Young Lords- Steve Gerena Final Project 5-8-17

Steve Gerena

Intro to Digital Media

Spring 2017

Final Project

                                                                 Young Lords

In the middle of the African American liberation struggle, protests to end the Vietnam War, and the women’s movement for equality, Puerto Rican and Latino communities fought for economic, racial and social justice. These people became known as The Young Lords. They started in Chicago but then grew across  the nation. They were known to be in the barrios of New York City and other urban centers. They did a lot of things for the communities they lived in. They supported independence for Puerto Rico, and fought oppression against all Latino nations throughout the world. They crusaded for human rights and decency and raised a militant voice for the empowerment of Puerto Ricans and other Latinos in the United States.

This picture was taken in New York City around 1969 or 1970. It showcases Young Lords marching in protest. I decided to edit the picture using Photoshop. I first placed the Puerto Rican flag as a foreground image because The Young Lords were Puerto Rican, they were proud of their country and their flag. I added a burning hole in the flag and made it look like it was caused by a burning trashcan, because The Young lords group in New York were originally founded due to an event known as the “garbage offensive” in which The Young Lords decided to take piles of garbage and burn it; they blocked off 3^rd Avenue traffic at 110^th, 111th, and112th Street  and burn it and. They did this to protest because their inner city neighborhoods in New York were not being maintained. The City's Sanitation Dept. was not picking up garbage and huge piles had built up in their neighborhoods. Many minorities and members of The Young Lords had asked for help but received none. 

The burning trash can represents the struggle of the The Young Lords and their fight for the civil rights and decent living conditions for members of their communities. The "burnt hole" is a "window" that shows the protesters and the people and members of The Young Lords who wanted to change things and make a difference.