Rodrigo Cruz – The Promised Land
Every year, thousands of Central Americans from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras illegally enter Mexico via the southern border with the goal of reaching the United States in search of a better life. The journey is long and full of dangers, traveling for days as they cross the country atop the “beast”, as they call the train that takes them to Mexico’s northern border.
Photographs: Rodrigo Cruz
Website: www.rodrigocruzphoto.com
i will try not to write anything, nothing, zero, zilch, etc…
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Trying is good enough, Bob. But do not try too long, OK? Your failing will be impatiently awaited…. :-)
kat,
‘had to come overland to Mexico and instead of comfortably on an airplane’
‘open your heart’
hmmm… can you also imagine what and how much it took for me and my family to get those plane tickets to start with and my anxiety to be in a foreignland, you have only seen on TV in black and white, hoping that when i get to customs, i will not be turned back. the money you have to show in your bank account that is not even yours but the whole town’s, the preparation, the clothes you have to borrow and cannot buy, and scrounge for especially winter clothes. i had to line up for a visa twelve times fly six times and stay in at the hospital’s wards, (the only thing the embassy was close to that was free – that had some sort of airconditioning) pay for an application for visa about the same as you would same fee.
horror stories of embarrassment, shame, sacrifice just another aspect of immigration or the desire to and it is even through legal routes.
‘comfortably on the airplane’ – least likely
‘open your heart’ – how about… open your mind and listen to the plight of the legal immigrants who have had to suffer about as much because of the prejudice and blanket statements addressed to illegals. the illegals too who are well meaning and work hard suffer because of the abuse, assaults, drugs that only a few compared to the massive gush of hopefuls.
what i am saying, is mutual respect. you are asked to partake of another’s hospitality. i am saying as one who has been given the invitation, i make my hostess proud.
The U.S. have done it before; after World War 2 – the Marshall Plan.”
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Yes, but no corrupted governments/spheres-of-power siphoned that money and built an even more stifling (to their country’s econmy and poverty) power base to make sure things stay the same…
By now, we the West, have probably have spent 10, 1000 times the Marshall P. amount in diverse places. And some to show for it, yet, very little compared with the spending dedication. it often is like scooping one bucket of water out of a boad, while 2 are poured in at the same time.
1000 times! Oops, one too many zero… But then again, maybe?
Rodrigo,
Nice work. You have put time and energy into this and it shows.
Great topic presented very well. The dialog adds a lot.
Graciegrrl
Chill, sweetie..i know full well how hard it was..every illegal who goes through Mexico stood in line for the infamous Visa ordeal and was turned down one, two, three times before deciding to try the route overland, and yes they have to pay a LOT of money for the privilege of being robbed, starved, subjected to harrowing, life threatening conditions. I have personally seen that look on those American consul employees´ faces. That look of disdain, contempt, indifference and skepticism to any story they are told by the pitiful visa applicants before them. Yes, those consul guys do have a power complex as do the customs officials at the airports. I personally know legals who were turned back at the airport. Legals who scrimped, saved, picked coffee till their hands were bloody, borrowed, lied, stole, anything to get the money for the airfare and then to be turned back!
Please Gracie, i am not disagreeing with you. You are so close to the memory of it all that you are like a cat with her back up, ready to scratch anyone´s eyes out who seems to be clueless to your sacrifice. Your sacrifice was your sacrifice. Every immigrant who suffers to move to another country has his/her own stories to tell. I think you maybe failed to read my post. I took in so many immigrants and housed them until they could find work and make other living arrangements. I married an illegal dishwasher and we worked side-by-side to scrape out a beginning for ourselves. I suffered terrible abuse from my friends and neighbors for marrying an Hispanic. A friend of mine asked me what he had to get me to do to stay away from ¨that Spic¨. My best friend said my husband was below me and that son would never get to be president of IBM with a name like Juan Carlo. And then i too immigrated to Costa Rica a land where i neither knew the language, customs or anything else. And you cannot begin to know my story either. You simply can´t!
GRACIE..re-read my post. What i am asking you is to not be so hard on those who came behind you. They are all making sacrifices, all! And the one big huge difference is that they have a horrifyingly dangerous trip overland to get TO the border. You cannot dispute that difference. These people arrive emaciated, penniless and without any belongings, they are often ill, in shock, exhausted and terrified. And good Lord, let´s think about how many die en route?? Gracie, Gracie, none of this DIMINISHES your struggle. I am so impressed at what you did, your determination, your sacrifice, the perils of the unknown faced with your unique courage and creative solution to problems that came at you from all sides. But i believe your experience has hardened you to the legitimate plight of others and that the few that mis-behave or fail to promptly speak English as well as you have clearly been able to have earned the full dose of your withering contempt.
