A Homecoming - Ep. 6

Summary

Suave Podcast Season 2, Episode 6: "A Homecoming" – Detailed Summary

Introduction

In the sixth episode of the Pulitzer Prize-winning podcast Suave, titled "A Homecoming," host Julieta Martinelli and reporter Maria Garcia accompany former juvenile lifer Luis "Suave" Gonzalez back to his roots in Puerto Rico. Released from prison seven years prior, Suave has been navigating life outside incarceration, striving for stability and reconnecting with his family. This episode delves deep into Suave's emotional journey as he confronts his past and seeks healing in his ancestral homeland.

Setting the Stage: Planning the Trip

The episode begins with Julieta Martinelli introducing the episode's context:

[03:02] Julieta Martinelli: "Season two of Suave was made possible by the Mellon Foundation..."

After initial promotional segments are bypassed, the narrative shifts to the summer of 2024. Maria Garcia reaches out to Suave to prepare for their trip to Puerto Rico, aiming to provide him with a much-needed respite from his current struggles.

[01:22] Luis Suave Gonzalez: "I'm good."

However, underlying tensions surface as Maria discusses the strained relationship between her and Suave, primarily due to recent conflicts over Suave's car situation.

[02:12] Luis Suave Gonzalez: "I don't think you talk about that shit no more, man... I've got other shit to do in life."

Arriving in Puerto Rico: First Impressions

Julieta arrives in Puerto Rico ahead of Maria and Suave, capturing the scenic beauty of the island as they head to their destination.

[05:31] Luis Suave Gonzalez: "Seeing bougie Puerto Rico people. I'm not endorsing it, but it's beautiful sand, beautiful white sand."

Suave reminisces about his childhood visits with his grandfather, Julio, recalling a time when Puerto Rico felt more familiar and less commercialized.

[06:07] Maria Garcia: "Santurce is a historically working class and a very black part of the capital with deep history and connection to its African roots."

Upon reaching the beach, Julieta describes the emotional significance of witnessing Suave's first encounter with the ocean since his youth.

[06:56] Luis Suave Gonzalez: "Listen people, I'm wearing green slippers, white pants, white T shirt... I'm going in the water."

Reconnecting with Family: Pelou and Millie

The trio proceeds to Suave's family's home, now markedly changed due to gentrification. They are warmly greeted by Suave's cousins, Pelou and Millie, who embody the resilient spirit of the family.

[14:29] Julieta Martinelli: "Suave's family home is lime green... We meet Suave's other cousin. Her name is Millie. And she's just bubbling over with warmth and laughter."

Suave expresses his deep respect and longing to learn more about his grandfather, who played a pivotal role in his upbringing during his father's absence.

[16:07] Luis Suave Gonzalez: "My name comes from my grandfather."

However, a poignant moment arises when the family shares that photographs of Julio are scarce, highlighting a gap in Suave's personal history.

[16:38] Julieta Martinelli: "Suave always wanted to have a photo of his grandfather, but Millie says they just can't find any. And for Suave, this is like a gut punch."

Exploring His Mother's Legacy: Saro

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Suave's mother, Saro, portraying her as a complex yet resilient figure. Through family anecdotes, listeners learn about Saro's struggles, including her early pregnancies, experiences with domestic violence, and her role as a single mother hustling to provide for her children.

[10:28] Maria Garcia: "But there was a lot of drama and trauma in her life. She got pregnant as a teenager."

Despite her tumultuous life, Saro is depicted as the family's backbone, instilling values of survival and unity. Suave reflects on his mother's unconventional parenting methods, including her liberal approach to substance use.

[21:10] Luis Suave Gonzalez: "My mom was liberal. Like, you want to join? You smoke a joint. Let's smoke a joint together."

Julieta grapples with understanding Saro's choices, recognizing the deep-seated trauma that shaped her into a survivor.

[22:17] Maria Garcia: "Suave says his mom would always say, if you're going to do it, I'd rather you do it at home with me."

Spiritual Connections: Embracing Santeria

The episode takes a spiritual turn as Julieta and Maria explore the family's Santeria practices, a tradition deeply rooted in African spirituality. The family invites them to a Santeria lectura room, where rituals and prayers are performed to seek blessings and healing for Suave.

