Machismo

the Jibaro…

“He was someone we had to investigate, we had to try and understand. Because, in part, it helps us understand ourselves.” Margarita Mergal

The word “Jibaro” roughly translates to “hillbilly” but is used as a term of endearment in the “campo” (countryside). These are the true proletariat of Puerto Rico who represented the backbone of the Puerto Rican economy in the early to mid 1900’s. However, as with many cultures during this time, there were norms and beliefs that were extremely patriarchal. Women were seen as little more than wives and mothers and the man’s word was law. It was expected that men would have wives and girlfriends but infidelity from a woman could be punishable by extreme violence or death. Without this culture of Machismo, the story of Toño Bicicleta would have been impossible.

Antonio Garcia Lopez was an extreme Machista even by the standards of his day. If he woke up at any time and wanted food, his wife had to make it. If he wanted physical affection, his wife had to indulge him. If he brought a mistress to the house, he would make his wife (and his children) sit outside until they finished. His relationships were built on power and fear and he subjected those close to him, especially women, to daily doses of abuse meant to keep them in line.

In August, 1970, Antonio furiously sharpens his machete after learning that his longtime mistress, Gloria, has returned from the United States married. He marches towards a small country house and confronts his lover. Upon seeing her new husband, he grabs her by the hair and decapitates her on the spot. 

When the press asks the victim’s friend, who killed Gloria”, she uses Gloria’s nickname for Antonio and tells them that it was Toño Bicicleta. The press publishes, “TONO BICICLETA MATA A SU AMANTE” (Toño Bicicleta Murders His Lover), thus beginning the transformation of Antonio Garcia Lopez into Toño Bicicleta.