MAKING THE CUT
The ConTextos Authors Circle was developed in collaboration with young people 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 partnered with Cook County Sheriff's Office to implement Authors Circle in 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 narratives of violence and peace building, and help author a hopeful future for human beings behind walls, their families and our collective communities.
While each author’s text is solely the work of the Author, the image used to create this book’s illustrations have been sourced by 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 illustrated books.
This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number ALN 21.027 awarded to Cook County by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Marco Pulido Making the Cut
I grew up on the south side of Chicago, Back of the Yards neighborhood. It was rough walking the streets, even at the age of 10 I had to watch my back. Something was always going on. I remember a guy named Chuy, may he rest in peace, used to always chase my brother and I with his boxer dog.
I never understood why things like that happened but I guess it's just life. I got into my first fight in the corner of my house coming back from school for no reason again I didn't understand life hahaha
At the age of 13 or 14 my father got locked up, and did 5 years. So within that time my mother decided to leave my dad and move out of the South Side to live with my uncle, my mom ' s brother on the northwest side of Chicago.
I actually loved the fact that we went to live with my uncle and I loved the area. His house was big, he had a driveway, a big backyard, a basketball rim, and pretty females around. there were no Ratchet hood chicks hahaha
It was nice, growing a little older now at the age of 18, I wanted to get involved in whatever. even if it meant getting involved in BS or drama.
I attended Anderson Elementary School near Clemente High School on Division and western. The drive from my school to home was about 30 minutes, I'd seen a lot. I've been real observant. So I’d see where the real pretty chicks where at.
So by the time I made it home I had my mind made up about where I was going to go as soon as I got my bike. I blame my bike for all the bullshit I've ever been involved in, then again I can't blame my bike, my bike was with me through storms and sunshine.
I started hanging out in the streets more. leaving the house at 9:00 a.m. coming home at 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. I got to the age of 20 my mom had to take care of my grandma cause she started getting sick
So I decided to live with my aunt, and at first I thought it was cool. I don't know how to explain, cuz I love the idea of moving in with my aunt but I knew I was really going to get involved in a lot of shit.
My aunt would let me do whatever I wanted to do as long as I was on top of my responsibilities.
Me not knowing, I'm becoming a man and digging myself deeper and deeper into the dirt.
Within the time I was settling with my aunt, I was dating the mother of my two fat boys. She got pregnant with the first one around July or August 2020, and gave birth on September 23rd 2021.
Through the pregnancy we moved in with her father in Romeoville. I had a minor incident with the law so we decided it'll be better to move out of the city.
Like I mentioned, I wanted to get involved in all the bullshit and little did I know I was becoming a man while digging myself into the dirt. My baby's mother and I got into it and I left, eager to come back to the city and all just to get into it with my dad too.
I thought I was going back to the city to move in with my dad and get back to the streets. My dad had different plans, since I left my baby's mother and baby alone, he told me I'm on my own now and didn't let me move in with him
I had no money, my aunt had her three sons back living with her so there was no space for me. my mom was still taking care of my grandma, basically I had no options on where to sleep, so I automatically started panicking on how I was going to live.
StrangelyI can't recallifitwasdayoneor afewdaysafter sleepingin mydad'struck,afriendof minenamedEricwhoisabarber,calledmeonerandom morning.
He mentioned to me that he's starting to work that day in a new barbershop he's going to open up, and he's the only barber there. He asked me if I had weed, I said yes, he asked me if I wanted to get McDonald's for breakfast. I said fuck yes then, he asked if I wanted to chill with him at his new barbershop, I said yes again.
The first day my homie opened up this new barbershop, was the first day I started my barber career. When the owner of the barbershop walked in, we got introduced. The first thing he asked me was are you a barber too. I said no, he asked would you want to be one, and it's funny how he asked cuz I've been wanting to be a barber my whole life so I said yes and just like that I got a job.
That was about 10 years ago, I still remember my first cuts. it was a lady with two young boys and they asked for an easy cut, the same on both so I got lucky.
