Javier

Columbia INCITE | Oral History-Justice-Javier Jaurez-3-6-19

And this looks like it's-- yep. Looks like it's recording. So today's date is March--

JAUREZ:

Second. Is it?

Hold on. Hold on. I'm sorry. Let's put a pause.

JAUREZ:

That's creepy.

OK. Today's date is March 6. This is Justice interviewing Javier at the Art Start office. Javier, do I have your permission to record the interview for the 2018 Portrait Project?

JAUREZ:

Yes.

OK. And this year we're focusing on young men of color in Milwaukee. Through these images, participants can illustrate how they see themselves and how they wish to be seen. The purpose of this interview is not to pry. So I don't want to get all into it. Just let us know if there's anything you'd like us not to include or you'd like us to include. And we're going to start. I just have to check the levels here. These are OK. Looks good. So tell me about the most memorable childhood experience that you can recall.

JAUREZ:

Memorable? I had a lot of times with-- well, I won't say a lot of times but I had times with my dad and uncle at once.

Oh, that's cool.

JAUREZ:

Yeah. Because they used to be longtime buddies. So we were always together sometimes. But they were really funny. They sometimes treated me with care. You know, they took me places. Appreciate that a lot. My dad was a part of my life a lot. So that's more memorable than most things I can think about in my childhood. But they weren't bad, as I thought it would be. I mean, they were bad, but at least in memories I could think about them and be happy about it.

That's a nice story.

JAUREZ:

Like you don't have to be in a situation where you think about it, it changes your whole mood around or your day around and confidence. So I think about it just to move my day forward

type stuff. Q:

Now, you were born here?

JAUREZ:

Yeah, I grew up, I believe, on the south side.

On the south side. So how did you find that growing up on the south side? Was it fun for you?

JAUREZ:

A lot of-- well, really, really funny.

Funny? In which way?

JAUREZ:

In a way where like you think about it, like you can feel like feel how funny it was. Like you know, how far it was or how long before, like you think about it, you still laugh right now.

You still laugh. So let's talk about a funny moment, like something about your life that would kind of elicit that funny moment. Because I see you-- it's unfortunate that we can't see you. It's not a video, you know, but I-- you know, I could see you laughing. What were you thinking about?

JAUREZ:

One moment, what was really funny was-- I think it was the day where I was with my uncle. My dad had left early to go to work. But he was there for a little bit, but he had to go. And my uncle, he's into martial arts, right? So he likes all these knives, swords. He likes a couple--

Ninja type stuff.

JAUREZ:

That ninja type stuff, yeah. And he's a part of culture of boxing. So he had boxing gloves. He had a helmet thing. And my sister, she came in the room. She's like, what are you guys doing? I'm like, oh, I'm just trying on stuff and looking at stuff. And he's being like cautious of what I'm doing and not picking up weapons or anything. And my sister, she wants to put on the gloves. So she wanted put on the gloves. And while she was putting them on, I already had mine on. So my uncle had the idea of me and her just like going at it.

Like sparring?

JAUREZ:

Yeah, something like that. I guess it was kind of funny because my sister is like three years older than me. So she ended up beating me up. But the way she beat me up was kind of funny

cause when I told her I was like, it's already over, three seconds later I was just coming back at her. Q:

You were like, that's it. You got it.

JAUREZ:

Yeah. Yeah. Type stuff. She didn't expect it. But I think one time she did. And I guess she caught me when I was going to come back up.

It caught you off guard?

JAUREZ:

Yeah. And I feel bad.

That's cool.

JAUREZ:

Yeah, that was super funny that day.

Tell me something about your life, where you were born or what it was like just the south side. Were you born around this area also? Or did you like move and came to the south side?

JAUREZ:

I moved parts of the south side [INAUDIBLE] south side.

Well, what's considered the south side?

JAUREZ:

What do you mean by that?

Like South 4th Street all the way up to 32nd? Because we're new. I'm not that new, but I don't know Milwaukee like that. I hear people saying south side, but is it like-- I know is it Greenpoint to National? Is it a big area?

JAUREZ:

I think it's Oklahoma Avenue to-- I mean, I don't really know. I just know it's 20-something Street to like 48th Street type stuff.

