Looking Back at this Semester....

This semester was exactly what I expected: crazy. But in all the hectic days filled with deadlines, a job and an internship, I learned something about myself. I actually owe that to this class. 


I was so overwhelmed at the thought of choosing a listening post for the entire semester. I was prepared to visit some random place during the course of seven weeks (like the class used to be,) but I wasn't prepared for a semester's worth of uncomfortable encounters and documenting everything via the blog. 


I chose to visit a botanica because I knew it would push me into those uncomfortable situations. As I contemplated what I might encounter in a botanica, I kept hearing two voices in my head: that of my father and grandmother. Both were telling me to be extremely careful, that I didn't know what I was getting myself into. Despite this inner struggle, I promised myself to take on this challenge wholeheartedly. 

In doing so, I learned that santeria isn't just about animal sacrifices, chants and drums. Though sometimes animals are offered to the saints during secret ritual ceremonies, santeria has given countless people a kind of spiritual salvation. Some people even say they owe their lives to the religion, and in turn, devote themselves to it for the rest of their lives, i.e. Eva, the card reader and Luis, the botanica owner. 


I learned that I do have the guts to go somewhere completely unknown and befriend the people there. I am brave enough to ask questions that might make me look foolish to some, but are nonetheless important.

I also learned that we all have biases, even if we think we don't. And believe it or not, these biases come from our homes. We are taught to lock our doors in "dangerous," (i.e. urban) neighborhoods and that all Muslims are terrorists. We are taught that all Cubans came on rafts, all Colombians are drug dealers and all Nicaraguans are Indians. We all have this inner "racism," but it's what we do about it that counts. As long as we make an honest effort to acknowledge these biases and to give everyone the chance to tell us their stories, then we will ultimately make some kind of difference in the world. 


Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn about different communities and the way I view them. Thank you for teaching me how to approach different situations as open minded as possible. I know we all benefited greatly from this course.  

The Story of Luis, the Botanica Owner

Luis Perez sits in a dimly lit room in the back of his store, puffing his cigarette and sipping agua ardiente, a strong alcoholic drink whose name translates to “burning water.” He holds a cluster of small white shells in his hands. A statue of an old black man stands next to him on the floor as a source of spiritual inspiration. Above Luis are statues of Catholic saints with Yoruba names. The saints are guardians and often help guide Luis through his visions. Luis is getting ready to do business.  

People come to him largely out of curiosity, to see what his services are all about and how he can help them. For a fee of $21, which is left on a small plate in front of the black man statue, he can help those struggling with health problems or economic issues, usually by recommending baths with special herbs.

“It’s not what you have, but the faith you have in it,” Luis said about his business, which he runs with his second wife, Maritza.  From the outside, people might not understand how herbs and rocks might help heal, but he says a little faith in nature’s gifts can go a long way.

“Faith can move mountains,” said Luis. “It’s when you think you can achieve something or believe that something will happen. A little rock, a plant, anything natural- you think to yourself, ‘With this I will overcome.’”

Luis is the owner of Botanica Yoruba 7 located at 474 E. 49^th St. in a tiny Hialeah strip mall. The “7” in the name is symbolic of Yemaya, a Yoruba creation goddess that is Maritza’s guardian.

This has been their shop for the past six years. From the outside, the shop seems small, and in fact it is. But Luis and his wife have turned the place into a one-stop shop for Santeria products, filling it from top to bottom with shelves of potions, candles and figurines, as well as charms, cauldrons and instructional manuals. 

His favorite part about the business is that it lets him deal with the public indirectly. They do come to him for services, but he has the right to turn them away if he wants.

Such was the case with an older woman who called him one day. She wanted Luis to help her reunite with her estranged 40-year-old son. Luis simply told her, “He’s a grown man. Let him live his life.” And that was the end of it.

But there have been other times when Luis has been able to save someone’s life.

Two years ago, a 60-year-old Colombian woman came to his shop. It wasn’t the first time she had visited Luis for his services. During the consultation, however, something went a little different than expected.  Luis had a vision that she had a tumor in her uterus.

“My visions come to me like a movie,” said Luis. “At that moment, they’re showing me that something is inside her uterus. Something is wrong.”  

 “I don’t want to scare you,” he began to tell her. “But this is what I saw.” He explained how the saints told him that she would travel to Colombia for surgery. She would have complications because the surgeon was going to leave a piece of a tool in her uterus. Ultimately, she would recover.

The woman immediately flew to Colombia to meet with her doctor. Months later, Luis got a call. She was on the line, saying “Thank you. You were right about the tumor. You saved my life.”

Luis had a similar life-changing experience. It was the reason he decided to fully commit himself to the religion.

“I owe my life to this religion,” he said.