[28:10] Julieta Martinelli: "Suave's whole family has deep roots in Santeria... It's a religion of survivors."

Their encounter with Evelyn, the family santera, becomes a pivotal moment for Suave. Evelyn conducts a cleansing ritual, encouraging Suave to let go of his burdens and embrace his newfound freedom.

[30:01] Julieta Martinelli: "It's rare to see Suave stop in his tracks, but this is what happened... they just hugged really tight."

Emotional Closure and Reflection

As the trip concludes, Suave reflects on the profound sense of belonging he feels, contrasting it with his solitary existence in prison and his distant relationships in the U.S.

[35:08] Luis Suave Gonzalez: "This feels good. People."

The ritual at Lukillo Beach serves as a symbolic cleansing, merging the river and ocean waters to represent Suave's integration of his past and present.

[34:00] Julieta Martinelli: "In the Yoruba practice, the ocean is Yemaya and the river is Oshun. And so we are meeting both waters."

Previewing the Final Episode

The episode concludes with a teaser for the final episode of Season 2, hinting at Suave's ongoing journey toward self-discovery and peace.

[37:34] Luis Suave Gonzalez: "For the last month, I've been reluctant to tell Maria like, yo, I'm going through this... Now it's time to do it for..."

Key Takeaways

• Reconnection with Roots: Suave's return to Puerto Rico serves as a crucial step in his healing process, allowing him to reconnect with his family's legacy and cultural heritage.

• Family as a Pillar: The unwavering support and unity of Suave's family highlight the importance of familial bonds in overcoming adversity.

• Spiritual Healing: The incorporation of Santeria rituals underscores the role of spirituality in Suave's journey toward redemption and self-acceptance.

• Personal Growth: Suave's reflections reveal his internal struggles and aspirations to build a life defined by freedom and meaningful relationships.

Notable Quotes

• "You are safe. You are with people who love you." – Julieta Martinelli [35:08]

• "My mom just did what the fuck she had to do to keep us alive." – Luis Suave Gonzalez [09:37]

• "This is my first time here, like, in 45 years. So this is like... wow." – Luis Suave Gonzalez [18:11]

Conclusion

Episode 6 of Suave masterfully intertwines personal narrative with cultural and spiritual exploration, presenting a compelling portrait of a man's quest for belonging and healing after decades of incarceration. Through heartfelt interviews and evocative storytelling, listeners gain profound insights into the enduring impact of family, heritage, and resilience.

Transcript

[Julieta Martinelli]

Season two of Suave was made possible by the Mellon Foundation. Mellon makes grants to support visionaries and communities that unlock the power of the arts and humanities. To help connect us all [e-mail] hey.

[Maria Garcia]

Suave listeners, it's Julieta here. Are you tired of waiting each week for new episodes to come out? Well, you can listen to the whole scene season of Suave right now, plus exclusive bonus episodes by joining Futuro plus. And you'll be helping support the independent journalism that we do here at Futuro. Join now at FuturoMediaGroup.org joinplus Suave is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. You chose to hit play on this podcast today. Smart choice. Make another smart choice with Auto Quote Explorer to compare rates from multiple car insurance companies all at once. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates not available in all states or situations. Prices vary based on how you buy. Hello?

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

Yes.

[Maria Garcia]

Hey, what's up? How are you doing?

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

I'm good.

[Maria Garcia]

It's the summer of 2024. I call Suave to check if he's ready for a big trip that we're all supposed to go on soon. Okay. So you got the dates right for Puerto Rico?

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

Yeah, the ones you sent me? Yeah, everything is set up down there. They're going to cook for us and everything.

[Maria Garcia]

Oh, that's so exciting. I'm excited because Suave, Maria and I are all about to go on a trip to. To Puerto Rico together. Suave's first time back since he was a kid. And after everything that's happened with Suave's car, we know he desperately needs a break, a change of scenery. Except at this point, things are a little awkward between him and Maria and.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

So what's up with Maria? She text me. I didn't text back.

[Maria Garcia]

They've been in a bit of a rough patch since the whole car situation. But honestly, even before. But this. It's a trip that's supposed to be about healing for Suave, about reconnecting and helping Suave reunite with his family there. And frankly, Suave doesn't sound very interested in patching things up.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

I don't think you talk about that shit no more, man. I really don't. It'll make you give all the offerings you want. Last time we talking was a heated.