So if you see someone, I'm from the south side. You know that's that are.

JAUREZ:

Yeah. It's going to be that type streets. I know a lot of the south side. So if I get lost, I know where to go, easily. It's funny.

So who would you say have been the most important people in your life?

JAUREZ:

Family first, as always. I mean, I really never-- I probably would count like one friend. I count my cousins more than my friends. Because my cousins been there, even when my family

wasn't there at the moment. My cousins were there a lot. They always came over. Q:

Yeah. That's cool.

JAUREZ:

Yeah, we always hang out. Like sometimes, me and my cousins used to say, we wish we were like brothers. Yeah, cool stuff like that. Like imagine if we were brothers, bro type stuff. And yeah, we had a lot of fun growing up. We experienced a lot of stuff together, like all these cool moments.

Were they in the same house as you?

JAUREZ:

Not all the time. It was like, not close. But we always asked for a ride there, make an excuse about how bored we are.

Yeah. Hang out at the primos' house. How do you think they would describe you?

JAUREZ:

They would describe me-- a lot of people know me. I'm like super funny. Like, yeah, I'm like a good vibe person. Like they know that when they come around me or they know me, I'm always having a person to smile. It's like it's always a good energy from me.

And it sounds like from your dad, like you guys-- your dad and uncle-- you guys were joking a lot and stuff, right? Do you think you try to be that person? When you enter a room, you want to be that person? Or does it just come natural?

JAUREZ:

I think it just comes-- I mean, most things come natural. But I mean, I think by saying natural, I mean like from my dad. I don't know, I just like love my dad a lot. You know, he's so funny. He's the best person to hang around with. I go to him a lot.

It says, how do you think people perceive you. So I know you-- it sounds like you perceive yourself as funny. Right? Super light, good spirit. And you think other people perceive you that way, too?

JAUREZ:

Yeah. Yeah. A lot. I keep it real with everybody. You know, I don't like to throw bad energy. Even if like someone has a bad problem with me, I like to fix it. Because I don't like being in a bad situation where like, then never mind, I don't want to talk to you no more type stuff. I don't really like that energy. I like to just like-- like I like to make a lot of friends because in the future, I can always look back on what we used to do. Like, oh, I remember you from there, whatever, type stuff.

So like, I like to keep a lot of friends cause-- like losing friends is like losing-Q:

That's close.

JAUREZ:

That's close.

That's close to you. I was at a soccer game last year. And one of the coaches said, oh, you know, one thing I remember about soccer were my friends. I don't remember how many games we lost or how many games we won. But I remember my friends from there. And what you said really brought that to mind. Because a lot of times, that's important. And do you think that when someone says community, what does it mean to you? Like you know, there's neighborhood and there's community. Then there's like friends. in the community, friends out the community. So what comes to mind for you when we say community?

JAUREZ:

When I say community, I like to think of it as when someone says this community, they say as a whole, but whole is separate.

That's really interesting. Like, it's separate from the rest.

JAUREZ:

It's a group. But inside that group, it's separate. Groups of groups that are different. And I feel like, that's a community. But in a way we're all together, we're just not together.

So it's the smaller-- you feel like it's the smaller part of that big group.

JAUREZ:

It's a community. But there's different communities inside the community.

That's really interesting. I didn't--

JAUREZ:

That's the best way I can think of it.

Yeah. It makes me think about it. And I don't think I consider community in such small groups. I thought of it as the bigger group where you come in. But then, yeah, that makes total sense.

JAUREZ:

That's the way I think of it. Because I had that question a lot. So I had to think about it. And I guess that's my answer I came up with. I can't think of anything else.

And how do you feel in that community? Being a small group, how do you feel in that community? Do you feel like--

JAUREZ:

One of the-- at least one, I feel at home. Or I feel at least I can be able to join something or relate.

I get that.

JAUREZ:

Something that combines us. Because no one wants to be alone during something. Like no one wants to just like-- project but you're not in the group.

Well, if you can name something that holds you to a community, what would it be? Could be anything. Could be anything, anything, anything you can think of. Could be even a smell or a scent.

JAUREZ:

I'd like to say like parks.

