for Philip Levine When the CIA said, An extraordinary renditionhas been performed, I knew Lester Youngblowing his saxophone in that way he didwhen Billie Holiday was a few feet awaysmoking, singing “I Can’t Get Started,”was not what they had in mind. No, the agentat the podium talking to reporterswho spends most of his days staringat computer screens […]
I had the pleasure of sitting down to meet with Leandro “Kufa” Castro at El Eden restaurant on Broad Street in PVD’s West End, where the aromas of hearty Dominican dishes and the sound of Spanish being spoken created the perfect backdrop for our conversation. As someone who has made it a personal mission to […]
By Cheikh Higgs June marks National Caribbean American Heritage Month, a time to honor the rich cultural tapestry woven by Caribbean immigrants and their descendants across the United States. In New England, this observance is a living, breathing celebration of community, resilience, and identity. Providence’s connection to the Caribbean runs deeper than most realize. The […]
Crossing over the desert brow spare ranges, sparse rivers I see the red lights south & how softly they wave their fingers Who are all these places we call home? Do all our roots have voices we can simply call or cut off? The pecan tree coughs fruit onto to the ground, mockingbirds sing for […]
I have always loved cats, ever since I was a boy. Something about their selective socialization, isolated grace, and potential for fierce loyalty has spoken to me in ways no other species has. Not that I was allowed to keep any when I was young. We were a working-class family living in a neighborhood that […]
Hace año y medio tuve la oportunidad de entrevistar a Francis Parra Guerra, la Directora Ejecutiva y Artística del Teatro ECAS. Días antes de que se abrieran las puertas de lo que se convertiría en el primer hogar propio y permanente de la compañía teatral hispanohablante, camine con Francis hablando sobre la trayectoria y la […]
WEDNESDAY, SEP 4, 2024 – 12 DAYS TO DEADLINE On September 4, the editors of Motif Magazine held a meeting with the writers to solicit ideas for the Hispanic Heritage issue. Someone suggested restaurant reviews. To which I responded, “How about a pozole review! I’m kind of passionate about pozole.” The editors always encourage the […]
The stars are our oldest roadmaps. They tell us where we’ve been and where we’re going. They link us to our past and give us hope for the future. They’ve guided sailors during the darkest nights and helped farmers figure out the brightest days. Latin Americans have used the stars to create calendars as far […]
For over six years, I have worked as an interpreter for asylum seekers, primarily assisting Venezuelans, but also individuals from a variety of nationalities. My role has given me a front-row seat to the harrowing experiences of those fleeing unimaginable horrors. Each story and each person I’ve encountered has profoundly impacted me, reinforcing a fundamental […]
I was scared of the dark. I was terrified of things under my bed. One time, as a kid, I heard my own heartbeat and it scared me. I was a chicken when I was young. Perhaps it was all the legends my parents used to tell me or the episodes of “Unsolved Mysteries.” Either […]