[Maria Garcia]

Yeah, I remember. That's why I was wondering if you.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

Guys ain't gonna apologize to me. I'm Maria and all side nobody ghost me and I was alright but.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Oh man.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

Yeah, my mind is made up. Once. Once this is over Got other shit to do in life. I got other shit to do in life.

[Maria Garcia]

From Futuro Studios, this is Suave. I'm Julieta Martinelli. In 2017, David Luis Suave Gonzalez was released from prison after 31 years, serving a life sentence without parole. He was one of thousands of juvenile lifers granted a second chance at life. This is a story about life after incarceration and a search for the true meaning of freedom. This is season two. On this episode, A Homecoming. I arrive in Puerto Rico before Maria and Suave. I go and I pick up a rental and head to the terminal to pick them up.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Oh, that's her.

[Maria Garcia]

And everyone seems pretty chill. I mean, it's the high 90s. We're away from work on a beautiful island in the summer. You can't really be too mad at anything. Before we left, I spoke with you, Maria, and Suave separately just to try and set aside any tension so we can hopefully just focus on Suave's family.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Because, like, the truth is, things have been really touch and go between me and Suave for a while now, like a couple of months. And this trip was definitely at a low point. You know, we hadn't really been speaking before we left, but I really wanted us to have a good time and for this to really be about Suave and him reconnecting with his island.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

Oh, my God. U.S. laws, suave, they don't enforce that in Puerto Rico.

[Maria Garcia]

As we ride away from the airport, Suave is enthralled by what he sees out of his window. A bridge dotted with Puerto Rican flags. Beachside restaurants and tourists in tiny bikinis. Locals and motorcycles blasting music as they pass us on the road. And to our right, endless ocean.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Suave, can you just tell me what you're seeing right now?

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

Seeing bougie Puerto Rico people. I'm not endorsing it, but it's beautiful sand, beautiful white sand.

[Julieta Martinelli]

So the last time Suave was here, he says that he was like 7 or 8 years old. He'd spent some summers with his grandfather, but that time he stayed almost a whole year. So he's eager to see everything all at once in a way. But so far, it just doesn't feel like the Puerto Rico that he remembers.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

I didn't come to this spot when I came to Puerto Rico with my grandfather. Yeah, we went to Santurce.

[Maria Garcia]

Santurce is a historically working class and a very black part of the capital with deep history and connection to its African roots. It's actually just a few minutes from the beachfront hotels Suave says that's where we're going to be visiting his family. But for now, the water.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

This is fun. Let me see if this sand is hot.

[Julieta Martinelli]

So we drop our bags at our hotel, we walk across the street, literally. And we're on the beach now, just in time for the sunset. And honestly, this had been a dream of mine to witness Suave encountering the ocean in Puerto Rico for the first time since he was a child. And yeah, he walks out to the water.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

Listen people, I'm wearing green slippers, white pants, white T shirt, like I've been in the island all my life. But the Yankee hat, give it away. I'm going in the water.

[Maria Garcia]

Swabit pulls out his phone and goes live on TikTok. We can hear him greeting some of his students.

[Julieta Martinelli]

And so even though we had been fighting, Suave and me like not talking, it was kind of tense. La verdad, all of that started to melt away and it was just so sweet, you know, Mediotanta ternuda to see him on the island of Puerto Rico, like feeling free and looking like so happy.

[Maria Garcia]

When the sun sets, we walk back to the hotel. Suave says he's a little nervous about the next morning, seeing what's left of his family. It's just been so long.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Suave doesn't have a lot of communication with his US based family. You know, his mom passed away when he was in prison and he just doesn't talk to the rest of his sisters all that often. They live out of state and they're all dealing with their own challenges in life. And since he's gotten out, actually they've only seen each other a handful of times. So there's been this loneliness, a loneliness for family, a longing for this sense of familia.

[Maria Garcia]

But in Puerto Rico, two people that mean a lot to him still remain. His cousins, Pelo and Millie. They're in their 70s and 80s now. They grow up with Suave's mom and he's really excited to ask them some questions.