Parks.

JAUREZ:

Yeah. Because like, basketball, I loved basketball as a child. Like when I was growing up, I loved basketball. So I was always, always going to different parks. Like oh, let's try that hoop.

Yeah, like pick up games type thing.

JAUREZ:

And actually, when I was younger, I used to play with teenagers, like sometimes not even my age. I mean like, I played with people my age, too. But when they were like older people I knew, they were like, dang, they can dunk or shoot from that far. They got the strength. But I used to play with them a lot. I didn't score a lot 'cause they were like 17. And I was only like eight, nine.

But that probably tightened your game up.

JAUREZ:

But I felt so much confidence when I got my first rebound. I was so scared. Like, I got my rebound, so I'm just dribbling out. And I'm standing in the corner, like, am I going to shoot. But I ended up shooting. I actually made one of my baskets before. But then that was it. But I actually got confident. And like since from there, I always played with teenagers. And it makes me feel like I played better.

Yeah. I think that'll tighten your game up, if you're playing with teenagers.

JAUREZ:

Because you feel more like serious about what you're doing. And part of getting-- when you do something new and now it feels normal to you to do something that was new, now you feel like

it's part of the community. Q:

Yeah. That's true. That's really interesting. That's great. Do you think you brought that confidence you got from basketball, do you think you brought it outside?

JAUREZ:

I think I brought it outside. I always had a lot of confidence. I never doubted myself. The way I doubt myself, I'd probably be like, I already know it's not going to type stuff. But if I feel like, I mean, it's a chance it can happen. But I'm still going to go for it. Because I think I can do it. Like I have the confidence to be like easy. I like to make it look like I have a lot of confidence. And when I do, I just end up having a lot of confidence. So that's what pushes me to do something.

What do you think makes your community or global community, what do you think makes it unique?

JAUREZ:

Unique? By what do you mean by unique?

Like what makes your community stand out-- your small group community stand out from the other small group communities?

JAUREZ:

Stand out. Well, people like to say the north side, south side, the west side, and the east side.

Within the south side? Really?

JAUREZ:

Swear to god. Like, going to the north side of the south side, like what do you mean by that? Are you going like toward that part of the south side? I'm like, oh, I mean, I guess. So I get that way. Because like not south side is just one dot. South side is this. But there's directions, though. There's always direction. Like this is your north. This is your south.

You're saying the south side. Right. Right.

JAUREZ:

So they say, you're going south in the south side or are they going like type stuff. I had to think about it sometimes. But then I get it now. But then when I say that, are you going north? Are you going to the north side? Like I always say that different now. Because you're saying to the.

And is it different? Is it like different restaurants, different parks? Are the park different?

JAUREZ:

Yeah, parks are way different.

What are some of the differences in the parks?

JAUREZ:

Some of them, I believe, I went to the west side park. It was part of-- it was right next to the national bank. But I think it was by either Greendale or somewhere around there. But it was beautiful. It had a nice court. Backboards were glass. There was a tennis court right next to it. And there was a park with sand. It was nice. It's like built with-- and that's one of them. But then if you go to-- there's places I went that were not as good as courts, but they're courts. And I play on court. A court is a court to me. So I play on it. So like there's courts where it's just like it's straight cement or chalk. But then--

Oh, and not like the turf war or whatever. That spongy thing, right?

JAUREZ:

And then some of them, the hoops got like half nets cut off. Or some of the hoops got all nice nets. So like, that's why--

I remember the hoops in my neighborhood used to be the chains.

JAUREZ:

Yes. I used to see those too.

What do you think that is? What do you think--

JAUREZ:

I think, I mean like, that's what makes me feel like community is separate. It's like, why can't all courts be the same? Like why hasn't it changed over seven years? Like, is it known to be here? Is it known? Like why can't they-- do they have to be different? Do they have to be like-well, that one's supposed to always be better. But either way, a hoop is a hoop. Why can't we improve every part of this community?

Cause they're all city parks.

JAUREZ:

Because someone says, well, these courts are already full. You're going to have to go to that one. But then, they're going to be like, oh, well I don't really like that hoop.

