I was inspired by graffiti artwork and Afro-Cuban folklore. Also, somehow writing, or the act of writing, was inspiration; it seemed to be both an act of empowerment and disempowerment -- I knew some kids who used to go to great risks to tag up walls in secret places and knew an old man who had been marked as a survivor of a concentration camp. All of these people were part of the neighbohood. I was inspired by a friend's struggle to recover from abuse.
;)
