In the early 1970s, life in the Bronx was characterized by rundown tenements, drugs, and crime. To survive, many young residents joined gangs. The largest gang, with nearly 2,000 members, was the Ghetto Brothers, led by Benjamin Melendez, the son of Jewish immigrants from Puerto Rico. Melendez came into the public eye in 1971 when he initiated a highly publicized peace treaty among New York youth gangs. Instead of being known for gang wars, the Bronx began to make a name for itself through hip-hop, DJs, and the graffiti scene. In this spirit of change, Benjamin Melendez embarked on another journey: the search for his Jewish roots. Ghetto Brother tells the true story of Benjamin Melendez, a forgotten figure in New York pop culture. Author and photographer Julian Voloj and illustrator Claudia Ahlering have collaborated on this work.