60647
J. Vasquez
The ConTextos Authors Circle was developed in collaboration with young people who are at risk of, victims of or perpetrators of violence in El Salvador. In 2017, this innovative program expanded into Chicago to create tangible, high-quality opportunities that nourish the minds, expand the voices and share the personal truths of individuals who have long been underserved and underestimated. Through the process of drafting, revising and publishing memoirs, participants develop self-reflection, critical thinking, camaraderie and positive selfprojection to author new life narratives. Since January 2017, ConTextos has collaborated with the Cook County Sheriff's Office to implement Authors Circle in Division X of Cook County Department of Corrections as part of a vision for reform that recognizes the value of mental health, rehabilitation and reflection. These powerful memoirs complicate the narrative about violence and peace-building, and help author a hopeful future for these men, their families, and our collective communities. While each memoir's text is solely the work of the Author, the images used to create this book's illustrations have been sourced from various print publications. Authors curate these images and then, using only their hands, manipulate the images through tearing, folding, layering, and careful positioning. By applying these collage techniques, Authors transform their written memoirs into fully illustrated books. In collaboration with
60647 Jovany Vasquez
One day day, I w . Sud You c as wa an den hea lking d and ly, I r th ow saw he a g ard a e birds n the s old c Cro ar co chirpi treet m m n wn Vic ing fa g, and inding , all s m 4 d t, and you ca y ow oor a n he n bu s op loud squ ar the siness ene . e d, a t nd ak from ires of It was 4c ab t he the ops ri c star car b ars as ght an rak ds ted the u e run ning s. I loo y appr nny oac at m ked e at behin hed. d full spe me ed.
I got on top of the ended up jumping on a garage. Once and s, gate ping jum ing, runn off I took y. There was another the garbage can, and ran down the alle garage, I jumped off, landed on top of top of the car, ran to when I jumped up on the hood, ran on t's Tha y. alle the n dow ing com car cop this yard. the trunk of the car, and jumped off into
I hit the gangway that led to the front of the house where all the folks hung in front. I warned everyone that the cops were behind me, so they all ran, and we all split up. Another cop car came down the street, but got caught in the middle of the block because there was a pizza man double parked.
As I ran past, I could smell the pizza. I snatched it. It was from Domino’s. I kept running, cops behind me. That’s when I turned around. The pizza man was also behind me, so I kept running and eating some pizza. Once I finished the pizza, I dropped the box on the ground. That's when 3 officers tripped over it. I turned around and was running backwards, laughing.
When I got to Armitage, I saw more cops coming. I ran towards Armitage Food where I saw these guys with a box that read Modelos. So I ran past him, snatching the Modelos. I popped the box open. That's when I pulled one out, jumped up, hit the cap on the gate and popped it open.
As I looked down the street, it looked like the whole 25th district was after me. I looked at the Modelo, looking refreshing and sweating in my hand. It must have been about 120 degrees. I took a big sip and threw the bottle at the cops. That’s when 3 more cops fell. I kept running til I got to Cortland.
That’s when I figured out I had 11 beers left. I cracked another one open, drank it. That’s when 3 more cops went down. That's when I kept running. Ran all the way to the car wash on North Avenue and saw a person buying a car freshener.
That's when a light bulb came up in my head. I needed a car freshener cause I had been smoking in the car, so I ran past, snatched the car freshener, hit the guy with a Modelo and then there was only 9 Modelos so I continued running.
When I looked back, the cops were still coming. That’s when I got to North and Hamlin, ran West down Hamlin, got to Division and bought two loose squares. That's when the cops came. I ran down the alley, one cigarette lit and the other in my ear, carrying a box of Modelo’s, a car freshener in my back pocket.
So I went East down Division, got to Lawndale, ran North back towards the hood, when my phone rang.
I picked it up but I realized it was my other phone, the flip phone. I answered. That’s when a voice came through the phone saying,”Joe, Joe. Papa, Dame Dos,” so I knew in my head that meant give me two in spanish. I kept running, cops still behind me so I pulled my phone, ordered an Uber. When the phone read two minutes to arrival, I saw the grey Uber car coming.
I jumped in, Modelos in my lap. As we got closer to a stop sign, I looked back, saw the cops with their lights and sirens on and I told the driver not to pull over. I handed him a Modelo and looked back one more time.
That’s when a cop car came down the one way, hitting the front end of the Uber. I flew out the windshield and that’s when I was surrounded by what looked like was a million cops. They got me. I was surrounded. I wiped my forehead. I thought it was sweat. When I looked at my hand, it was blood.
I denied medical attention when I got to the Police station. Two detectives walked in, playing the tuff role. I started laughing. When the cop asked me why I was laughing, I told him that I almost got away and made a fool out of them. That’s when he slapped me so hard and told me that the only thing funny was me being in the position I am in.
I told him they didn’t have nothing on me. They laughed at me, and told me we have been watching you since you were 12 years old, you are now 30. I laughed and said that’s some freaky ass shit.
They laughed and started reading all my charges to me. In my head, I thought they were playing when suddenly everything became real. Everything I done in my past they was reading off was real. In my head I told myself that it’s over, I would never get out of this one.
I wiped my forehead again, now it was mixed with blood and sweat. They continued to read my charges. It was so many I couldn’t keep count. A few hours later, I was being fingerprinted. They took my property, put me in a holding cell where I was to go to court on 26th and California.
When I got there, it was about 5 or 6 am. They put what seemed to be like 1,000 of us in the bull pen. All of us waiting to go to bond court. Everyone was talking about their cases. Someone walked up to me, asked me what was I in there for. I told him some bullshit: I ran from cops.
Whole time I was worried. I had kept my mouth shut. I didn’t ask or answer any questions when I was in the Police station. When my name was called, it was time for me to see the judge. I walked into the courtroom, and looked around. I saw my Mother and Sister in court, crying.
A million things ran through my head, like- “Why are they crying? I've been in and out of jail a lot of times.” As I approached the bench, I looked at the Judge,and looked over at the State’s Attorney. She started to read off all my charges.
Everything I ever thought I got away with I was being charged for. I looked at the Judge. She was sitting there. Her mouth dropped as she was listening to the State’s Attorney.
She looked back to me and I felt my knees buckle. All I thought about was my Son growing up like me with no Father. I passed out. When I woke up, I was in my cell Div10.
I looked around, wiped the sweat out of my face. I started thanking God that it was all a dream. It felt so real, even tho I was in jail. I started to continue to thank God that I am in here for a minor case. I would be home soon.
Ever since then, I have been looking at life a different way. I need to change my ways. It is so much a blessing to know my past life and know everything I been through, to be in here for traffic. Thank God I now know I have a purpose in life.
Jovany Vasquez
I am from Mud From snakes and green grass I am from the different drugs on every corner Green, black, everything to match the hat I am from the Field Where you earn your own I’m from Love and Loyalty From Choco RIP and Justin RIP I’m from the lost and forgotten From to be aware is to be alive And never turn your back to the street I’m from Christianity, thank God for another day I’m from Puerto Rico Born in Chicago From the 1800 block of Lawndale
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