a Mexican worker in New York to work extraordinary hours in extreme conditions,” says Pinzon in the project’s statement, “[They work] for very low wages which are saved at great cost and sacrifice and sent to families and communities in Mexico who rely on them to survive.” Each portrait is captioned with the worker’s name, their hometown in Mexico, the number of years they have been working in New York and the amount of money they send to Mexico each week.

Since the project began, Pinzon has since moved back to Mexico but it has not stopped her growing portfolio. (Raw File is proud to publish three new Superheroes portraits: images 11,12 and 13.)

After September 11th, Pinzon meditated on the definition of hero: “The notion [of American hero] served as a necessity in a time of national and global crisis to acknowledge those who showed extraordinary courage in the face of danger, sometimes even sacrificing their lives in an attempt to save others.”

While the media focused on the visible and deserved adulation for 9/11 first-responders, Pinzon argues it is easy to overlook the daily life and labor sacrifices made by others in “somewhat less spectacular settings.”

So, who are these subjects of unspectacular work environments? “Previous students of mine, workers I helped unionize through my years as union organizer, workers in my neighborhood,” says Pinzon via email.

Pinzon’s photographs depict documented economic migrants, a group that is sometimes talked about and confused (willingly or innocently) with undocumented migrants. She is reluctant to discuss the politics of labor migration, partly because she does not live in the US any longer but also, one suspects, because her photographs are her message.

Arizona’s controversial SB1070 has been challenged, and temporarily blocked, because of its threat to civil liberties and its potential discrimination toward communities of color. This winter, another chapter in migrant labor will be written as the annual shift of seasonal agricultural jobs moves from California to Arizona. If undocumented workers will risk the legal climate in Arizona remains to be seen.

Pinzon’s former home state, New York is one of many states informally debating the introduction of similar legislation, with residents of New York City strongly opposed contrasting with rural Upstate dwellers a majority of whom are generally in favor.

Pinzon is not dogmatic however; rather, she is relative. When asked what she thinks of SB1070, Pinzon responds, “It’s ridiculous, but every country has laws equally as discriminative as the SB1070.”

Authors: Pete Brook

to know more click here