I don't want to go to that one. Do you feel like that when you--

JAUREZ:

Sometimes. Yeah, there's always decisions like that. It's always decisions.

You got me playing on a busted court. I don't know if I want to play like that. [LAUGHTER]

JAUREZ:

Like I don't want that frosting cupcake.

Right. Right. Right. Let's go like bigger community. Let's go Milwaukee. How do you think people perceive the youth in Milwaukee?

JAUREZ:

Well, we got the news.

You think that's one sided? You think how people--

JAUREZ:

In a way. Because if they hear-- if the news says how they see Milwaukee and they hear or it how they experience Milwaukee, the people who are in Milwaukee can be like, oh, that's what Milwaukee is then. Or that's Milwaukee seems like. So they're going to be-- they don't want to be like-- because in Milwaukee, people-- big, you know. But it's not that big. But I mean, it's big. But I mean like, you can get around it and stuff, different parts of Milwaukee.

And it seems like a lot of people in Milwaukee live in certain areas. It's like no one's here, then a lot of people here. Then no one's here. Then a lot of people here. So you think how they look at the youth is from news? Or you think people understand the youth of Milwaukee?

JAUREZ:

I believe most people do. I think people are just, they just roll with it. But they're confused. They go along with anything they say or what they do or how they live. They just do what they have to do sometimes. But they roll with it. But if someone really them that question, they'd be like, I don't know, I just live in Milwaukee. That's what they would usually say. And no one's going to really go deep in the question and say, well, this and that and you know. It's just straight I live in Milwaukee.

I'm just grinding.

JAUREZ:

Yeah. I'm just going to school.

Just going to school, doing my thing.

JAUREZ:

Going home. Doing my best hobbies and stuff is what they'd probably just say.

And you like tech. You said your hobbies are like high tech drones and things like that. OK, I remember that.

JAUREZ:

Yeah, big photography. I love photography. I like it so much that I think I believe I took a photo when I was like six. It's like my mom and dad had a dinner, like a wedding. And I was holding the camera taking pictures. And I--

At six?

JAUREZ:

Yeah, at six. A big camera, though. I had it around my neck and stuff. And it's a famous picture, I guess. It's like a portrait and everything. And I look at that picture sometimes and be like, it's a young me looking at my future.

Oh, it's a portrait of you, the picture?

JAUREZ:

Yeah.

That's pretty cool.

JAUREZ:

So it's just me holding the camera, taking a picture of my mom and dad. So sometimes looking at me, like it's just a younger me doing a job I would never think it would be. So it's crazy.

Then now, I mean, like National Geographic has all these drones taking photographs now.

JAUREZ:

Yeah, like someday I want to-- when I grow older and have my own camera, just different from being young in that portrait, and then taking another one but me bigger in the same pose, with a bigger camera. And my mom [INAUDIBLE] my dad. That would be really cool. And I'm like, you know, I'll put those two photos and be like between them. And then between those two photos, be like a timer, and everything.

Was it black and white?

JAUREZ:

It was black and white.

It was black and white? Oh, that will be so cool. And then it goes to color? Or you could keep it black and white.

JAUREZ:

I would probably keep it black and white.

So what has stood out to you about yourself throughout your life? Like pretty much, what makes you you?

JAUREZ:

What makes me me?

I mean, I hear a bunch of stuff. We just met. But I hear a bunch of stuff that seems so unique about you. But to you, what makes you you?

JAUREZ:

Well, knowing what I do every day-- not every-- every day I don't do the same thing. I know I wouldn't want to do this every day. It's always one thing I want to do, like every day. So like if I don't do that, like I know it's not me. Like I wouldn't go do that. I usually don't like--

Like what? What do you do every day?

JAUREZ:

Well, I have boxing class. So after school, I go to boxing. Or if not, it's a day off or I won't be able to make it, I go home. But I have my routine where if I go home, I like to look around if anything's not done or cleaned. So I'll cleaned out the-- I put it out of the way. So I don't get yelled at or something. You just get it out of the way so I have the rest of the day just to do whatever. And I get that mostly out of the way. And then after that, I like to either do my homework or if not, just I like to look up how to use a camera type stuff. Or scroll through YouTube things I like to look at. And then I like to game a lot, too. I love gaming, big fan of gaming, Nintendo stuff.