16 years ago, Luis was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Doctors saw a dark mass in several X-rays. Surgery was the only way he could stand a chance at survival, and even then, doctors worried he wouldn’t make it out alive.

Luis visited a spiritualist, who told him he would definitely undergo surgery. But the mass inside him would disappear. The cancer would vanish. His faith in the religion would help him survive.

The day of the surgery, Luis arrived with a courage that even surprised the doctors.

“My hands are in God,” Luis told the surgeon.

No one could understand how a man diagnosed with an advanced cancer could be so sure of his full recovery.

When Luis woke up, he felt sore all throughout his abdomen. He felt where the surgeon had cut him open. But the procedure hadn’t gone as planned. When the surgeon cut into Luis to remove the mass, he didn’t see a thing. He couldn’t find it. He didn’t know what was going on.

Luis did. Luis knew at that moment what had happened. His faith got him through the surgery. His faith helped him escape a possible death.

It’s moments like these that keep Luis committed to Santeria, a religion he says many people take advantage of.

“A lot of people exploit the religion,” Luis said about practitioners who milk their clients for all they have. Many of these spiritualists try to give their clients guarantees, either in love, their jobs or other situations. They’ll perform a costly ritual and convince the customer that his or her problem is solved. They’ll even give out sacred religious items for the right price. 

“I’ve heard of cases in which people sell the necklaces without performing the rituals,” said Luis. “One thing is to charge modestly for a service well done. But sometimes they invent things just to get money. They take advantage of people who aren’t really knowledgeable about the religion,” who are known as “aleyo.”  

For Luis though, the religion is sacred. You can’t give out secrets or guarantee that you can solve everyone’s problem. His objective is just to be upfront.

“Nothing will happen to me if a ritual is performed in the wrong way,” Luis said. But if someone is prescribed something they shouldn’t be, it can actually set them behind in what they’re trying to accomplish.

Luis was born in Havana, Cuba in 1954. He spent four years on the island as a political prisoner for his strong beliefs against Fidel Castro’s revolution. Aside from becoming disenchanted with the island’s political regime, he also began to stray from his mother’s religion: Jehovah’s Witness.

“I read the bible three times, and took some time to mediate on things,” said Luis, whose main issue with the religion was the belief in perfection and the hostility toward nonbelievers. 

“God isn’t perfect. I’m not perfect,” he said. “The most important thing is if someone shows you love and how they treat you. You shouldn’t turn your back on someone just because they disagree with your religion.”

Luis never told his mom that he wanted to leave her religion. “I respected her too much for that,” he said.

When he came to the United States in his early twenties, his mission was to start working as soon as possible. He had a job as an air conditioner technician, pool repair man, electrical engineer, and many other positions in the service sector.

But dealing with the public on a daily basis frustrated him so much he decided to take matters into his own hands: he was going to create his own business where he could be behind closed doors. Instead of being at the mercy of demanding clients who needed repairs done fast and on the cheap, he would be his own boss.

“When I make up my mind to do something, I make it happen,” said Luis. “I’m consistent in that.”

Aside from recognizing his own temper and will power, he’s learned that not everyone can be trusted.

“That’s why whenever someone asks me, ‘Hey Luis how are you doing?’ I always respond ‘busy, very busy.’ Don’t tell people your problems or plans. Say something neutral,”’ Luis said.

But despite his standoffish personality, Luis and his wife have made friends in the neighboring businesses.

“They are very good people,” said Isi, a nail technician at Illusion Hair Design, which is right next to the shop.

Isi does Maritza’s nails and often visits the shop to buy lotto tickets. But one thing always stays at the door during their interactions.

“Here we don’t talk politics or religion. It’s just business,” she said.

Ezequiel Molina is the owner of Star Dancers, a dance supply store that has been at the same plaza for the past 16 years.

“He is a very good neighbor,” said Ezequiel. “Here everyone has their own distinct business, and there’s harmony.”

Ezequiel also goes into the shop frequently to buy lotto tickets.

For Luis, the shop has been very profitable. He’s a businessman at heart and has been working with his wife for a month and a half updating the Web site for their shop, www.botanicayoruba7.com. The new site features around 1,6000 products for sale, ranging from money-granting amulets and belly dancing tops, to incense and beaded bracelets.

It’s been a tiring endeavor giving the shop a complete online makeover, but one he feels is well worth the effort.

“I could pay someone to do it, but if I want it done right, I might as well do it myself,” Luis said.

He takes a break from his non-stop work and steps outside his shop to breathe a little. He pulls out his cigarette and leans up against the shop entrance, which currently features a display of medicinal plants used in Santeria cleansing rituals. 

