"No son todos los que están, ni están todos los que son." —Tio Genaro

¡OUCHO! DEPT.
¿Wassa Boricua Black Eye?

by Don Jíbaro Barbanegra

he Black Eye Syndrome is simple.... Say, you have an uncle who's in jail for burglary, that's a "black eye" to the family. You have a sister who wears red and works the street corners... that's a "black eye" to the family. If any of the above is caught on T.V., Radio or Newspapers... that's a BIG "black eye" to the family. If they're on the Internet, that's a HUGE "black eye". Get the idea?

Whenever "one" in your community does something wrong or illegal, it reflects on the rest of the community. Furthermore, whenever a Puerto Rican commits a "faux pas" (fr. an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion.), the stereotype will impute the blame on the rest of the Puerto Ricans. It's elementary! The Apostle Paul said it plainly:

"live in such a way that no one blames the rest of us nor finds fault with our work.”  — 2 Corinthians 6:3

But we at times, throw the baby out with the bathwater. We make mistakes...However, The Boricua Blunder come by a one rogue leaving the Boricua unity, caused by the desire to establish one's own socio-political agenda at any cost... even betraying those who faithfully serve you... be it family and/or friends.

In Los Angeles, CA, one group ousted a 70 plus year old couple who drove their president everywhere because he didn't drive... in a van that I donated to the organization. The questionable leadership owed the city close to $50,000 so the city did not allow the annual Puerto Rican Parade...

Waiting... for the Puerto Rican Parade that didn't come!

These "bad apples" speak for everybody else because "everybody else" remain silent. That's why the rest of us end up carrying the stigma. Maybe you don't want your faults exposed in order not to carry your part of the shame that comes when... let's say... a horde of drunken Boricuas in Wisconsin beat up two cops in an out-of-control post-parade celebration aberration.

FACT: The traditional "no me jodah" lust for throwing the first punch prevents Boricuas from turning the other cheek or just avoiding  a fight... the other guy gets a black eye but we get one too. Remember that old saying: "He who fights and walks away... lives to fight another day."

When emotions are out of control it becomes a free for all.

FACT: Contrary to popular belief "turning the other cheek" is not standing like a dummy taking punches. The depth of the lesson is in the context of how we are to behave with those who attack us. Can you afford to let them slide once? They might just see their errors soon enough and save you a heap of trouble. Revenge isn't sweet. It's costly.

FACT: Summers are "Puerto Rican Season" in the USA. That's when we have our festivals and celebrations... that's when we hope to shine our colors to the ever-watching world. But sometimes, something backfires on us and we find ourselves lamenting... "Sheesh, well, there's one in every crowd."

The melée is just for the sheer pleasure of beating someone.

FACT: Another spontaneous celebration for Puerto Rican Day in Milwaukee sometime around 2003, got out of control as did the post-parade one in NY the same summer. That was a BIG Black Eye to the rest of us. Many times the world doesn't notice, but Boricuas notice. In Milwaukee, Puerto Rican leaders told us that they held news conferences to address the post-parade melée that erupted between police and youths during an impromptu celebration.

"We're still trying to figure out what happened, but we want to show our disappointment with the disrespect of the Puerto Rican flag," said Victor Huyke, editor of the "El Conquistador" community newspaper, after announcing the news conference.

Why brawl? It will only get you behind bars.

So, as another example of a Black Eye Punch to the face of the Puerto Rican community throughout the world, two police officers were injured and 17 people were arrested when confrontations broke out between police and some of the several hundred youths cruising Mitchell St. waving Puerto Rican flags in what they called "controlled cruising"; but in the afternoon police received calls that congestion on the street was growing with gridlock.

Police set up a command post at S. 13th and W. Lapham streets and approximately 12 squads cars blocked off side streets in an effort to control the gathering cars and crowds. By 6:14 p.m., an officer directing traffic at 12th and Mitchell streets was grazed by a passing car, causing him to fall back and break his thumb.

Later that evening, an officer walking in front of 1270 W. Mitchell St. was spit upon by a Hispanic male riding by on a bicycle. When the officer tried to arrest the man, a crowd surrounded the officer, punching and kicking him in the arms and head. The officer curled into a ball on the ground for protection, and the man was arrested by another officer. The injured officer was treated for multiple abrasions and contusions to the face, neck and body

Juan Pelón must show tough he is, but it's to hide his vulnerability

STILL... later, a newly formed Puerto Rican Cultural Committee held a meeting to plan a Puerto Rican parade later that summer in conjunction with the Boricuafest held on that day by a Latino Community Center.

So... big Puerto Rican communities such as the ones in Chicago and New York hold Puerto Rican Day parades and festivals in June to celebrate the Puerto Rican culture. Still it is you and I in boonyland, who work hard to seriously promote culture and well being, who end up with the black eye when some of the leadership in these not-so-fortunate communities pass the hot potato as "a lot of unchanneled energy" when the participants take it upon themselves to have their "own" parade.

The incidents are unfortunate, to say the least, but the local community leaders must work harder to raise the awareness and commitment to obedience of municipal laws and ordinances as well as that of Puerto Rican culture. It will be then, AND ONLY THEN, that we will be able to give the community, a good, quality parade or festival. Only then, our Puerto Rican pride will be exonerated...

But if you are willing to listen, I say, we still love those who give us the black eye. Consequently, do good to those who apparently hate you. Pray for the happiness of those who curse you. Forgive those who hurt you. Don't get tired of doing good... It is NOT what you "FEEL" is right, but that which you "KNOW" that's right.

Peace and Prosperity, mi gente!