I remember The kids, the mother and myself being happy after the cut, that’s when I officially earned my first $50 cutting hair. Now after a few years of experience and motivation I started trying to expand my clientele.
If you want to be a barber and somewhat know the basics but you ' re skeptical about starting because you ' re nervous, I suggest you let go of all of that nervousness and just do it. Once you let go of that fear and get that sense of accomplishment, you'll feel a lot better and keep going.
I worked for plenty of barbershops and this one specific Barbershop named Barberz Cutz. The owner named Obby had a lot of clientele so once in a while he'll be booked so he'll send me some clients that he couldn't cut.
There's one specific day I saw the famous angry manager from the Chicago White Sox baseball team Ozzie Guillén and a pair of his. I was amazed to see him but not excited, because I'm a Cubs fan hahaha. Little to my expectations the owner was booked but assured Ozzie that I was fit as a barber to cut him and his peers ' hair.
My heart dropped cuz now I'm face to face with my opp. Not only was he in opposition but I have to make the guy look good, so I did, him and his peer and I got paid $100 for both. Ozzie and the owner are friends from their home country Puerto Rico so he remained his client.
A few years after that I had a client that is a rapper named Eli. Eli was somewhat connected to Hypno Carlito, another rap artist. one day Eli asked me to come with him to the studio and cut his hair there, he said Hypno and Lil Durk would be there.
To my shame I got drunk the night before and didn't wake up for the appointment.
I've been cutting hair damn near half of my life, it's a passion for me and I'll do it for the rest of my life.
Unfortunately April 4th 2021 I got locked up, currently I've been detained for 3 years. It's been a real eye-opening situation as far as valuing my family and freedom.
In jail I say I've learned more than I have in my entire life. It's honestly amazing The ideas, creativity, inventions, and plans that the guys come up with. Things that people in the free world won't think about.
Theysaidthatthisplaceeithermakesapersonorbreaksaperson.
mistakes, otherslearnfromothers'mistakes. IwanttohonestlythankGodforeverythingthathas happenedinmylife. there'sbeensometragicmomentsthatIwishneverhappened, likelosing cmygrandmotherin2016whichwithintimetaughtmetoacceptthingsastheycomeandletGod ontrolthewill.
Somepeoplelearnfromtheir
I have a prayer tattooed on me that's the serenity prayer. for those who may not know it goes for God to grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, and the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference.
A lot of people say it's in Alcoholics Anonymous prayer but honestly I doubt that prayer was established strictly for alcoholics. I believe words are very powerful and everything happens for a reason.
This past year, 2024, people have been asking me my plans for when I get out and it may be God speaking through people to get me ready for my release. The funny thing is I've been planning for a whole year now all of 2023.
Just to give you a little bit of sauce on my future plans, plan on creating a huge impact and being a productive member of society. Like Biggie Smalls said we can't change the world unless we change ourselves and I strongly believe I'm going to change man.
First of all I want to thank my family and kids, including my kid's mother. Although I'm not with her, they have everything they need. Second, I'm going to make sure I have everything I need to be a productive member of society. I’m going to get my own apartment, and everything else I need to proceed with my future. I'm going to enroll myself in anything that I need to have open doors in my life.
I'm not trying to do too much in the business industry, I'm aiming more towards becoming a professional celebrity barber and also to help reduce recidivism. I believe not too many other dogs are being guided towards the proper direction, some eagerly trying to do whatever I can to help kids growing up move in a matter of thinking on their future.
My plans on how I'm going to do that it's basically to do the best I can to spend time with them, such as leading seminars, block parties and picnics, any type of event to attract your attention.
I'm going to Vibe with the crowd, to make the crowd Vibe with me. once I read, if you can have someone pay attention and listen to what you have to say, you bought them. I'm not going to force anyone to walk with me but I will not give up until I make a proper impact in the world, and I guarantee there will be a lot of Happy people. peace and love and God bless all!
Until the lion learns to write their own story, tales of the hunt will always glorify the hunter - African Proverb
