"Decía La Abuela Que Cuando Una Mujer Se Sintiera Triste Lo Mejor Que Podía Hacer Era Trenzarse El

#Elevated_subways at #Queensboro_Plaza.

#New_York_City_Subways #mtanyctransit

Today <3 

a friendly reminder

that calling women of color exotic is

fucking racist

dehumanizing

othering

and not a fucking compliment

support all indigenous people

- support indigenous people you’re hearing about for the first time - support black indigenous people - support all dark-skinned indigenous people, mixed or not - support indigenous people who are disconnected from their roots and are only now rediscovering them - support indigenous people who arent white-passing or mixed with white - support multiracial indigenous people - support indigenous people who are mixed with white but refuse to identify with that part of their heritage - support all indigenous people regardless if they speak their tribal/native language, whether they live on their land or not, whether they know a lot of their heritage or not

When Indigenous Fashion Hits the Runway, Details Matter

Fifteen years ago, Glenda Yañez put on the clothes of her ancestors. She had always admired how her grandmother dressed—her wide, layered…

Fifteen years ago, Glenda Yañez put on the clothes of her ancestors.She had always admired how her grandmother dressed—her wide, layered skirt; a thick embroidered shawl; and a top hat leaning just so, two long and dark braids coming down her back. Yañez, who grew up in the bustling city of La Paz, Bolivia, had come of age in jeans and T-shirts.

That’s because her grandmother’s indigenous dress — known as the chola style — had for centuries been a target of acute discrimination. For most of Bolivia’s history, a Spanish-descended, white minority lorded over the country’s native majority in a system akin to apartheid. The chola wardrobe is a fashion distinctive to Bolivia’s second largest indigenous group, the Aymara people. And it’s one that has endured since the 1700s, even though it has brought with it heightened segregation.

MORE

The photos accompanying this article are SO wonderful. 

Ay ay ay! This is beautiful. 

I love how some words and phrases cannot really be translated. Taken from La Marisoul’s (of La Santa Cecilia) Facebook. Couldn’t love this more if I tried. 

*every morning while applying eyeliner*

Yes, we have power!

I've been reading this book on the establishment, maintenance and refinement of White Supremacy in the known universe. Yes, it is The United Independent Compensatory Code/System/Concept: a textbook/workbook for thought, speech and/or action of racism (white supremacy) by Neely Fuller, Jr. The book has me hooked with a pencil in hand always star-ing important statements but I really do not buy the author's point on absolute powerlessness among non-white people. I hear his argument about the lack of success victims of racism have had in overthrowing and replacing white supremacy with justice and correctness in the known universe, but at the same time I disagree with his point of our incapability to do so. I disagree that we are mentally inferior than whites, esp. white supremacists (racists). I see why he repeats this argument over and over again -- to highlight the ability and responsibility white supremacists (racists) have to bring justice and correctness in the known world.  But every time I join a march in support of peoples' suffering from many injustices I can't stop being amazed by the strength, passion and willingness people have to come together and stand/march/chant & stand in uncomfortable weather conditions in order to create solidarity and try to raise awareness about a given topic. A topic that touches home and the soul. Every time I see and feel that energy for hope and change I just cannot believe that we are incapable to tackle the bigger picture. The mere fact of acknowledging (and not ignoring) what is going on that's creating injustice in our existence is powerful and that's why I can't share Fuller's point. 

Today, when I joined the march in response to the decision on Eric Garner's case at Foley Park in Manhattan I stepped in and found some organizer friends that had brought the youth to the march. I couldn't stop being amazed by their energy and most important by all the questions they had about the circumstances in which we currently live. Most of the youth were recently arrived immigrants from different countries, but the young men I kept nearby (so they wouldn't get separated from the larger group) came from various countries in Asia. One of them asked me in various occasions what the people were chanting because they were singing so speedy that he couldn't understand and he didn't want to support something he didn't understand. I smiled and explained with my heart humbled and with admiration every time.   His smart assessment proves how sophisticated and aware our youth of color are. Tonight was a blessing and I am happy to be around powerful people who are passionated to stand and march for justice. 

Ay Galeano.

Eduardo Galeano.

The Women’s Building - San Francisco, California

by Juana Alicia, Meera Desai, Miranda Bergman, Irene Perez, Susan Kelk Cervantes, Littleton Yvonne and Edythe Boone

(photos: Anthony Byrd)