Maria Aponte was born and raised an only child in East Harlem, otherwise known as âEl Barrio,â in New York City, to Puerto Rican parents. Because she lost her mother…
Born Bataan Nitollano to an African American mother and Filipino father, Joe Bataan grew up in Manhattanâs East Harlem in the 1950âs and 60âs â otherwise known as âSpanish Harlem,â…