Yeah. What's your game?

JAUREZ:

I grew up with Nintendo and PS3. So my game Ninja Gaiden, Mario. I like NBA. Live NBA, like '07, '06 type stuff.

Really? Throwback.

JAUREZ:

Throwbacks. The soundtracks on those games are funny. So I hear them like on a radio or something, and say, oh.

Yeah. They have street ball games.

JAUREZ:

Yeah. [INAUDIBLE] games. Big fan-- oh, I used to have the Wii when I was like around-- like 2009. And I've been in love with-- probably the best Nintendo game to me is Zelda. I love Zelda. Zelda is my favorite. I've played it since the first Zelda ever came out. My dad is like really into gaming, too. So he's part of Zelda. And he basically put me into Zelda. He always played it and the soundtrack. I'm in love with everything about Zelda. And I

don't really have a collection of everything about Zelda. I don't really like go deep into it. I would love to. But I just know it's one of my favorite games. And I [INAUDIBLE] at least 12 games of Zelda. I bought every game I could possibly buy about Zelda. Q:

You and your dad connect on so many levels. Did he get you into boxing?

JAUREZ:

No. My uncle did.

You uncle got you into boxing.

JAUREZ:

Yeah, my uncle, he's a gym rat.

Do you want to do boxing--

JAUREZ:

To the fullest?

Yeah, to the fullest. Or is it just like kind of--

JAUREZ:

No. It's just something I would want to try out. I mean, my dad is known for-- what is it called-like natural strength. And he's actually a knockout artist. So like, he's really strong in a way. He's like pretty tough. And I guess I got my strength in him.

Is he a big guy?

JAUREZ:

Yeah, he's pretty big. He's actually big. So I learned from him. And I've known how to fight, for some reason, since I was like second grade. Like I only fought like probably four times, five times in my life. I'm not a big tough guy like that. I don't like to fight people for just the littlest things. So but when I fought, I mean I don't remember losing. I just remember either breaking it up or just either how it went. So I stopped fighting probably like in sixth grade, fifth grade. And from there, I grew up and stuff.

Was it like stop fighting, get into boxing?

JAUREZ:

Yeah. When I got into boxing, I didn't think much of it. But when I got into it, I knew I could be good at-- like out of the gate, people said they love my form. I learned really fast. Like it took me like a month, and I was already, like, about going to-- like, coming later in boxing, it's like, with all the better players, like all the better fighters.

Well, you know they say you don't make boxers you just train boxers. Like, if you're a boxer, you're a boxer. And then you get trained. It has to be natural, it seems like. And then, the coach will say, OK, do this, do this, do this. But if it's not a natural thing, you can become a boxer. So that's something you have. It's really good to have those things.

JAUREZ:

But when I-- I believe I sparred at least seven times with someone. And it was crazy cause he's really big and stuff. And he's like he's been boxing for three years. So I'm like I'm versing someone who is really good, already experienced. I was nervous as hell. Well, because like it's different from street fighting. It's like you have to play how it's taught. OK, I'll just be [INAUDIBLE] unknown so far. So I actually did pretty good in my first fight. But not as I wanted to. Got a couple hits on me because I didn't know what to do. I'm not known for that. So I found out he was like in fifth grade. And I was in ninth grade. Like, what? He's not even like my type to fight. I don't know.

How do you overcome your nervousness? Because the fight, the sparring sounds a lot like your first rebound.

JAUREZ:

Yeah, it does.

Like how do you--

JAUREZ:

I believe the first rebound was more nervous than that. Because they were just too tall. And you can't shoot. I believe the first time I shot in that thing, I think he blocked it. He blocked it.

How do you overcome your nervousness? Do you say to yourself, do you have what they call a mantra? Do you say words like, I can do this. I can do this. Or are you just kind of-- how do you do it?

JAUREZ:

I mean, when I do it, it be like-- well, I don't get-- I get butterflies. But they say it's natural to get butterflies in your first. It's like, it can't just be like, oh, this is nothing. I can go in there without being feared. Like no, there's no possible-- you're not human if you can't be feared. I went in there like when I did it, I heard the ding. I'm like whoa.

