SWE
Bad Bunny or Benito making an unannounced venture through the Bronx, which has a large Puerto Rican population, on an anniversary of Hurricane Maria seemed like his own form of patriotism. In a similar fashion where there are people who believe in uniting the African Diaspora, there are most likely those who want to unite the Puerto Ricans on the island and those who have entered the states and permanently reside there. Many Puerto Ricans on the island look down on those who’ve moved into the states. Under the guise of superiority when in reality many view the migrants as traitors. As if moving to the states is giving into the colonization of Puerto Rico and hindering the fight for it to be it’s own country with government say. Bad Bunny walking through the Bronx, on a day that symbolizes the strength of Puerto Ricans, seems like his own way of validating the actions and emotions of the Puerto Rican population in the states.
Personal
Bad Bunny is like a Puerto Rican Beyonce or BTS. Is funny that they all start with “b”. But like if BTS were to walk through K- Town or Forest Hills on the Korean Independence day or another big day in Korea, mad people would’ve felt mad emotional. Or if Beyonce walked through Houston, as a Houston baby herself, on Juneteenth it’d be like Jesus came down from Heaven. People who are that big in their communities hold so much power in their actions and it’s always shocking to see the affect they have on people. But like you gotta think; do they want to responsibility of being so influential. Are they really stepping up t the plate as public figures or putting on a show. Or are they just moving how they wanna move. It’s not really my business anyway, they can do what they want. They’re rich, I’m not. But doesn’t it make you wonder? What was he really thinking when he went through the Bronx.
Genre
“Grandma, he was riding on a truck in the Bronx. It was a big one, like the one tio has.” I spoke on the phone as I was cleaning. Scrubbing the side of the cabinet. There was grime built up from dried steam, splashed seasonings, and just spills in general. It has a desperate need for a cleaning.
“Mhm and he didn’t tell anybody but there were so many people following the truck at the end.” Mindlessly adding into the conversation. I stared at one stain particularly hard. debating whether or not it was worth it to fight with it.
“Like moths to a flame.” I’d said while continuing my previous scrubbing. Pondering on how strange it would be to follow a truck for hours on end.
“He was performing on the truck so it was like a moving concert. I’m pretty sure I saw people crying” Shifting the phone to be steady in between my cheek and shoulder when using both hands became necessary.
Laughing in response to her worry. “Well I don’t know why they were crying, grandma. I can’t say too much, though. I’ve cried at multiple concerts.” Sitting back on my heels I begun to genuinely consider what it was that had made me so emotional. Other than the idea of just enjoying the music that much.
“Because the music was more than music to me. Or maybe it’s the fact that all it was was music. Well I don’t know. It was just emotional. I’d associate certain songs with certain moments in my life. I’d interpret the music how I wanted then I’d take it with me through whatever I was going through. Through the storm.”
“Huh. I think I get it now.”
