CUBA
I went to Cuba twice and my dream is to go back and do a homage to Kid Chocolate in Havana with all of my photographs of him. Several fighters from Harlem knew him and admired him.
Many old fighters in Harlem who were my friends led me to discover Kid Chocolate with great enthusiasm. They told me his punch was so fast he had to wear white gloves for the judge to be able to count. Kid Chocolate lived on 133rd st. for 10 years, I talked with people who remember how generous he was, especially children. I worked on 133rd for many years where I met and photographed many people. My big dream is to have a big exhibit dedicated to Kid Chocolate including the photographs signed by Muhammad Ali; I can feel it will happen because I believe in it and the money will come.
Havana, Cuba, 1984: Kid Chocolate asked me to pose his grandson before a 1926 picture of him.
Pictures featured in the book ‘Do or Die’. Forward by Gordon Parks & Martin Scorsese, published by Viking Penguin.
I was walking around next to the river with Kid Chocolate’s grandson and suddenly we saw a fish in the river. We captured the fish and put it in a plastic bag. The plastic bag was a real treasure.
Taken at a big farm a few hours from la Havana. They wanted me to take the photo of them like this, with Che in the middle.
On the left is a poster for the exhibition at the Maison Européenne de la Photographie in Paris. The video show was organized by Jean-Luc Monterosso, the head of the MEP in Paris, in 2017. There were posters were hung all around la Havana to announce the show. Many school children of all different ages came to the show.
“Martine Barrat’s Do or Die is the best book of photography about boxing because Ms. Barrat is an artist who never tries to psychoanalyze, deconstruct, or engage in self-righteous moralizing about the fighters or the sport. She lets her probing, captivating photos about this science and art do her talking, but when she does talk we get some of the best sports writing yet penned” - Ishmael Reed
“The young fighters photographed by you have a fierce and irresistible beauty. Bravo, Martine. You are our pride and joy.” - Marguerite Duras
“These photographs capture and project the humanity which underlines the basic laws of the art of boxing - that one must have three things: a dream, discipline, and heart.” - Stanley Crouch
“Martine joined La Mama in Paris in 1965. Her great love for the children in New York has been reflected in her work with them in her music. theatre, and video workshops. Her wonderful camera studies mirror the children’s great beauty.” - La Mama, Ellen Stewart
“A shockingly beautiful book - insightful and full of understanding.” - Cornell Capa; Director, International Center of Photography
“This book is about the struggle of men, about their ego and pride, about the simplicity and intricacy of their mind about their ability to deal with controlled violence. It is, finally, a book about life and death! Barrat takes us through that part of boxing which is invisible to the ordinary fan. She shows us the innocent ghetto child who dreams of a better world via boxing. She captures the innocence of the beginners and the slickness of the hustlers.” - José Torres; Former World Light-Heavyweight Champion; President, World Boxing Organization
Things one carries in a box.
Things one puts in a box.
Only the boxer lives to
beat the
box.
Ornette Coleman