Monday, November 12, 2007

Hombres of Steel - New York Times

Hombres of Steel - New York Times

A few years ago, Ms. Pinzón, a former organizer for the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, started asking the city’s anonymous day laborers from Puebla if they would pose for her in their work settings — dressed as superheroes.

“They’re so quiet and hard-working and invisible,” she said. “I wanted to pay a tribute to them.”

Of her score of subjects, Mr. Reyes was her favorite. “He’s been in New York 10 years and has put his siblings in Mexico through university with his earnings,” she said. “But he’d never so much as visited the Empire State Building, he’s been working so hard.”

She added: “He’s so fragile and small with his bicycle. I said to him, ‘You’re going to be my Superman.’ ”