Mateo’s dicho

In honor of Latinx Heritage month, we sat down with Mateo Zapata, a Chicago-based photographer documenting the public health crisis, the ways it is disproportionately affecting his community, and the systemic inequality it has brought to light. We spoke about how his heritage has influenced his work, and the message he hopes young people take from his images—that when the world stopped, it was people of color who kept it turning. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.