A Guide to "Bushwick en Español" & Hispanic Culture in the Neighborhood [Photos] : Bushwick Daily

Instagram Takeover – Zalykha María Mokim – Bushwick en Espanol, Frida Kahlo

One thing that makes NYC – particularly Bushwick – such a wonderful place to live is its diversity, the fact that not everyone comes from the same place, time, and culture as you. You can meet folks of all different backgrounds every single day. In an effort to show one of the many facets of our neighborhood, our latest Insta-Takeover was all about exploring the endless ways in which Hispanic culture has shaped the area. In other words, “Bushwick en Español.”

And who better to guide us through our neighborhood’s Spanish-speaking world than someone who teaches Writing-ESL in Bushwick? Miami-native Zalykha María Mokim is a passionate advocate for Latino community development, civil rights and immigration issues. She told me that the majority of her students are born-and-raised Bushwick residents and she hoped that her Insta-Takeover would, in her words, “depict a small part of what makes Bushwick great and what unites us!” Zalykha María used her bilingual skills to demonstrate the many ways in which Spanish-speaking culture has visually influenced our daily lives for longstanding residents and newer transplants alike. From the food we eat to the art we ponder, the influence is there and we’re lucky for it! (Note to self: Order some tacos from La Cholulita ASAP.)

To play a bit of bilingual I-Spy, scroll down for some of Zalykha María’s pics. And make sure to head over to our full Instagram feed for the full tour!

And shout-out to Lexi Bella, who created the Frida Kahlo mural above!