On Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m., Hampden-Sydney College hosted, "Shine," an event where Jose Galvez, the first Mexican-American journalist to win the Pulitzer Prize, discussed his life, influences and successes as a chicano, or Mexican-American, in the American journalism industry. Throughout the event, a slide show of his black and white photography of Latino culture in America was displayed. Overall, Galvez stressed others to, like him, "push past obstacles [and] grasp opportunities."
Before Galvez broadened his career as the first Mexican photographer on a staff of 60 or so at the Los Angeles Times, he worked numerous small jobs as a boy, selling newspapers and shining others' shoes to help support his family. While growing up in poverty and a blue-class family, Galvez never felt dissuaded to do his best while striving to be a photographer, saying, "Yes, I may be poor, but I'm going to make something of myself."
Using his photography for cultural identity and semi-autobiography, Galvez sees the Latino culture and working immigrant population as reflections of who he is and what he was influenced by when younger. Looking at a photo of a young boy that is not of himself, Galvez still connects to who the boy is, saying, "That's me," even though it isn't. In his book, Shine Boy, Galvez wrote, "The pictures are like details in my life story and reveal how many memories continue to shape my work." While focusing on the culture of Mexican-Americans specifically, Galvez commented that, "All photographers usually have a specialty. This is what I'm special at."
Emphasizing the national and cultural importance of the immigrant population, Galvez stated that, "This country would shut down without our immigration workforce." He referenced the Chicano Movement of the 1960s — a movement that sought to broaden rights for the Mexican-American population — as a major influence in his life. "The Chicano movement made me proud to be who I was."
Through his photography, Galvez seeks to record the Latino experience, hoping for further understanding and education of the culture, as well as for "tolerance," "compassion," "communication," and "honor" of the culture.
Galvez's photography rarely utilizes color, with the majority, if not all, in black and white. "You have to use your brain for black and white," Galvez said. "With color, what you're blatantly registering is colors. It doesn't really register any information … I love working in black and white because you have to use your brain." Utilizing vintage cameras and a dark room for his work, Galvez stated that he enjoyed the "delayed gratification" of black and white photography.
Longwood students were contacted about the event through one of the weekly emails sent to student emails by the Office of Student Affairs. Mladen Cvijanovic, assistant dean of students for intercultural affairs and new student orientation at Hampden-Sydney College, stated, "I've been in contact with your new Director of Inclusion, Jamie Riley, and a lot of our students take advantage of wonderful opportunities at Longwood's campus for programming … We hope that Longwood students will take advantage of opportunities here on campus that we have in the future. "
Choosing Galvez as a speaker to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month at Hampden-Sydney, Cvijanovic said that when contacting Galvez, "[Galvez] was very professional, courteous, and he was very willing to work within our budget, and come in …" Cvijanovic found it "impressive" how Galvez's motivation to speak with the students was not for "collecting a pay check at the end of the day."
Discussing why celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month is important, Cvijanovic stated, "It is the fastest growing minority group in the country. Spanish language is the most valuable foreign language that you can learn. It is part of the American culture and heritage. It is important for our students to understand the value of Hispanic culture and heritage that is going to be growingly more influential in the upcoming years and during our lifetime."
Galvez ended the event, stressing others to "use your life to help others." Coming from a rags to riches, shoe-shining to a Pulitzer prize-winning background, Galvez's message was to work hard. "Shine doesn't come easy."
You can see more of Jose Galvez's work at his website www.josegalvez.com, along with published books, detailing his life and works.