I am really sorry you see my words as unsympathetic. I am truly stunned to tell you the truth. I really hope that one day you will soften your perspective on those who fail to live up to your expectations, including me.
hugs
kat-
kat,
i have seen so many things, heard so many things, dread to see so many more. the worst of the bunch are the ones that report the one good little nanna who is not making any noise to the INS to get mula for their expertise in being rats.
and so have you… i truly truly see you are as generous of a heart as you are with your words and your integrity.
i am just stating my observation, my honest opinion regarding this essay. it is sad to say i am indifferent to it now. but to ask me otherwise to feel a different thing is asking too much at least at this time.
maybe it is i that have fallen and failed to live up to yours.
OH GRACIE..far from it!! You have impressed the hell out of me! You are just a few years shy maybe of softening around the edges. I am not concerned about that. Time will heal these still fresh woundsw within you. I adore you! I could tell you stories too..we could have an incredible night telling stories into the wee hours..horror stories, sad stories, but also happy ones, my GOD so happy!! I am so proud of those that lift their families out of poverty. That to me IS the American dream. But they are lifting their own and extended families out of poverty which is even more mind-blowing and i will bet you are doing the same thing!! So kisses, girl, happy kisses for making a difference in this world..for reversing the trend, for proving the naysayers wrong, for DOING IT! You did it! i am PROUD!
xoxoxox
kat-
and so have you…seen and heard many things…. i meant.
not that you are a rat.
(goodness, i should ban burn URL from work.)
God, this essay is exhausting..Rodrigo..you did one HELL of a job..i am moved beyond words to see these pics again and again..it makes so much come alive to me..it connects the missing dots for me, makes the journey so real..the expressions, the body language, the anticipation, the rags, the everything..thank you, thank you, thank you..
kat-
haha, far from a rat, more like a mouse..and now i am back to work, whiskers and all!
Got cheese?
kat
we posted same time.
i do feel for them, i can understand the struggle. we have seen so many pictures like these (rodrigo yours though are … goodness — very good.) but if anyone tries to document the struggles of the ones that are trying to be legal, the red tape, the long lines through for the embassy, 12 hours in 115 degree heat in a suit holding your bladder still aiming to impress, the consuls’ faces and disgust, and the tears that are spent after a huge disappointment … honestly it would be all too boring compared to what this essay portrays.
‘These people arrive emaciated, penniless and without any belongings, they are often ill, in shock, exhausted and terrified. And good Lord, let´s think about how many die en route?? ‘
all these enumerations are physical. the human saga has different facets, different aspects. this is my whole point of this damned issue. there is more to this than this culmination of going north to and through the border. we should not forget that the human spirit once broke no stitches can mend.
and then when you get to the other side, another story unfolds…
other people get involved…
Throwing out the concept of ‘my country’ and ‘your country’ is an extraordinarily important part of the solution to this humanitarian problem.
If you are proud of being an American, a Brazilian, a Luxembourgian, a Communist, a Catholic, a Muslim, a Jew and so on, then you are yourself responsible for the plight of the people in these photographs and so many others. Borders in the mind create borders on land as clearly seen on Rodrigo’s last photograph here, and borders divide people.
We’ve learned little over the past millennia indeed, but we must keep trying. I like the essay.
Simon
It is discouraging, but I do believe global consciousness is slowly bringing us together. I must dig out McCartneys “Imagine”
someone said that borders serve minds that hate.
cannot remember who..
this essay flew by too fast.. 2min36 too fast..
to not seem ungrateful – i thought it was compelling for certain.. and well crafted.. very good..
i could have watched for a lot longer is all :ø)
d
Just stunning… an unpredictable future, that’s what life brings us…
GORDON…
aren’t you a Brit??? if so, you should face a firing squad at dawn…”Imagine” was written and performed by John Lennon…
cheers, david
David
What the heck was I thinking!
Gordon
i saw that but i figured, poor man’s finally lost it..and then i just tip-toed out quietly and shut the door thinking i’d save your pride. But DAH now, he doesn’t give a crap about your pride…no way, in fact he’s got you facing a firing squad at dawn shivering in your skivvies..so, Gordon, dear, think abut what you want for your last meal, i’ll get the minister, you say some prayers and get some sleep..sweet dreams if possible. And when it’s all over, just think..the bad news, i mean the REALLY bad news? Once you get to heaven you have some explaining to do to John. And i would not wanna be you standing there before Da Man At His White Piano, still shivering in your skivvies trying to explain this one. I’d rather face DAH’s firing squad than that, anything but that! ohhh, pooooooor Gordon!
hugz, Gordie
kat~
Obladi…OblaDAH….
Desperately looking for middle aged responsible adult to help with shipping 1 Gordon Lafleur to City of Angels.
http://haiko.net/burn/torture.jpg
Sponsored by Imagination Enforcement Agency
:-|
HERVE
OblaDAH
hahaha..good one!
HAIK
*raising my hand then pulling it down at the mention of the requisite ´responsible´*
you´re a sick puppy, boy..
hugZ both
kat
I blame it all on my brain wiring guys. Pathetic but true, I begin every portrait session by saying “OK, I just want you all to know that every time I speak to you, I will ask for your name, even if I just spoke to you a moment ago.”
Anyway, I’m ready to pay the price, as long as I get a shot of scotch before hand.
And I’d like to be shot at 1/250th at f8 please.