[Julieta Martinelli]

And so are we, because for years we've heard about the love and appreciation that Suave feels for his mom, Saro. And I've always felt that Saro in many ways is like the key to understanding so many things about Suave. Because in some ways I think Suave wanted to emulate her. But one thing I do know is that Saro, she was a complicated person.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

She was a wild child. Cause they used to say she was a little crazy. I guess that's how we came out where, you know, she ain't take no for answer. She went and did it. She gonna survive.

[Maria Garcia]

Suave's mom may have been troubled, but she was also his biggest fan. She always watched out for Suave.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

My mom just did what the fuck she had to do to keep us alive. And she did well, because guess what? Each and one of my sisters know how to survive. We never went without food. We never went without clothes. You know, there wasn't brand clothes, but we had clothes. There was good times.

[Maria Garcia]

But Suave says, before those days of hustling in the Bronx, she had a whole life in Puerto Rico.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

My mom could dance real good. Real good. My mom was a real good dancer.

[Maria Garcia]

What does she like to dance?

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

South, sis. My man could dance. My mom used to twerk before. Twerking was good out here. I'm serious. My mom was that dancer. She had a nice big booty. And people used to be like.

[Maria Garcia]

But there was a lot of drama and trauma in her life. She got pregnant as a teenager.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

My mom was, like, 16 when she had my older sister. My oldest sister right now is 63. She had my older sister. Then she had the twins. Then she had me and my sister.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Then she had my little sister in her early 20s. Suavez says that she moved to the Bronx after yet another relationship, where she ended up being a victim of domestic violence. But they would go back to pr.

[Maria Garcia]

Did you travel with your mom to Puerto Rico when you were a kid?

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

We lived in Puerto Rico for a while. As far as I could remember, I was like, seven.

[Maria Garcia]

Do you know why you went to Puerto Rico?

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

Because of my little sister's father. And I also remember that one time my mom got into a fight with him, and he tried to throw my mom out the window.

[Maria Garcia]

But in Puerto Rico, there was always someone there to step in and protect them. It taught Suave that he wasn't alone.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

If you look at my family, the black side in Puerto Rico, that's who they were. They were survivors. They made it happen, and they stuck together. And that's where I got that piece.

[Julieta Martinelli]

That piece of valuing family ties. So that when Suave got out of prison, one of his dreams was like, to put his family back together again. Kind of like the way he remembered it, the way he imagined it during those 31 years in prison.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

It ain't work. My family's American. It ain't work. With my sister, it didn't work. But that's where I got it from. Because my family, when they came from Puerto Rico, they stuck together.

[Maria Garcia]

Suave doesn't know much else about his mom's childhood. It's actually one of the big reasons that he's so excited about tomorrow. He's really eager to see Belou. Pelou's the family elder, the keeper of stories, Stories that Suave desperately wants.

[Julieta Martinelli]

And Suave has long wondered about his mom's past. What she was like growing up, the things she didn't talk about. But you have to remember that Suave was in prison for 31 years. He was the baby and he's 55 now. So he never got to ask those questions like, you know, sit with your mom and look through photo albums or hear the funny anecdotes.

[Maria Garcia]

You know, there's gaps in his past that he really would like to fill. And so maybe could Puerto Rico hold some answers for Suave? The next day finally arrives. As we approach the neighborhood, Suave remembers so clearly he's taken aback by the change. He doesn't recognize his own childhood home. We're like two turns away.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

I know when I was here, when my grandfather, none of this shit was here.

[Julieta Martinelli]

It was all casitas, it was all casita.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

It wasn't this.

[Maria Garcia]

That makes sense.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

This is all new.

[Julieta Martinelli]

And that's because, you know, Santurce has now become a hotspot for gentrification. Like, there's a high rise in the middle of all of these tiny houses.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

It might be old to them, but it's new in the sense that when I came here 45 years ago, this wasn't here.

[Maria Garcia]

But then we turn into a small alley. An older man walks out into the street. Dark skinned, tall, wearing colorful beads around his neck. Before I can even park the car, Suavet jumps out. I watch them hug and greet behind the steering wheel.

[Julieta Martinelli]

And it's actually Suave's cousin Pelou. He calls him David Sito. Little David. Even though Suave is a full 55 year old man now.

