The other side of San Diego
El otro lado de San Diego
The other side of San Diego is a photography project I am publishing this year about the margins of San Diego a lifestyle of particular communities; Chicano gang life and the stories of those persons really living that lifestyle.
How they came up banging and the impact of the community from people drugged onto the sidewalks to decades of gang banging. I have always felt San Diego fabricates and denies the realities of what exist South bay and Southeast once you ride that trolley down those ways or get out your car and want to find out what its about its not always so much about beaches anymore.
"If you talk it, then walk it, because it will never end"
"As kids we are taught right from wrong. As a man I made my choices, whether it be wrong in societies eyes; theres people that are grateful I was around. For decades it was my life's honor to protect and defend the barrio. its who we are and its what we do" Tuts, Shelltown Gamma Boys
Southeast Shelltown one of the most active if not notorious gangs in San Diego and active for over 40 plus decades.
A death within the community of a young guy still a teenager murdered in the day hours of guns shots. The community mourning for his life his family and repping the neighborhood and the things that happen.
This bathroom outside where gang members patrol the area remain alert and paint up the premise of where his life was taken. I took this picture during a week where a string of murders are occurring and mostly gang related.
"Rappers that try to be hard and gangster and missing the experience in their music! We didn't grow up rich plus live by the codes in the street! Being a gangster is not an easy life. Cops will always give you a hard time and you wont be able to get a job. Being a convicted felon! losing your kids and families through the system and when your significant other decides to leave because you have too much time left in prison." - Mr.Stress1 Logan Heights 30
"A lot of people gave up their lives whether it was with death or to life in prison and that was their ultimate sacrifice. We are NOT a trend! We are NOT anyone that could be dressed like us or anything, because at one point it was a lifestyle and lotta my friends are gone do to this lifestyle” - Sparky Sherman Grant Hill Park
"Back in 1989 at age 13 I started running the streets, in my time life of a gangster was different growing up in street violence, drive bys, fights you name it constantly watching our backs people looked at us as bad people and assumed we wouldn’t be nothing in life, growing up in the streets you gained knowledge, surviving skills and respect. I’m proud to be who I am today a legend someone to who you can look up to” - OG BAMBAM, SM 27
"Proud of our neighborhood and gentrification at its finest but we still here, Hillside side stories the few the proud the LOMAS crowd old school and discreet always on our toes" - Grumpy, Lomas 26
Many of my photos are in huge files you can see most of my work on IG: @chromatic619 thank you for viewing and seeing my work
About the Creator
Chomes Matic619
I live on the other side of San Diego shooting street stories about people really living those lifestyles and publishing for a book to drop soon. please see more of my work on IG: @chromatic619
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