 “Sometimes I feel tired, but if I continue to be given the strength, I will work this religion,” said Luis, as he blew a cloud of cigarette smoke into the breeze. “It’s given me a lot. I’ve been able to help people, a lot of people, and I even see the fruits of my labor. Many are actually better off than I am.”

Jokingly, Luis says one of his dreams is to actually win the lottery.

“But even if I would win it, I wouldn’t leave the religion. I can’t leave it. I owe my life to it,” said Luis. “My destiny is to die working this religion.” 

Ethnic Media Newcomers

Here's a short video I found that features editors from several ethnic newspapers talking about the importance of ethnic media. Hope you like it! 

What Exactly is Ethnic Media?

I didn't really know what "ethnic media" was, except for the fact that it was ethnic, obviously. I didn't realize the extent to which ethnic media plays a part throughout the country, and the world for that matter. Like we discussed in class, ethnic newspapers provide us with a true look at what different communities find important, from Seminole family gatherings to Jewish wedding announcements and even ads for Asian real estate agents. We don't realize the concerns of different communities until we get a good look at them up close. Even though what's actually published in a newspaper depends on the biases/priorities of the editors, it is definitely a good place to start researching when covering a particular area.


Our discussion raised a very interesting point: how much of a role does ethnic media play in perpetuating ethnic stereotypes? Well, the answer is somewhat complicated. The media should not perpetuate stereotypes. If they do, they're only adding fuel to a "racist" fire. People that have preconceived ideas about a certain ethnicity will only become more muddled if they are reading articles that seem to support those misconceptions. For example, if all people read about Cubans is terms like "rafters," or "exiles," that is all they'll  come to know about Cuban people. The same goes for Colombians. If all we read are stories about Colombian drug smugglers, than we'll continue to think of Colombians as drug users.

Therefore, the responsibility of the media is to report as fairly and truthfully as possible- the cultural events, political turmoil, entertainment pieces, crime, good deeds, everything! If this is not done, then all we'll get is a skewed view of how things really are, and what people really think about different issues.


I know it's easier said than done, but the effort has to be made.


Likewise, we have to make a greater effort to consult these ethnic media sources. Like Reisner pointed out, we can find great sources in these newspapers, which is something I have never considered. It's definitely a great alternative to only consulting the same experts time after time. Who better than those actually living and working in the communities we cover. It's reporting from the ground up.

Speaking of Ethnic Politics....

I'm not really big into politics. Of course, I follow what's going on, but I can't sit at a dinner table and just talk politics all the time. 

Putting that aside, I came across this article and just had to say something about it.

http://cbs4.com/defedecolumn/defede.column.rick.2.1984013.html

It's an opinion piece I found on CBS 4's Web site. It addresses the underlying racism in Rick Scott's agenda. The minute I heard Scott wanted to conduct drug tests on everyone receiving government assistance, I thought "O.K. what's wrong with that?" But then it hit me. Wait a minute- who mainly benefits from government aid? Minorities. Why is there an assumption that these people are on drugs? Racism, plain and simple. It's a blatant stereotype. Since blacks and hispanics are lazy and just want to take advantage of the system, they stay at home receiving their welfare checks, and just shoot up or get high all day. Unfortunately, that's what some people think is reality. Why the emphasis on drugs? Some people might be falsifying paperwork. Why not go after that? No, we would focus on drug use, which apparently is rampant among those depending on government aid, i.e. everyone who's not white.

I just had to get that off my chest. What do you guys think?

Reading the Shells

So I decided to have a reading done at the botanica. I called up Luis (the owner) and we arranged to meet around 1:45 p.m. I don't think he was actually expecting to show up, much less have a consultation with him. He looked very surprised when I came in, but happy all the same because this time he was making money. He charges $22 for the consultations, which take place in a small room toward the back of the shop. He asked me to wait outside the room for a few minutes while he straightened up. 

In the meantime, I looked around the shop for something interesting to talk about. His wife, Maritza, was at the front of the store speaking to a customer on the phone. She leaned up against the counter where they ring people up, and was telling the woman on the phone that she had scorpions, snakes, spiders, birds and tons of other animals. I didn't really understand why she was looking at this huge vending machine they have while she was speaking to the woman on the phone. I decided to ask her what that was about when she hung up. I didn't really know how she would respond to my eavesdropping, but I couldn't pass up on this opportunity. Where were these animals? And why the hell do they have scorpions and spiders? (which I am deathly afraid of) As I expected, she wasn't really in the mood to talk. I approached her and said, "Excuse me, I hope you don't mind, but I couldn't help but overhear that you have animals in the shop. Where exactly are these animals?" To my surprise, she pointed to the huge vending machine. Instead of sodas, the machine is filled with rows and rows of animals wrapped in newspaper. There is a sign on the front that has the prices, which range from about $5 to $12. I don't know why, but I automatically asked her "So I guess that each animal has its different purpose during ceremonies?" a question which I knew the answer to. I guess I was just nervous and blurted out the first thing on my mind. She quickly replied, "Of course," in a kind of snappy tone. At that point, I decided to just end the conversation. This woman is the complete opposite of her husband. He would have explained what the significance of each of the animals is. Instead, she just gave me attitude.