[Maria Garcia]

Yeah. And Pelou walks us through an alley to the same house where Suave's family has lived for at least three generations.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Oh, I can. Linda.

[Maria Garcia]

Oh my God.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Suave.

[Maria Garcia]

Perfect.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Oh my God. Suave's family home is lime green. Yes, a lime green with a white picket fence. And there are flowers everywhere. We meet Suave's other cousin. Her name is Millie. And she's just bubbling over with warmth and laughter.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

No, no, no. She said she look. She said I look like my mother. I better. She gave birth to me.

[Maria Garcia]

The home is tidy, sparkling clean. There are plants and pictures of smiling faces on the walls. We walk in and Sit down in the kitchen. Around the round wooden table, Suave's cousin Millie is cooking fried steak. As she talks over the kitchen island, she dips each piece of meat into a bowl of eggs and then bread crumbs.

[Julieta Martinelli]

And Suave cuts to the chase fairly quickly. He tells them that he wants to hear about his mother and about his grandfather, the man who he actually always considered his father.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

My name comes from my grandfather.

[Julieta Martinelli]

From your grandfather.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

My last name is Gonzalez because of my grandfather.

[Maria Garcia]

Suave's grandfather, Julio, was a security guard for years. He worked at a hospital here in San Juan. But he would fly to New York often, and sometimes he would even bring him back to Puerto Rico. Suave never really knew his own father, but he didn't miss him much because he had abuelo Julio. He was really kind to Suave.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Suave always wanted to have a photo of his grandfather, but Milli says they just can't find any. And for Suave, this is like a gut punch.

[Maria Garcia]

But it turns comedic immediately when his family reveals that grandpa had a lot of girlfriends. You know, they tell Suave that he never let anyone take his photo because, well, you know, no face, no case. A lover. Until his last moment, they all joke. As Suave hears stories about his grandfather and his adventurous love life, he gets more comfortable. He's smiling year to year, he relates.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Then we're hearing a lot that he had a lot of girls, including a nun.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

Yes, love him, love him.

[Julieta Martinelli]

And this is essentially all the reasons why we came to Puerto Rico.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

Yo, my grandfather was the man. Seriously.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Yeah. Well, I don't know how the women would say about that, but.

[Maria Garcia]

Millie sets a big photo album in front of Suave.

[Julieta Martinelli]

In this one, there are pictures of his cousins playing high school ball. There's photos from his uncle's wedding. I mean, really, it's just showing all of these things, these memories, these moments that Suave missed out on because he was in prison. Suave, can you just say, like, how you're feeling at this moment?

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

Emotional.

[Julieta Martinelli]

What's going on for you?

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

This is my first time here, like, in 45 years. So this is like. This is like, wow. To see where he pass. And this is where my mother grew up here. This is where the history started. This is why we here.

[Maria Garcia]

Soon enough, the conversation turns to Suave's mother, Sado. The family seems hesitant to want to share too much about her, but they do land on the fact that she, much like Suave and her father, well, she was a free spirit. They tell us that Suave's mom fell in love pretty easily.

[Julieta Martinelli]

So Suave's mom was a woman who liked men.

[Maria Garcia]

While Maria and I cringe a little bit, Suave doesn't really seem upset to hear his mom described this way. Actually, he seems to take it with really good humor. As we look over old photos, we learn that Suave's mom was sent to a live in school for troubled children when she was only 11.

[Julieta Martinelli]

They said that she liked to run off with her friends and that the family got really worried that she was gonna get in some kind of trouble, you know, on the streets. And so they were working parents. They didn't have a lot of resources, and so they did what they thought was best at the time. And the thing is, Suave had never heard this story his mom had never told him.

[Maria Garcia]

Like Suave, she was essentially locked away in her teens. They say that she lived at the school full time. Millie even recalls visiting her on Sundays. The rest of the time, Saro was alone. A story that later repeated with Suave, a teenager in another type of cell, but isolated all the same.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Now, over the years, Suave always really made it clear to me how much he respected his mom for doing it all alone as a single mom. In terms of his father, he only knows his name, and it's a painful topic. We really haven't talked about it. And Swabi was told pretty early on in life that he and his sister, his twin sister Eva, were the result of a sexual assault. So even without the support of her children's fathers, the thing is, is that Suave's mom made it work. She was doing it in her own way. You know, she had her own parental philosophy about how you raised kids who need to be ready for the world.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

Now, she. My mom was liberal. Like, you want to join? You smoke a joint. Let's smoke a joint together. She did that.

