Felix Berroa, The Histories Teller

Since my youth life, my sensibility has been influenced by those social phenomenas that I have been exposed. Progressively I had been feedind from the middle and secondary schools, and then, the university, in the studieses of Philosophy, National, America and World History. Also, news of the international political conflicts, of readings of greater authors and poets of America as Pedro Mir, Gabriel García Marquez, etc. That illuminated me toward a “progressive conscience” in the “general politics", but never partisan.

"ECONOMIC ABANDONE CITY". Acrylic on canvas. 32"x46". 1976. San Pedro de Macoris, my native city, was abandoned by many government administrations. The San Pedro de Macoris's streets ended have so many holes in its streets that inspired me to produce an entire series of drawings prints (wood-cut and intaglios) on that subject.

"Juego en la Calle". Ink on papel. 18"x24". 1977.

Neither in my youth neither in my mature life I have joined to any political party in my original country, the Dominican Republic. Neither I made any type of intellectual political collaboration or activism there. It has never attracted me any type of "fanaticism", either politician, religious or sport.

In my opinion, the "fanaticism" is compound for unconditional feelings toward a politic entity, sport team or extreme religious beliefs that it can arrive to the discrimination of those that differ. (I have my customs way to adore to God, but I don't have to attack against those that don't do it or they practice it in a different way). Feelings and beliefs extremist can lead to dividing social conflicts.

Some of the most lamentable political pasages of the Dominican Republic (an in many Spanish American countries) have taken place during the multiple reelections of a candidates in power. The consequences of the multiple repetitions in the public positions of candidates lead to the creations of “political machineries" that generate the corruption in some countries.

Our current President, the Dr. Leonel Fernandez Reyna is recognized as the most democratic in the history of the Dominican Republic. Soon, he will concludes his second period of President of the Dominican Republic. Many Dominicans as me don't approve that "continuity" that could lead up to the expressed consequences. However, independently of that ego of political power, I should recognize that in the last celebration of the Conference of Rio in Santo Domingo, where it was debated the political conflicts among several countries of South America (Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Nicaragua), maybe for my absence of more than 28 years in the country, I felt very proud of the performance of host pacifier the President Leonel Ferandez Reyna do, next to his colleague, the President Felipe Calderon of Mexico, in an atmosphere of verbal aggressiveness and threatening.

FIRST AND UNIQUE POLITICAL COLLABORATION: I have always followed the politics scene as an expectador, no as a militant or collaborator, but I have accomplished my duty as a citizen through the vote. In 1983 there was an exception. For reasons that I will explain below, I collaborate intellectually in the political campaign in the Hispanic community of Chicago of an Afro-American that become the first Mayor of of his race in Chicago city: Harold Washington. It was my first one and and last time that I acted in the “political partisan".

Three months after I have arrived from Santo Domingo to Chicago city (I lived in Chicago among 1982-1984), I was devoted to study the history and sociology of the Hispanic community and especially the Puerto Rican in the United States, for its resemblance with the Dominican; and also the Afro-Americans, because since I'm black or mulatto, I inherited, partly, the consequences of their trajectory in this country. In those informations searched through reading, I find the hopefulness ideology of Martin Luther King Jr, the extraordinary prowess of Harriet Tubman, etc. Also that Chicago had been founded by a Haitian black immigrant that had arrived there in 1779, as a trader with the Indians and Englishmen. His name was Jean Baptist Point Dusable. I visit his small museum located in the Afro-American community.

One day I was in a library trying to borrow several books on the Puerto Rican sociology in the United States subjects, to be able to understand my position as a Dominican immigrant in this great country. Was no common to find writing on the Dominican in United States subject by that time. The Puerto Rican was the social group that most resembled us.

The librarian refused to approve the books because I had not yet a personal identification with the address where I living. Behind my, waiting turn, was a young Puerto Rican lady that had listened the problem. It seems that when she noted my nationality origin and the book titles that I wanted take home, surprising, without having spoken previously with me, she told to the librarian: "Put the books in my card." Then she look me and said: “You has to return the books before or at the date they have mark or they will charged me."

I take out the books, but I delay a few minutes to react of the kindness of that young lady toward somebody that she had seen for first-time. In the Dominican Republic, nobody do something like that with somebody that didn't know. That expression originates a beautiful friendship. She was married with a good man. A lawyer, Jewish background, and they had a beautiful 10 years old daughter. I used to go with her and her husband to cultural events, to some "blue" and comedy night-clubs in the metropilitan area of Chicago, etc.

For a long time the governorship of Chicago had been under the direction of a lingering “political machinery”. The Mayoress Jane Byrne, the continuation of the machinery in that time, it concluded its period and she was reelecting for other period. With the advantages that provide the control of a long political dynasty, she had have all the possibilities to win.

One day my Porto Rican friend comes to me and explains me the political situation of Chicago and she allows me to know that she will begin to work in the political campaign for a Afro-American candidate for mayor. She told me about Harold Washington and ask me: Can you help us? For friendship I told her yes, and I create some works of “people consciousness”, of “racial identification”, in the form of comics, that were printed in large editions and were distributed by the whole Hispanic community of Chicago.

Jane Byrne Vs. Harld Washington. One of a group of work I did for tha political campaign of Harold Washington.

The Porto Rican lady introduce me with Harold Washington and this, in a hand shake, congratulate me for my collaboration. As a new inmigrant, I felt very proud to meet someone important in USA.

Harold Washinton wins those elections, becoming the first black mayor in the history of Chicago. The Hispanic vote was key in that victory. One month after his victory I move with family in Long Island, New York, since so far I have never participated in a political party again, but through the vote as all good American Citizen do.