It's real.

JAUREZ:

It's real. I thought I was going to wake up when I heard it. But no. So when I was in the ring, I just went along with it. Like when he moved, I moved.

OK. Yeah. Like it came natural.

JAUREZ:

Just rolled with the others. Like, you know, you know?

What are some of your dreams?

JAUREZ:

My dreams? One of them is--

For the future, like what are your dreams?

JAUREZ:

One of my dreams that I always looked up to was no matter what happens, no matter what I end up as, as long as I'm happy. The main emotion I always want to be in is happy. As long as I'm happy, nothing can be like disturbing my daily motion. Main factor is I always want to be happy, straight happy.

That's great. I'm learning from you. That's a good way to be. So how do you want others to see you? Or what do you want them to see?

JAUREZ:

Well, when people see me, I want people to see me as someone walking down the street. I want to be like, oh, he looks like someone I could talk to. Or he looks like a cool guy. I just don't want to be looked at and not looked at no more. Just be noticed or something, always be noticed.

And you think that that would be a person just meeting you? Or do you think that person would have to get to know you first to see?

JAUREZ:

Probably get to know you.

Do you think you could do something that makes it the first time they see you? I don't know.

JAUREZ:

I don't know why it's a habit, but when I usually greet people, I just have the biggest smile. Like I just want to laugh. Like I'm a-- I used to be like a class clown a lot. So that's probably why I had-- I used to have bad grades because I was a class clown. All I did was laugh.

But that opens it up. So someone meets you and they see a big smile. It's better than seeing someone without the smile, I would think. Now thinking back on the black and white portraits, did anything change? Does your portrait reflect you?

JAUREZ:

It reflects one of my goals.

One of your goals, which was--

JAUREZ:

Which is being a professional photographer. I didn't even know about that picture. When I thought about one of my jobs, my future jobs is I want to be a photographer. And I always thought about photographer since like seventh grade. And then ever since seventh grade, I found out that photo in late eighth grade. I'm like, no way. And then like ever since that photo, I've been more into photography now.

I was a photographer for many years.

JAUREZ:

For real?

Yep. I did documentary photography for a long time. I'll tell you after what really got me about documentary photography. But what kind of photography do you think you'll be interested in? Could be commercial, like high modeling type thing.

JAUREZ:

Maybe, if I don't make it into being a full-- known for being just photography, I would love to, even if it isn't just one job, I would love to make it a side job. Oh, I know someone that's having a wedding, I could take your wedding pictures. Easy side bank. But I don't want it just to be like one camera in my hand. I'd like to have multiple cameras, or like make it as best as possible. Like, oh, I never thought about that. I'm thinking about [INAUDIBLE] with the camera.

That's really big.

JAUREZ:

Like, outside major type stuff. And I'm thinking about people said that it's a rumor that Milwaukee doesn't really have the best picture. Like you know you say, we look up New York, it has a nice image. You have New York. There's no big picture of Milwaukee. So my main goal is take the best picture of Milwaukee before anyone. Just make it a nice timing of the day, sunset maybe, maybe morning with the clouds.

And that'll be Milwaukee.

JAUREZ:

4K HD, just a big part of Milwaukee. Make it the best.

That's Milwaukee.

JAUREZ:

Make it a killer image.

I think that's doable.

JAUREZ:

Doable, right? It's the best picture you could probably take in Milwaukee. And then thinking about that, that's probably my first pictures I want to take when I have my drone. If I have the drone now and the best camera to hook it up to, that's the first thing I'm going to do, just go off to the nearest point. And just fly it out as high as I can or probably look up near the end of Milwaukee so I can zoom out of Milwaukee.

Yeah. Keep that memory. You're on tape. You're always going to remember.

JAUREZ:

I'm always going to remember this.

Now, have you thought about your final portrait and what it might look like?

JAUREZ:

My final portrait. I was thinking about, if I had to take my final photo, it would have to be-- I was thinking about either me as-- so it'd be me, my mom and dad looking at that photo when I took when I was a little kid. So it was a photo of me holding a camera looking at my mom and dad. But then at that portrait on a wall, I was thinking outside that wall it would be me, my mom and dad looking at me looking at the photo. And then right there on the side would be like a camera.