[Julieta Martinelli]

But you told me that your mom actually was using.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

Yeah, but it wasn't addicted. She used because we want to get high and, okay, I'm going to get high with y' all. She was a liberal. She let us do what we wanted to do.

[Julieta Martinelli]

She was using heroin.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

I mean, she got high with us. She got high with us.

[Maria Garcia]

In New York, Ava had little familial support. Besides her sisters and a couple of cousins, the women were all pretty much on the same boat, you know, so everyone did the best that they could to survive. And sometimes those decisions may have been, well, a little misguided.

[Julieta Martinelli]

I will never forget when Suave told me about the time that he first tried heroin this was a drug that he was selling on the street corners, Right. When he got into the confrontation that landed him in prison for murder. But, you know, when he was younger, he hadn't tried it, and then he did with his mom, and he wasn't even a teenager yet.

[Maria Garcia]

Suave says his mom would always say, if you're going to do it, I'd rather you do it at home with me.

[Julieta Martinelli]

So, of course, as a mother myself, I had a really hard time trying to reconcile this. Right. I had to really try to come at this without any judgment and understand where Suave's mom was coming from. Because also, I mean, she is kind of above criticism for Suave. And I didn't really want to kind of go there. But now here in Puerto Rico with Suave's family and. And I'm hearing more about his mother, I'm starting to understand that she was somebody who was suffering through a tremendous amount of trauma as a little girl, you know, as not even a teenager herself. And she had to make her life happen on her own terms. So I'm finally getting the picture that she was someone who found a way to get by in a world that had not been kind to her.

[Maria Garcia]

And the thing is, she had six kids to take care of, all on her own at an especially tough time in New York city in the 70s and 80s. So she did a lot of side hustles. For example, she resold beer out of her apartment.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

My mom used to get the cases of beer, the little beer. They used to be 48 in the case.

[Maria Garcia]

48.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

48.

[Maria Garcia]

And she sold needles for heroin users.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

And we talking about the 80s. The 80s, when the heroin was cheap and the needles was cheap, and she used to sell them, the needles for a dollar every day. Yeah, Mommy was a hustler.

[Maria Garcia]

There's pride in his voice. Imperfect. A hustler, a survivor like him.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Something unexpected happened after Jeremy Scott confessed to killing Michelle Schofield in Bone Valley season one.

[Maria Garcia]

Every time I hear about my dad is, oh, he's a killer.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

He's just straight evil.

[Maria Garcia]

I was becoming the bridge between Jeremy.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Scott and the son he'd never known.

[Maria Garcia]

At the end of the day, I'm literally a son of a killer.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Listen to new episodes of bone Valley Season 2 on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Maria Garcia]

We hear a lot of stories on this day, and the general conclusion for me as an outsider is really just how close this family once was.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Take the story about Suave's aunt, his tia, who they say was beaten by her husband in the United States, right in Florida. When the family found out that this man had lifted a hand to her, the cousins say they boarded a flight to Miami and showed up the next day. They threatened the husband, took her out of the home, and literally put her on the plane right back to Puerto Rico, no questions asked.

[Maria Garcia]

Hearing so many stories about his family and how they banded together, Suave starts to get a little emotional. He has a moment. He's been missing this.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

It wasn't like, well, you're over here. That's your problem. Oh, no, no. We're going over there. We gonna handle that in whatever way, right?

[Julieta Martinelli]

So if you met the problem becomes one for the whole family.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

And that was the structure with this family here, that no matter if we was in New York, in the Bronx or not, this our home. This is where we belong.

[Julieta Martinelli]

When you. When you talk about, you know, when you get out of prison in 2017, you remember the first year or two, you had such a desire to bring your family together. And I was always like, I don't see it.

[Maria Garcia]

You know, Maria, I always remember you telling the story of picking up Suave from prison and how surprised you were that there was no family there and how much Swabe would have loved that.

