Street Newsroom Yelamu: Día de los Muertos

RoRoRo

I would like to write about my abuelita. I met her a handful of times. What I remember the most was when I would go to Mexico. She had a lemon tree, and she would make me fresh lemonade. She was very important to my mom. To this day, she still wears black in remembering her. 

I believe I was her favorite grandson. I still walk with her. Much love & respect, RoRoRo

Susan Daws Anderson

I walk through, with my grandmas spirit. My ancestors were all very amazing past life wise and blood wise. It almost seems like a joke. How can I EVER live up to that strength.

But “Susan” tough, due to my ancestry, by default. My grandma is my hero. My mother is very strong too. My dad is a sociopath, so he is easily strong. Thank you.

Mabre(?)

I'm choosing to write about my former best homie Richie who was shot in the Tenderloin and subsequently died from complications from the gun shots. I looked up to Richie more than anyone because he pushed the hardest like standing up for what he believed in. Anytime anyone disrespected him in any way, or crossed any of his boundaries, he would drop everything he had and would challenge them to a fight. I never saw him lose a fight. He taught me to respect myself and to not let people disrespect me or cross any boundaries. Towards the end of his life when I was in jail, Richie chose to start using guns to push his line. This ended up being a total mistake, but it taught me to push my line without violence, especially with guns. Live by the gun, die by the gun. The person who shot Richie is not my best homie. I just realized the importance of me talking to him to convince him to stop using guns so that he doesn’t make that same fatal mistake that Richie did.

Red

My grandmother had a very strong spirit and still does. She taught me everything I believe and live by. Without her, there is no telling how or what type of person I would be today. I love her so much for the strength she bestowed into me! And her name was the same as my mom’s, Eunice Holmes! But my mom was not junior! Lol…

Melinda Garrett

In a time where ancestors are very close, honor our ancestors from all four corners of the earth. We are also lifting up our ancestors with a letter to our ancestors. 

Big Mama, Grandma, Auntie Paulie, Cuzn Jay, Granddad and Grandpa, Daddy, Dixie Anderson, Imani and Aunties and Uncles.

I fall and call upon you. In the moment of time. Your heartbeat beats within me. I feel you. I see you. I thank you for walking this journey and path before and with me. I call on you today because my spirit is sometimes troubled. Big Mama, I need the strength of you when you walk this land with no fear and how you made it in this wicked and cruel world. Auntie Paulie, give me peace and love and joy as if you were still walking hand and hand with me. Cuzn Jay, protect me. You see the trouble, you know my ways. Please show me that you live close to me and that you’ll protect up there. Wish you were here with me. And save me a seat in the upper room. Imani baby girl, keep shining, you and Grandma. I’ll always be your first chocolate baby, and I’m really trying. Hope you see and know that. Because I’m your 1st chocolate baby.

Tenisha Miller

I do believe that my ancestors have definitely had a crucial impact on the life I live today. When I think of ancestors, I first get a vision of all of my family members, specifically my grandmother and grandfather. They lived lives that I could never imagine having to try and survive in. They endured so much hatred, judgment, and mental and physical abuse on a daily basis. Yet they remained loving, gracious, and smart while securing financial security. I am truly amazed at how strong they had to be at all times. It makes me look at their situation and feel disappointed with myself for the complaining and ungratefulness that I find myself showing. Knowing how hard they fought for not just myself, but my children and their future children makes me have to thank God that He chose them to be the strong pillar that still lets their spirits linger all throughout this earth and in heaven for eternity.

“Undone”

On June 6th 2006, SFPD unannounced and without a warrant entered a home near State College of SF. Approaching a man in the attic of the unit trying to avoid his capture. Unexplained, the “officer” shot my big brother 17 times, sentencing him to death by firing squad immediately. Still til this day 10-16-26 it has gone unjust. In loving memory via His Holy Spirit, Asa B. Sullivan

Rony Cabrera

Reg = Our Antepasados y Dios

Everyday we walk, do things, try to do better, and we say, I did it, but sometimes we do not realize the people before us already did the same process. 

I believe there is a God that guides us if we have good intentions. I hear the people with bad heart (bad intentions) will change.

Ancestors

I remembered a time my grandfather gotten all the men and asked all of us men to enjoy playing the drum. We are Navajo Native American.

