New York, Bronx, 1971, a concrete jungle between gangs’ war’s zones. It looked like the gangs’ truce was a Girl from the mountain of depression and frustration who came with a flower of hope within her smile.
A peaceful whistle of life and memories from that “happy feeling” of belonging to something bigger, trying to understand by surviving the reality given which was not an option, but a driven awaken force.
They gathered on the streets they walked, an owned territory they won with blood, tears, pain, camaraderie and that they defended with inner strength, a driving force of premature maturation on a home among rubbles.
There was something in that brother’s and sister’s hood hearts pumping out desperately, searching unconsciously for respect as human beings. They were the last link in a chain of nonsense, poverty and abandonment of the most disadvantaged communities. The breeding ground for new generations that will determine the creation of new forms of expression in the face of poverty and social repression.
They brought the colours by shouting for recognition. They painted the streets with their souls, like a mosaic of experiences and existence, silhouettes of free souls encapsulated in the indifference of those incapable of seeing, those who turned their heads not to look, those who decided to ignore.
They were the real trailblazers, the ones who nourished the desolation with energy, love, political and social commitment and creativity.
Among them, the roots of the new movements, the future graffiti artists, the break dancers, the MC’s and the DJ’s who helped to shape the music history forever.
They were the ramifications , the brave inherent extension of those who refused to die while alive…
They were…
Sound track: The Ghetto Brothers “Power- Fuerza”, album released in 1972, by Salsa Records
If you want to deep dive into the New York gang’s history in late 60’s early 70’s : Rubble Kings by Shan Nicholson