[Julieta Martinelli]

And, you know, this was really hard to understand why Suave was so dead set in reuniting with his siblings when, yo, they didn't even show up. They didn't visit, they didn't write. I mean, how come he wasn't angry? And this is something that, honestly, I didn't. I didn't understand. But now being here, because.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

Ban him.

[Julieta Martinelli]

I think what you wanted so desperately to make happen in Philly was really right here. You're crying now.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

No, I'm not crying yet.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Yeah, you are. And now the same place, and now it turns out, Swabi here in Puerto Rico. In fact, you have found that family.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

Yeah, I always had it. I found it. I always had it.

[Maria Garcia]

There's one more thing about Suave's mom that we haven't really talked about yet. Something that was really key to her own existence, her relationship to spirituality. Suave's mom was a Santera. And a lot of Suave's childhood was actually spent watching her do this kind of work, doing offerings, reading people's cards.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Suave's whole family has deep roots in Santeria. And Santeria is a traditional spiritual practice that is originally from Africa. It's also known as the Yoruba religion. It's very secretive because it had to be, because people who followed this tradition were shunned, they were persecuted. I mean, really, it's a religion of survivors. So at the very end is when Belou finally says, so you want to see our little room upstairs? So we go upstairs and there's an unmarked door right there. Belou opens it up for us and it is a full blown Santeria Lectura room. A place where readings happen. A place where you pray. So you're seeing, for example, the deities. You're seeing a Bible opened, you see cigars, candles that are lit right now. And at that moment I say, look, is there a chance that I can meet the santera who comes to do work in your house? And so Suave's cousin says, let me see if I can make a phone call to the santera.

[Maria Garcia]

We agree to meet here again in the morning. The next day, when we arrive, there's a tiny woman sitting on a couch. She wears a long, flowing, light colored mumu. Only a wisp of golden hair is visible from beneath her hair wrap. She couldn't have been taller than 5ft, but her presence is large.

[Julieta Martinelli]

It's rare to see Suave stop in his tracks, but this is what happened. Like he looked at this person and he was so blown away by the fact that she looked so much like his mother. He got so emotional. And when he finally pulled it together to say hello, they just hugged really tight.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

That lady looked identical. Same face and everything.

[Maria Garcia]

Evelyn is the family santera. Madrina or godmother is what they would call her. She's deeply trusted by Suave's family. And actually it turns out that Suave's grandfather was also a very respected santero until his old age. Over the decades of his incarceration, Suave's mom did offerings and prayed to all her saints to get Suave out of prison. She would speak to Yemaya, the orisha associated with the ocean. A mother goddess. One mother asking another to bring her son home. And Suavez never really explained to us why he didn't follow his family's spiritual practices. I mean, in prison, Suave tried a few other things. You know, he read the Bible for a while, he would go to chapel, then he joined the Nation of Islam. But none of it really lasted too long. I think it's clear in this meeting that there's also some hesitation here. But the santera says she felt a call to come see him while he's here in pr. She asks Suave to go to a back room with her. He hesitates just A moment. Then he follows. We're not allowed to record what happens. An hour later, Suave walks out. His eyes look a little misty, but he seems relieved. We don't talk about what happened in the room. We chat. We have lunch. This is our last day here. Suave has to return to teaching and we need to get back to work. Maria asks Millie what she thinks about the reunion.

[Julieta Martinelli]

What are you taking away from this whole experience of 24 hours with Suave? Millie tells me that she's really happy that Suave has found his family after so many years apart. And found them right here in the same house he spent time in when he was a kid.

[Maria Garcia]

After sharing stories and saying goodbyes, I think we're all feeling a little spiritual. Suave is deep in thought. We ask how he feels and he says he feels at home.

[Julieta Martinelli]

Madrina Evelyn told Suave that he should cleanse himself in the world waters of his birthplace. To leave behind on the island everything he no longer wishes to carry.

[Maria Garcia]

Maria knows exactly where to go. I drive about an hour to Lukillo Beach.

[Julieta Martinelli]

He's taking off his socks. He's really. He's fighting this, but he's coming.