GORDON…
you are off the hook….particularly since i misspelled Louis Armstrong’s name just shortly before (caught by Kathleen who had misspelled my name shortly before that) …oh well, with both long term and short term memory about gone, i live in a state of bliss….you??
cheers, david
David..
Bliss? yes, absolutely. I continually tell my wonderful wife Martha, I love my life. I am living the best time of my life. I love what I do, I love the people who surround me. I feel blessed to be alive.
Thankyou for Burn David, it has become a huge part of my day and an inspiration.
Interesting you mentioning Louis Armstrong. I was just visiting a portrait of Armstrong by Art Kane (one of my longtime heroes) in one of Larry Shillers “Masters of contemporary photography” books.
I do worry about my memory I’m afraid. I guess it’s the price of approaching geezerhood.
Cheers
Gordon L.
After reading some of the debates on both sides, I was wondering if the aesthetics/imagery are overshadowed in favor of the politics angle. In some situations, for example this essay which features illegal immigration into the USA, politics and the imagery are inextricably linked. But I think that in this essay the discussion was based a lot on the political aspect, and the photographic elements were ignored to a degree. I found the technique of the photographer to be unique and the strong black and whites were a real treasure.
But, I guess in having said that, making artistic statements at the expense of the subjects in the photographs who are in a precarious situation, is also open to debate. So, as I’m typing I’m finding my own argument crumbling, because if the politics aren’t discussed then we cannot improve their situation. So, in that aspect I am wrong. Anyway, when I first saw this essay, I was floored, because the artist had such an intuitive sense of timing, composition and empathy. The imagery seems almost dream like, and I hope that one day I excel to this level.
I hope that made sense.
Thankyou,
Johan
P.S Good luck to everyone who entered the EPF competition! I hope that your entries receive the applause that I’m sure they deserve.
Johan,
What a lovely paradox you describe! It feels like a ‘yes…and…’ to me. Yes, it’s great when we find images that we can engage with or disturbs us and so discuss context and meaning… and… we can also appreciate excellent technique, care and attention.
We will each find our own joy and learning in the images and these excellent conversations – as long as we are able to hold on to the value of our differing perspectives. It’s the certainty that sometimes frightens me!
Steve
Thanks for the feedback Steve. I think I am exhausted from reading all of the excellent dialogue on this essay. At times intense, but ultimately healthy discussion. As you said, everyone who participates on Burn has different perspectives, and that is ultimately good for Burn in the long run as it leads to a balanced dialogue.
Thanks again,
Johan
Johan, IMHO, if a photo is to be window rather than artifact, the subject or situation IS the topic. The situation always trumps the esthetic for me.
JOHAN..
it was interesting to read you go through your own mental process of being pushed and pulled and analyzing the aesthetic vs. the journalistic…do not worry , this should not be a conflict but a symbiotic blend…no need to feel somehow guilty for liking the pictures as pictures and think that you would be somehow ignoring the content..that combo of abilities, editorial sensitivity and the artistic eye, are quite literally what separates so many photographers…few have this….every magazine editor in the world and all of us at the select agencies, are looking for photographers who can do both….or should i say project an idea or a philosophy or represent a social abnormality with aplomb and style…imo the aesthetic will drive you to the content…
Rodrigo clearly made this combo work…he did it by feeling it, living it, and just flat out understanding it….i look forward to his next work…
cheers, david
David,
That is an amazing paragraph you have just written, in a very short succinct manner it clears up so many hesitations/queries/conflicts in one fell swoop. I have a tendency to complicate and over analyis things, this gets to the crux of great photojournalism.
Jim,
An interesting perspective and, while I’m not sure where I’m going with this, I’d be interested to hear your views…
I use photography as a way to prompt conversations about personal and organisational change. One of things that I have noticed is that the images prompt a different quality of dialogue and relationship when compared with a conventional coaching/consulting conversation. So, I imagine that the images are providing an accessible window for us to ’see’ relational quality and identity…
And, people LOVE the artifact – a portrait that they can hang on their wall. Bearing in mind that my process here is to improvise with clients – so (eg) they may have shot a self portrait on their phone and I might work from that idea and reshoot or combine images – this means technical quality is variable.
So I guess I emphasise ‘window’ but ‘artifact’ is high on the client agenda. Maybe there is a different way for me to work or facilitate conversation and thinking.
I’d be grateful for your thoughts.
Steve
RODRIGO: Recien vengo de ver tu “essay” in me fui directo a tu web. Mas que excelente. La ultima foto es dura, real, y me dejo pensando un poco… ese muro, lo que cuesta solo llegar hasta ahi, y solamente es el principio de la historia…
Queria saber si tenes algo/alguien muy de cerca que haya vivido eso, para que estes tan metido en la historia o como dicen por ahi en ese “rollo”. Abrazo argentino, Patricio
The last third of the essay are really good.
Hola Rodrigo, que maravilla de ensayo, me gustó mucho la edición y el respeto mostrado por los sujetos.
felicidades, historia encantadora.
Paúl