Benjamin Bac Sierra was raised by a widowed mother and the streets of San Francisco’s Mission District. After serving as a grunt in the Marine Corps, where he participated in front-line combat during the first Gulf War, Ben completed his B.A. in English at U.C. Berkeley, earned a teaching credential and a Master’s in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University, and merited a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. Since 2002, he has been a professor at City College of San Francisco and a community innovator and keynote speaker throughout the Bay Area. Ben’s essays and stories have been published in newspapers and literary magazines, including World Literature Today, where he was featured as a prominent emerging author. His first novel Barrio Bushido was presented a Best of the Bay Award and an International Latino Book Award. In 2016, U.C. Hastings College of the Law La Raza Students Association honored him as a Distinguished Alumni of the Year for his community leadership and legal analysis of police killings. Pura Neta, his latest novel, is published by Pochino Press.
TODO BODO DOWN
One night in the mid 1980’s my brother, Rest in Peace, came home snapped out—angeldusted, yet understanding. Standing stoned straight, he paused in our little living room and with dignity and a new knowledge from somewhere in the beyond, he snorted the following words:
“Todo Bodo Down. I’m Todo Bodo Down, ese!” With authority, with a sneer, with certainty about identity, he proclaimed the answer for the entire varrio.
Those words meant gibberish but they also meant it all. Everything in one nut phrase. A phrase he invented and that only the few chosen homies knew and understood. Sometimes we would joke about it; homeboys would rib my bro and greet him with “Todo Bodo Down.” We would drink up, smile, and shout to the stars. Then sometimes, after being confused for so long and being bitter and afraid and angry and straight loco, the homeboys would take the smirks off of their faces, and they would almost cry it out. That was “Todo Bodo Down” with a seriousness, with a desire for forgetting. And when it was time to fight or do something completely insane, we would chant it “Todo Bodo Down.” Then it was a prayer. They were magical words that woke the spirits we needed to help us. Todo Bodo Down contained the purpose for our entire existence.
Todo is all. Bodo is a corruption of nothing and everything; it is a word that sounds good and rhymes with Todo. Bodo can mean fucked. It can mean total. It can mean whatever you want it to mean as long as you place the feeling in there with it. Down does not mean out. Down in this context means up. Down means committed. Down means sure/certain. Down means knowing. And what is it that we know? We don’t know, yet it is still there; our answer cannot be articulated any better.
Todo Bodo Down. All fucked up. All into life. All ready for the next step. All hurt yet standing. All is firme.
This blog is dedicated to the spirit that makes us who we are.
To my soul brother, Jeff.
Todo Bodo Down: The Bac Sierra Blog 
Benjamin,
Wow, let me first say congratulations to you on the publishing of your book!!! I know it is a long journey, but years ago when I was a part of one of your writing classes, there was never a doubt you would make this dream become a reality.
Please let me know when your novel becomes available so I can get my copy! You have always been so inspirational for your writers. I want you to know that to this day your name comes up in many conversations I have with other writers and artists. Success comes easily to people like you who give your heart so freely to lift others… Get ready, man!!!
Like you, I too am on wordpress… Not a lot of stories, mostly real life happenings and thoughts. Leave me a comment it you can!
Blessings Brother,
Kelly
Hello Kelly,
I am ready for whatever life gifts me. Every day is the best, and I appreciate your kind words and your faith in me. Let’s continue to write the good and gritty stuff.
Always,
Ben
Dear Mr. Bac Sierra:
It was a wonderful surprise to receive your email regarding your novel. I have always been very impressed with your talent as a writer and a teacher. Even though I have not been able to finish any of your English classes due to personal matters, I have kept your name in the hopes that I can return to your class soon.
Me llena de orgullo to say that you are a role model for our latin young people, and even for the old, like in my case. I was not born in the States and to come to this country where everybody has an opportunity to get ahead and be what ever they want to be, it hurts to see that latinos are not taking advantage of this opportunity, and meeting a person like you, with your talent and education, gives me inspiration to continue in the pursuit of an education.
I can hardly wait to see and read your novel, and it will be an honor, and I really mean this, to go back and take any of your English classes.
Sincerely,
Alma R. Mena-Del Barrio
Hello Benjamin, I’m excited about your coming publication. We met at the Sebastopol writing group last year, and I was so impressed by your strength, candor and emotion. I look forward to seeing you Sept.11.
Your expression made me pause, and I wandered as I wondered .. it all ended up mucho fitting …
your friend, (and former estudiante) gregory halabis
Professor Bac Sierra,
I did not know that your brother, Jeff, past away. I do remember him when we were at St. Anthony’s, and I remember that he was always a cool guy. I’m sure if he were alive right now, he’d be more than proud of you. I’m still checking out your blog.
Respect,
Jerry . . .
Hola Ben, it was a nice surprise seeing your information on supervisor Campos newsletter. I never had the pleasure to meet you, but, I was a friend of your brother James Bac Sierra, I always knew him as James, I met him several years ago around his time going through a lot of changes in his personal life. He and I became friends and I always had with him a mentor- protegee relationship. He always spoke about you, I remember him talking about how proud he was of you graduating from your Juris Doctor degree. I was running the San Francisco Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and he was running the Lemus insurance agency on 22nd. street, we hit it of great, coming from Central America we always spoke about real life on the streets, I grew up in New York and we always compared the streets from our cities. I would like to meet you and tell you in person what a great guy your brother was, as a matter of fact I just found out about his passing away a few months ago, he was truly something and I am proud that I have know him.
As a former marine:
Semper Fi
Carlos Solorzano
you have made your brother proud(again)!
Señor Bac Sierra,
I wrote you once before thanking you for the impact you made in my son Mikel at CCSF two summers ago. I have read the review about your book “Barrio Bushido” today in the Chronicle. I am looking forward to reading it very soon.
Once again, thank you very much for all you do.
¡Adelante!
Victoria
Hello Mr. Bac Sierra,
I am thinking that you brother, RIP, Jeff and I were classmates at St. Anthony’s in Santa Barbara during freshman year. Is this the one and only Jeff? I am so sorry about your loss.
Thank you for your story…thank you for the example you set…thank you that you stay true to yourself…my belated condolences for the loss of your brother…continued success.
Bac Sierra,Thank you for all you’ve done to make me think about writing please keep in touch.Have a great and wonderful.
So many things to say. Not a day goes by that my husband and I dont bring up your name. So many days just chilling at the house bbqn or cruising. You were our brother that we never had. So sad of your passing….we are living today and “enjoying bro”! Just wish you could of made it a little longer to swim in the warm waters of the pacific. You gave one of the greatest gifts – if it wasnt for you – I never would met the love of my life now we’re 11 yrs strong. GOD BLESS YOU and We know your cruising listening to your oldies in the sky. RAS
We love you Jeff. “UNIQUE” N JEFF. Keep up the good work ben.push,pull,strive.con todo respeto to our carnal. Dedicatiion….Rock n Roll gangster…. LOVE YOU JEFF.
Hi,
My name is Newton and I would love it if you would have a 10 week course run in London. I am very much inspired by what I have read on your site. Thank you.
Kind regards
Newton