[Maria Garcia]

As we. As we walk down this isolated beach, Suave clutches a water bottle filled with a light pink liquid. It was placed in his hands by Evelyn on the way out. It's a special bath water that she made for him. Jasmine water, rose water, herbs. She prayed over it for peace of mind. This beach feels like the right place for reflection. Here, in this exact spot, the river and the ocean meet.

[Julieta Martinelli]

In the Yoruba practice, the ocean is Yemaya and the river is Oshun. And so we are meeting both waters.

[Maria Garcia]

This time it's Suave standing in front of Yemaya, the ocean goddess that Suave's mother prayed to for decades for his protection, for his freedom. Suave is standing in ankle deep water, exactly at the point where the river and the ocean become one. Maria stands next to him. After this trip, I feel an even deeper sense of empathy for Suave. I see the little boy standing in the body of a 63 man in front of me. I think that Maria feels feels this too. I have a feeling that there are things that she wishes she could take back. But sometimes words aren't enough. So I watch her open the bottle, crouch down and lift one of Suave's feet. Softly, she begins to pour water from.

[Julieta Martinelli]

The bottle as I'm pouring.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

This feels good. People.

[Julieta Martinelli]

I would say that this is water that is to be used to cleanse you Suave to The message from your mom is that you are safe. The message from your grandmother is you are safe. You are with people who love you. They love you so much that they don't even know you. And they're preparing cleansing baths for you because they want you to heal and know that you have angels that are watching over you. Your mother was a rebel spirit. Your grandfather was a rebel spirit. Your grandmother was a rebel spirit. And you'll fight even with the people who love you most. But guess what? We're not going anywhere. Suave, those of us who know you and love you and have witnessed what you have done with your life, we're not going anywhere.

[Maria Garcia]

Suave doesn't speak, but he doesn't recoil either. He lets her do it. I can't help but think that washing his feet is Maria's way of making peace. An apology or olive branch of some sort. Right now, their bickering doesn't matter. The car situation, the doesn't matter. Parole doesn't matter. All the challenges small and large in Swabe's life recede. Here he is, a survivor receiving a blessing in a place where the waters meet for a single moment. Home. Coming up on the final episode of Suave Season 2, Suave takes stock.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

I'm freshly new out of prison. Seven years is not, it's not a lot of time. And I managed to make it this far, so that got to count for Sunday. It was having a mental breakdown. That's exactly what like I was triggered to that point where it's like, man, I'm fucking you up. I'm going, I'm gonna go to jail, but I'm fucking you up.

[Maria Garcia]

And reveals a life changing decision.

[Luis Suave Gonzalez]

For the last month, I've been reluctant to tell Maria like, yo, I'm going through this. I already went through the process. Dr. All that shit. It's like, this is it. You do it for everybody else. Now it's time to do it for.

[Maria Garcia]

Your that's next time on Suave. Suave is a production of Futuro Studios. To binge every episode of Suave Season 2 right now. Plus exclusive bonus episodes. Subscribe to To Futuro the senior producer, reporter and host is me, Julieta Martinelli. Our associate producer is Liliana Ruiz. We're edited by Marlon Bishop. Our production managers are Jessica Ellis and Nancy Trujillo. Our post production producer is Dan Riveros. Scoring and sound Design by Stephanie LeBeau. Mixing by Stephanie LeBeau, Julie Caruso and JJ Krubin. Our fact checker is Amy Tardif Production help from Joaquin Kotler, Juan Diego Ramirez, Nicole Rothwell, Joey Del Valle, Evelyn Fajardo Alvarez, Glori Marquez, and Tasha Sandoval. Our executive producers are Marieno Rosa, Luis Suave Gonzalez, Marlon Bishop, and Maria Garcia. Futura Media was founded by marienojosa. Special thanks to Maggie Freeling, Audrey Quinn, Antonia Seregido, Fernandez Chabarri, Neil Rossini, Students of the I Am More program at the Community College of Philadelphia, the Abolitionist Law Center, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, and the Campaign for the Fair Sentencing of Youth. Season two of Suave was made possible by the Mellon Foundation. Mellon makes grants to support divisionaries and and communities that unlock the power of the arts and humanities to help connect us all. [e-mail] Season 2 of Suave was made possible in part by Public Welfare foundation, catalyzing transformative approaches to justice that are community led, restorative and racially. Just.

[Julieta Martinelli]

From PRX.