¡Presente! The Young Lords in New York: BRONX MUSEUM OF THE ARTS, EL MUSEO DEL BARRIO, AND LOISAIDA INC.

In July 2015, The Bronx Museum of Arts, El Museo del Barrio, and Loisaida Inc. opened the multi-venue exhibition ¡Presente! The Young Lords in New York, which was organized by Johanna Fernández and Yasmin Ramírez. It functioned as an artistic and cultural survey of The Young Lords Organization, which was a radical leftist group that was founded by Puerto Rican youth in the 1960s and that demanded social and political reforms. The organization's activities were critically examined through archival materials and works of art created at its inception (such as by Taller Boricua and the cultural space New Rican Village) and created by contemporary artists (such as Juan Sánchez, Shepard Fairey, and Caecilia Tripp). In the arrangement of these materials, an understanding emerged of the intellectually engaging and challenging legacy left by the Young Lords in the present day.
  • 'In Spanish, ¡Presente! means 'here' or 'present,' and across Latin America at political gatherings activtists often honor and remember those...
    Juan Sánchez, Once We Were Warriors

    "In Spanish, ¡Presente! means "here" or "present," and across Latin America at political gatherings activtists often honor and remember those who have lost their lives in the struggle for justice by calling out their names. In ritual response, those in attendance yell out ¡Presente!" 

     

    -Johanna Fernández, excerpt from "¡Presente! The Influence and Legacy of the Young Lords in New York" in the ¡Presente! The Young Lords in New York exhibition catalogue