 Poetic Words Address Breast Cancer
By Robert Waddell, July 19, 2009
When a love one becomes ill, truism has it, one person alone doesn't experience the infirmity alone but the disease affects that person's entire family and the community as a whole.
This holds true for Maggie's Latin Angels, who held a fundraiser brunch Sunday July 19th at Camaradas in El Barrio, to raise money and awareness about Breast Cancer in honor of Maggie Maldonado.
Conceived by Maldonado's sister Gladys Medina, Maggie's Latin Angels seeks to raise funds for the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk held at Orchard Beach in October. Taken on by Angelique Imani Rodriguez, Maldonado's daughter, and poet Jani Rosado, the two produced an afternoon poetry reading about Cancer, which wasn't a downer, but in essence was a joyful celebration. This was a Sunday afternoon of survival, victory over disease and an affirmation of women's empowerment.
"When my mom was diagnosed…this changes your life as a woman," said Rodriguez in her welcoming remarks but broke out in tears talking about her mother.
According to "Latinas: Breast and Cervical Cancer," information posted on Women Caring for Women/Mujeres Cuidando Mujeres's website, "Among Mexican American and Puerto Rican women, cervical cancer incidence is two to three times higher than in non-Hispanic White women.
"Only 38% of Hispanic women age 40 and older have regular screening mammograms, a simple procedure that can detect breast cancer at its earliest stage, before clinical symptoms develop.
"Hispanics experienced the highest invasive cervical cancer incidence rates (16.2 per 100,000) of any group other than Vietnamese, and twice the incidence rates of non-Hispanic White women (7.9 per 100,000).
"Even though Hispanic women have lower rates of breast cancer (69.8 per 100,000) compared to non-Hispanic White women or Black women (111.8 and 95.4 respectively), breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among Hispanics."
In a funny and quiet way, Maggie's Latin Angels humorously say that they're out to save breasts while raising funds for the October Cancer walk.
Poet and educator Daphnie Sicre, decked out in shimmering blue, read with sensual, dramatic and provocative tones, "tatas, tetas, boobies and breasts, are they more precious than me?"
Rob "Simply Rob" Vassilarakis read valiantly about living with disease. He said, "I write myself back together again."
Actress Mercedes Lebron read a story she'd written about her mother's struggle with breast cancer. Lebron's voice contained longing pain that trembled with fear and anxiety. Noemi Cardona sang with the passion of a 1960s pop star.
Yenny Love read two poems with fire and conviction, provocative and strong, "I am a Woman," repeating the line several times to thunderous applause. Dressed all in black with a beaming smile, Love's voice was tender and throaty like a Latina GPS system.
 Surprising was Realena Sanchez, a 17-year-old high school senior, who rocked the room with her singing and guitar playing. Reina Miranda talked about the power she felt in being a Dominicana. Isamar Rosado Aponte read a short story featuring a character's extra pounds, which got audience members reciting her lines afterward.
Cindy Casado of the Sugar Rush comedy show brought down the house with laughter when she talked about growing up in a Puerto Rican, Dominican and Pentecostal home.
Casado got serious though when she said, "We all know a woman, someone who can get this disease…. Some of us have a financial disease, a broken heart…we've got to keep it together."
Poets Jose Arias, Susan Justinano, Marissa Victoria Prince and Venus White rounded out the Camaradas afternoon event. Artwork by Ericka Dickstein and Derek-Anthony Santiago were raffled off to raise money for the cause.
"This was a bittersweet experience," said Rodriguez, "I was surprised so many people came out to share their experiences, to learn more and celebrate these amazing women….It's so prevalent. Everyone knows someone (who's been affected by the disease)."
Camaradas, a beer and wine bar and restaurant, has become the premier meeting place and pub for El Barrio. Since Jake's Bar closed, Camaradas, under Orlando Plaza and Rafael Merino's guidance, continues to bring live music, Sunday brunch, Wednesday ladies night and a happy hour. A long bar, wooden floors, painted corrugated metal walls and a modest stage make up a space that has become one part juke joint meeting place and one part Boricua social club.
"This is the brightest I've ever seen Camaradas," said Casado of the day time event.
Maggie's Latin Angels will hold a dance fundraiser on Saturday August 1st and contributions and inquires can be made by contacting Angelique Imani Rodriguez at angelique_rodriguez@yahoo.com or Jani Rosado at janirosado@gmail.com.
"We've all had something to overcome," said Rosado, "And it's about empowering women. It was very individual for people to tell their stories. It's for all the people who need those mammograms. That's where the money goes."
This story was developed through the Education Beat Writing Fellowship at the New York Community Alliance. |