Luckily, Luis was done straightening up and it was time for my consultation. Before stepping into the room, I asked him why a young man who had come in earlier kissed his own hand and touched the ground before greeting Luis. I asked him if I was supposed to do the same thing- I thought maybe out of respect to the saints and/or spirits. He smiled, and told me the young man had done that because he is a babalawo. So I walked in, without kissing the floor (which would have been tremendously embarrassing if I would have done without asking Luis) and sat down. Luis sat across from me. He already decorated the table with a candle, a glass of water and a bottle some kind of perfumed water. He also had a notepad with a pen, and the star of the show, the shells at the center of the table. Instead of reading cards, like Eva does, Luis reads shells. It actually resembles rolling dice, but instead, he studies the way the shells land. He took down my full name and birth date and wrote down words like love, work, etc. He then began praying in some language I didn't even understand. Before grabbing the shells, he asked me if I had my period. I was shocked. Why the hell did he want to know. I told him I didn't, and he explained to me that in all religions, the period is a curse that was given to women. If a woman has her period during a consultation, the person reading the shells cannot physically touch them. Since I answered no, put them in the center of the table and told me to pick them all up, cradle them in my hands, put my hands to my forehead and then bring my hands close to my mouth, as if I was going to whisper a secret to the shells. It might have sounded like a stupid question, but I asked him if I was actually supposed to say something to the shells, to which he replied yes. Even if I didn't want to say something too specific, I should at least ask the shells to show me what I want to see, which I did.


I placed the shells down at the center of the table, and he got started.

-The Consulta- 


One of the first things he asked me is if I have anyone sick in my family, particularly an elderly person. I told him my grandfather is sick. He's diabetic and he's lost a lot of weight. He described my grandfather to me and told me he needs to be very careful with his health. He gave me a "recipe" for a drink that is guaranteed to regulate his sugar. He told me to boil avocado leaves and have my grandfather drink the avocado infused water every day. 


He also told me that I have to be careful with my blood. He asked me if I have any health problems, to which I told him no. He told me to be careful sexually because he sees some kind of problem with my blood in the future.


In terms of children, he told me he could almost guarantee that my first child will be a boy, and he even described me boyfriend to me, without me ever describing him physically to him before. 


One of the last things he said is that I can not trust anyone. I have enemies in many places, even if I haven't looked for them directly. He recommended that I take a bath from the neck down with a specific concoction: I have to boil the "Remove Envy" plant (which he sells) for five minutes, pour the water into a jug, and separate it's contents into three sections. He instructed me to bathe each day with a third of the gallon. But before pouring the water on myself, I have to mix it with a bit of "cascarilla," (which is like a white powder) and a little of flower water. The baths should help get rid of some of the bad energy that people are sending my way. 


He also recommended that I schedule a head cleansing with his wife. The cleanings take place in their own. His wife uses coconut to refresh a person's head, and in turn, bring that person good luck in their endeavors. He told me there is a young lady who visits his wife every time she has a big exam. Maritza performs the ritual, and the young lady passes her tests with flying colors. The service costs about $40. 


I don't how much of this is true or how effective these rituals really are. I also don't know how comfortable I feel with Maritza doing some kind of work on me. She's not very nice. 


What I do know is that it was a very interesting experience. I liked my card reading experience a lot better, but nonetheless, I'm proud that I overcame my fear. In doing so, Luis is opening up to me more. 


I'll keep you guys posted!

What's the Point of Journalism School, Anyway?

This NPR article really got me thinking about my career choice, and how excited and scared I am about what awaits after graduation. Like the article pointed out, journalism isn't necessarily a career you need a degree for. Also, it's a career path that is rapidly changing, or "realigning" as the article put it. This "realigning" is what scares me. What kind of jobs are going to be available to us, and better yet, what will the paychecks be like? I think it's safe to say that a lot of us chose to major in journalism because we actually like it. We all know this isn't a field where you make big bucks, at least not right off the bat. I can also guess that most of us have had to deal with family and friends who don't understand why we chose a career where we're going to have to struggle just to live comfortably. I still don't know if I'll be kicking myself later on in life for choosing this major. What I do know is that I absolutely love the field. I love interviewing people and learning from everyone I meet. I guess that counts for something, right?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130437287&sc=emaf