When Luis Alejandro Molina of the Juan Antonio Corretjer Cultural Center in Chicago told me he wanted to dedicate an issue of La Voz del Paseo Boricua to Ramón López—and asked whether we could do something similar in En Rojo—I said, “Why not?” I spoke with the editor of En Rojo, and we agreed. Both Rafael Acevedo and I knew Ramón; he served as interim editor of En Rojo back in the 1990s, and for many years his tapestries formed the backdrop of the Festival de Apoyo a CLARIDAD. One of his tapestries, featuring the Puerto Rican flag, still graces the walls of the En Rojo office. What I never imagined was how much I would learn about Ramón’s journey in Chicago.
I rarely miss the days of the weekly print edition—I’ve grown used to our monthly rhythm—but in moments like this, I wish we had the resources to print a large number of copies, so people could collect them and share with their children the story of a Puerto Rican man navigating the belly of the beast.
This issue of En Rojo includes multiple essays by López himself, reflecting on and analyzing what it means to live in the Windy City, as well as interviews and tributes written about him. Elizam Escobar, Carlos Quiles, Eduardo Arocho, and Michael Rodríguez-Muñiz all reflect on Ramón’s work, his cultural contributions to both Chicago and Puerto Rico, and the legacy he leaves for future generations.
Thanks to Luis Alejandro Molina and the team at La Voz del Paseo Boricua for inviting CLARIDAD/En Rojo to be part of this beautiful tribute to “El Flaco” and his life’s work.
Alida Millán Ferrer
Director, CLARIDAD
