When my father was a very young child—around five to seven years old—he spent his days selling guavas or gum on the street to help his parents make ends meet. These stories from his early childhood have recently come to light during family gatherings. Upon learning about the heartbreaking reality of a child bearing the responsibility of helping to put food on the table, I created Smile Now, Cry Later to honor the millions of children across Latin America who take to the streets to sell fruit, candy, or, in some cases, provide entertainment through clowning.

The phrase “Smile Now, Cry Later” has been embraced by Chicano culture as a way of living in the moment despite sadness, hardship, and oppression. It has helped many migrants, including my family, believe that the emotions tied to struggle can be set aside and processed at a later time. Smile Now, Cry Later is one of many works in the series The Losing Man’s Codex, created for my nieces and nephew (who are pictured in the painting and are first-generation American citizens) as a reminder of where they come from and the reality their grandfather faced at their age. The entirety of this codex is written so that we remember every step of the journey—every moment of sadness and joy—and recognize just how much we’ve survived.