In the early 1990’s, New York City was experiencing a moment of intense change: the crack epidemic, the war on drugs, and the rise of hip-hop. Author and poet, Willie Perdomo, was a teenager at the time growing up in East Harlem, and the self-proclaimed “observer” of his group of friends. In his newest book of poetry, “The Crazy Bunch,” Perdomo combines memories of that time, fictional stories, history, and personal stories to paint a portrait of life in New York City in the early 1990’s.

Perdomo is the author of several children’s books and books of poetry, including “Where a Nickel Costs a Dime,” “The Essential Hits of Shorty Bon Bon,” and “Smoking Lovely.” He was a finalist for the Poetry Society of America Norma Farber First Book Award and a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. He was the recipient of a PEN Beyond Margins Award in 2004.

Latino USA’s Antonia Cereijido takes a walk with Perdomo through his old neighborhood of Harlem to discuss his poetry, his teenage years and how memories of that time inspired his latest work.

This story originally aired in July of 2019.

Featured image courtesy of Willie Perdomo. 

Latino USA is celebrating 30 years, 30 años, and we would love to hear from our listeners. Would you share with us your favorite Latino USA episode? Maybe it’s the one you remember the most, the one that kept you company during a road trip or the one you most shared with others. Or maybe you just have a birthday wish for us. Please leave us a voicemail at 646-571-1224 and we might feature your message in an upcoming show. Gracias.