Happy Birthday Mom (WIP) - Photo Gallery

"You are not alone. The violence that happened to you has happened to many of us. It is not your fault."

    Inspired by true events, Jacque Salame brings forth a heart-wrenching story about systemic injustice on working-class families. She tells it in a unique blend of multimedia storytelling, utilizing music, dance, animation, and spoken word.
     The story is about a mother who on her birthday finds her son missing and, while in search, has a run-in with the law. Meanwhile, her son gets detained by I.C.E., and all the ramifications that result from these dual perspectives run in with law enforcement. Happy Birthday Mom HBDM tackles these important topics of state-sanctioned violence through the lens of marginalized communities.
    Salame herself is an artist, dancer, and activist in the local arts community. She was a recipient of two art grants that went to this production: the individual artist grant and the production costs grant from the City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Culture. The show was presented on March 29th as a work in progress to the community, to raving reviews and heartfelt tears.

Full production of Happy Birthday Mom HBDM is scheduled for August 2025.​​

Author: Omar Hilario

El Placazo coordinator and Managing Editor.
​Photography: Omar Hilario