It was not a sunny day. The traffic had slowed down after the usual rush hour. A group of Latino volunteers were collecting donations for the homeless. They were a group of energetic, but gentle souls who roamed these American streets looking for helping hands.
When some people smile or laugh, they bring out the inner sun in you. That’s what they did to me. The streets with tall office building towering above looked bleak, but these humble faces brought rays of kindness to some darkest corners of the city.
Most of them talked in Spanish only. One of the guys, who wasn’t wearing a Santa hat, acted like the group leader or guide. He knew the streets and the joints where cocktails and cigars were being consumed and top dollars might change hands in a matter of seconds.
With kids in tow, they were not out in the cold looking for “deals” of some useless products and gadgets. They gave me an instant impression that they had no need to “fake a holiday” for themselves or pretend and lie in awkward conversations. For me, they were the real Santas carrying big garbage bags in order to comfort and help those who needed the most.
During the holiday season, I have tried my best to avoid those places where numb and stressed “consumers” battling the crowds and pressures they voluntarily inherited or they had no way and guts to refuse such a trend. Shopping spree after shopping spree, “holiday shoppers” seemed to be on a different kind of mission.
Photo by ZuoZhou, 2013
Photo by ZuoZhou, 2013
The group leader chatted with me in English. He told me this was not a “religious act” like some Mexicans do during the Christmas season. In the Bible, Jesus once looked for refuge and shelter, but many doors shut in front of his face. No, this was not like that, he said. “We’re just looking for donations to help out the homeless during the cold holidays.” I wanted to walk with them a little longer, but they had reached the end of the day’s route.
They reminded me so much of the people I work with, immigrants who came here from all continents and islands. We often discuss and debate on topics such as freedom, money and cultural differences regarding certain values and traditions. They have endless stories to share, hardships and violence I have never imagined that had shaped their lives and spirits, and they talked about it with little complaint and few regrets.
I couldn’t help asking them if they would like to have a picture taken together. I told them who I am and what I do, and they generously and effortlessly smiled in front of the camera even though they had walked around the city for hours. Even though we were perfect strangers and my Spanish was too poor to communicate with them, we felt the common rewards in the most ordinary way.
Neon lights looked magical when the evening fog began to engulf the city. I thanked them for letting me walk with them and sharing their joy and holiday spirit. I could still see their smiling faces and hear their laughter hours after we bid goodbye.
ZuoZhou, 2013
我制作的短视频
ZuoZhou, 2013
我制作的短视频
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