That's pretty cool.

JAUREZ:

Yeah. Or camera hanging from my chest type stuff.

That's very-- not generational. But it's very unified. Like it has a family concept to it.

JAUREZ:

Because I always love seeing my mom and dad together. Like it always made me in a good mood. Made me want to hang out with them. And that's when-- I don't even remember that day specifically. I don't even remember taking the-- I don't remember holding the camera and looking at them like that. I don't remember that at all. But they said that one of the photographers that were there, they told me I was like, I want to see that camera. I said I want to touch it. I was touching it and everything, but they said I couldn't touch it. I'm like, oh, OK.

And then I guess at the end when they're eating, I already finished my food, they said. So they said I went to go hold the camera. But actually he said that it wasn't as heavy as a camera. So I actually went around the whole place-Q:

Taking pictures?

JAUREZ:

That's what they say. And I guess one of the last pictures where I was right there by mom and dad. So he was right there so I had to give it back. And then my mom said that I wanted to take one more last picture. And he was like, what. And then I aimed at my mom and dad. And they're both laughing, looking at me. And then I guess one of the photographers was taking a picture of the whole scene. But then he saw me taking it-- holding a camera. And I guess at that point, he zoomed into me and took the picture, while I was holding that camera. And then my mom found out and she was like, you took that picture, like out of all the times when I was on the camera.

I can't wait to see it. I want to see it. What was this, a dinner?

JAUREZ:

It was at a dinner table. It was a white table. It had a candle. It both had plates. I don't think it was at someone's wedding. They're both just--

Like a wedding type thing?

JAUREZ:

Yeah. He had a tuxedo. He was smiling. My mom was like laughing. I'm just holding it. I have my little tuxedo with--

Looking all sharp.

JAUREZ:

Yes. I believe I had my jacket off so it was white, and then my jeans and a belt, a little belt. And then I guess just holding it, I guess. I had ahold of it for a long time, he said. So he had a chance to take the picture.

I think that'll be a great final portrait.

JAUREZ:

It's really nice. I think they only found it in white and black. They said he couldn't even make out a color because the zoom was too far. So they say when he took the zoom, it came out really, really clear. But it was just color blind because it was too zoomed. Because it was like an old camera.

I used to have them back in the days.

JAUREZ:

This was like 2006, 2005.

When I started photography, I started on a rooftop. It was by mistake. And I used to live in these tenement buildings. I was on the roof. That's where everyone would go hang out. And I took a picture of the horizon because there was a storm coming. But because I didn't really know how to take pictures, all the clouds were like black, like this. And everything seemed reversed. And I remember just holding that picture for the longest time. And then, when I started studying photography at school, I still had the negative. And I was able to develop it myself. And I developed. And I saw it. And everyone was like-- I didn't tell anyone that that was way back before I even started college. Everyone was like, that's such a nice photograph. And I was [INAUDIBLE] yeah. It's really nice. Yeah, I was on a roof and I did this. It was a total mistake. But it was great.

JAUREZ:

Oops, I snapped it.

But you can't tell people that. But I remember. That was my like first thing with photography. So what do you think people need now to make their lives better? I mean, I wanted to touch on that because we were talking about the parks and why can't all the parks be the same. What do you think people need to do that or even to make things better?

JAUREZ:

Maybe to make it better, I would say probably just the way I probably think or probably would say, but when people in the community grew up in one part of the community, they think that's how it should look like. But they want to go to a different part, then we're like, it's supposed to look like that? Or is that better? But then, they were like, no, this is better. This is known to be better. And now they think, why?

This is what I'm used to.

JAUREZ:

So they feel like this is way better than that. So that's why they feel like they should keep it like this and they should keep it like that.

And when it's not necessarily--

JAUREZ:

It's like no, don't change it. I like it like this.

It's not better.

JAUREZ:

So they just want to keep it how it has been so far. But like, well, don't change it has been said. So keep it like that. And I'm like--

That's good. Thank you. Anything else? Any last words for this moment in history?

JAUREZ:

Moment in history? I'll probably say, like, I don't know, become a better me.