Stephan

Unfortunately, most of my family is dead, but I met some good family members. No matter what they did in life, they were good and very informative about life challenges. I learn from my ancestors. I hold their lessons close.

Luis Jobar

Mi abuelita no sabe cuánto falta me hace. Yo sé que esta en un lugar mejor. Que Dios me la cuide siempre.

Pedro Garcia

Para mi, el ejemplo de la por tu dade y pisos está muy bien porque dependiendo del pedazo de la tierra no el terreno.

Noralyn Perez

R.I.P. To my ancestors who helped mold me become a strong, courageous, caring, hardworker, independent, loving, thoughtful, forgiving, always willing to make sacrifices for someone else’s wellbeing to cater to others needs while putting aside my own because it’s where their happiness comes from. Thank you Mom and Grandma for being my super hero, my leader, and my role model. Because of you both, I became the most compassionate human of my nature who understands what my purpose in life is: which is to share my knowledge and wisdom; who taught me and inspired me to share human kindness, and I will not be sad because you both are in heaven. My sadness comes from missing you. I rejoice when you both cross my mind because the only thing I think about is the good memories and happiness we have shared. The memories that I get to pass on to our…

Proud member of Homefulness family

Tyler Fitzgerald

Writing in memory of my nana who was killed by the covid vaccines that were forced upon her against her will. She was very strong helping women who would help homeless kids find forever homes even with the struggles the government can make for anyone who is struggling to find real loving and caring parents and families.

Gonzales Moreno

Growing up ignored in my country. When I was 10 years old growing up in another country, I believed in what I was told about who we are and our ancestors where they come from. We were told beautiful stories from our mother patria España. Until I came to USA and after some many years and going to school I find our about the real truth about who lie to us in the past and the ones that conquered, decimated and imposed their own belief on us. That is the reason that everyone we get in touch is abusing us and treating us real bad. And thank you that you believe in us and explaining to us our rights and the need to fight back against injustice.

Val Evangelista

My ancestor is my father. He helped me so much and after all these years I still miss him. He’s what I strive to be like and instill in my kid.

Keith Sulolan

I walk with my great grandfather who survived Japanese occupation in Guam 1941 while other families were forced to have the father dig a grave, get beheaded then the oldest son would bury him, dig another hole, behead him, have his younger brother bury him, dig his hole and etc. But with my great grandfather he was left alive due to him pulling a work hard worth three men and held it down to keep our family alive when the Americans came and liberated us from Japan, he alongside many war prisoners joined the Guam Combat Unit. His name is Mariano Guerrero Benavente, born in 1911 and passed away 1998.

Ray Ataros

To thank Poor Magazine to make it happen that people who started in Oakland and now in San Francisco. This is the beginning of the fortune to be we every and poor people, we are the example of what future be. It’s people like us trying to make better for all the struggles in life and didn't have so easy. We need to understand poor people like you and me helping people the way to next generation to have Homefulness lead and make Poor Magazine, Room to grow become the future and become as a society that can live forever and ever. Amen -

Someone who I love to remember is my best friend Cynthia V. Although our time together was short when we were together it felt like we knew each other our whole life. We shared the same dreams, the same history, and the same hurt. I met her in Dallas when I moved away from Houston to leave domestic abuse. She quickly became my friend as we would go out to bars, but also to the gym. Something we both enjoyed very much when I learned from her, and she taught me more in that little time was to not litter as she loved the mother earth so much it hurt her to see anyone litter or trash the earth. Also she loved animals so dearly she couldn’t fathom eating meat. She was houseless but never homeless as her family always had a room for her just like me and her friends. Although she has schizophrenia she knew more about life and living than most sane people. She died without having children or being married, but her very much at time to me, my mother and partner. I miss her every day.

Richard Olivas

A lot of people have died in my family, never looked much into it, never thought where they went, but when my mom died, before she died, my son asked her to give him a sign she was ok. That night we both got the sign seconds apart. She touched us both on our eyebrows. Which what she did to me when I was small and my son also. We have that. I kept my mom’s hat she liked to wear and believe this - that hat smelled like my mom's perfume for over a year, then the smell went away and my mom was gone. She was watching over me. I know for many reasons. I was worried she was gone because I was with her for 50 years. No more smell in her hat, then a year later I walked past the hat, and I could smell her again just like before. That was crazy. Then after a few months, it was gone again and my poor wife threw the hat away. So then I am homeless and sad my mom is gone.