Nicolás Dumit Estévez Raful Espejo Ovalles Morel: We met through Elia Alba in 2015 and, ever since, I have been curious about your work. You grew up in Philadelphia, where I went to graduate school at Tyler in the late 1990s. However, my experience with diasporic Puerto Rican communities has been mainly in New York City. My recollection of Philly is that of a city deeply segregated by class and race, as well as being a major locus of Black cultures and histories. How was it for you to be New York Rican, Puerto Rican, or Nuyorican in this context?
David Antonio Cruz: I grew up in North Philadelphia, in a Black and Puerto Rican neighborhood that had the highest concentration of Puerto Ricans in the city during the 1970s. The city was-and still is-somewhat segregated, with economics and race playing significant roles in daily life. But growing up I was immersed in Phila-rican and Black culture. My block buzzed year-round with a mix of Spanglish, hip-hop, salsa, block parties, and delicious food.
