Mustang at the auction. He said it needed work, but once we were done fixing it, I could have the car. I will always remember the look on my brother’s face when we went to go look at a B5 Audi S4. He had been craving so long for this car. Putting blood, sweat, and tears into work for something he always wanted something for himself.
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Disappointment by Hector Challenges I have faced were ones when I didn’t care much about anything. I thought of myself, not of the ones who cared for me. My life has been like a boxing match. There have been times when I have won, but also lost. There are many more challenges and mistakes I have made. Letting down my family was one. I have been working to overcome these disappointments by doing positive things, especially by graduating high school and moving on to college. By doing this, I will show my family that they have done a lot of good in my life. They shouldn’t be worried anymore.
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The Reason by Citlaly Yo soy la razon. I am a reason for my parents crossing. I am a representation of a child with immigrant parents. But I am not the only one. I am just one in a million struggling, living in fear of la migra coming to tear my family apart. It took them 2 hot, sweaty days to cross, walking for miles. It reminds me to stay humble for the hard times my parents went through for the day that left their home at 17 to come to America and struggle the first 15 years they were here I thank the lord that now, we are living a better life. I am Sombrerete, Zacatecas, made of mountains and dirt. I am located in north central Mexico. I come from open space surrounded with all types of animals. I will always remember the bailes con la familia. I am the sweet, cinnamon ponche made with sugar, fruits, and love. It smells like family brought together. I come from deep roots to show that I am blessed, bringing the family together for Christmas. I will always remember
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each fruity bite brought in with warmth. I will never forget how ponche brings back memories of the past and creates new ones for the future. It is our roots and culture. I will never forget my parents’ stories of their childhood. I am the joyfulness that fills the summer air. I am my leather botas, Made in Mexico by hand They represent who I am as a person and where I am coming from. Mis botas representan mis antepasados I rock them en el rancho, en los bailes, y en los coleaderos! I am my grandfather’s follower, daughter, and worshipper. He sacrificed so many things so my mom and uncles could have something to eat every day. He would work all day en sus barbechos (his fields). He became a very well-known man en el Rancho, to the point where people would go ask him for help as if he was a God. He never wanted anything in return. As a hardworking, generous, and forgiving person, he taught me that money is not everything. I am happy and thankful for every minute you gave me of your time.
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Rest in peace abuelito. Yo soy la razon.
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Learning the Hard Way by Manuel It all started on 2017, the beginning of February. It was like any other day. Waking up, I would say, “time to make bread.” I started by folding a blunt fatter than my abuelita’s burritos. I jumped into my blue chevy. I still remember how the blue was brighter than the sky. I started speeding down 6th Ave faster than Speedy Gonzales. I hit the fastest turn of my life and boom, the 5.0 was there. I pushed down on the acceleration, and got away. But moments later, they caught me faster than my mom’s flip flops. It all happened in seconds. I was behind bars like a bird, with no blunt, only a hard bed like my hard headed self.
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A Reflection by Hector I am Montbello. I come from the weekly basketball games. I look in the mirror and see a community that has stuck together. In my dreams, I imagine seeing improved life from my community. I am Montbello, but memories make me laugh. My love for Montbello feels like my love for basketball. I am Montbello. It is unfair that us Montbello peeps get looked at differently. I feel angry when I am looked at as a bad person. If I could change one thing, it would be to improve my community and myself. I am Montbello . But my roots come from western Colorado, where it is colorful and bipolar. Colorado is formed by us Coloradans, but also by the red stones and Rocky Mountains. Here is where I am from and hopefully, will remain in this box state. When it comes to Colorado, it makes me feel at home. The surroundings are full of snowy mountains and cities/towns. I come from western Colorado,
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where it provides life for my family and me. I connect to the roots here and its culture. In every way, Colorado represents respect for my family and us Coloradans. I am the posole my mom makes on special holidays. I am the indescribable taste, the carne, maiz, and sauce in this cultural food The smell is like home. I am the food my ancestors made long ago The effort, love, and work, all lead to a delightful recipe. I will always remember the joy this food brings to me and others. Most of all, I will never forget the happiness posole brings to my life. I will never forget the lessons my mom taught me. She always has had the will to never give up, always up and going. My mother’s actions
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are to never give up and work hard for her family The sacrifices my mother has made are truly appreciated. She crossed the border to provide her children a better life full of opportunities. My mother makes me feel loved and accepted. One of her most used quotes is “Echale ganas,” “Always give it your all.” I have learned a lot from her, like respect that will help me live a positive way. She brings roots from Mexico in stories. Her accomplishments have been providing my sisters and me an easier life. My mom represents love, hard work, and strength. Her story was to come to the U.S. to have her kids live a better life full of opportunities. I am my drywall knife and pan. I am always ready for work. I do not care if I am dirty or clean. I will still do me and get the job done. I can stay, be cold or hot, and still remain the same.
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I am my knife and pan. I am a working tool that is up to get paid. I come from the picture of the graduating student. I see myself in that person. I can see myself saying “I’ve done it,” feeling happy and proud of my big achievement. I see a deep connection, a connection that is indescribable. All I see is myself being satisfied, making my mom proud. That is where I come from, the image of seeing myself graduating.
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Pride by Citlaly 1. Remember when you were the captain of the volleyball team in Middle School. You even made the varsity team freshmen year, an accomplishment you always cherished. 2. In my dreams, you always imagined being an Olympic gold medalist, becoming rich and thanking your parents for everything. For making you who you are today. 3. Tell me, did it become a reality? Did you make Mom and Dad proud? Did you prove Dad wrong, by showing him you could finish school while being in a relationship? 4. In the world, did you make it farther than anyone has ever made it? 5. In the eyes of your father, you are still his little princess. That is the only reason he was so harsh with you ‘cause he wanted to protect you. 6. Take yourself to new levels, explore like your mother did. Do everything she could not do, spread your wings, and discover new places. 7. Enjoy everything you have so dearly because you will never know what God has planned for you. 8. Together, you will stick with you. Feel good with your decisions, for you will make your family proud.