tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-156265922024-03-13T17:45:12.655-04:00Write to RightCultural analysis, straight up and witty with no chaser. Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.comBlogger82125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-75550654955591192382020-06-19T05:17:00.002-04:002020-06-19T05:34:07.241-04:00Afro-Latina Outsiders Talk about the Pandemic, BLM, and Juneteenth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hola! Thanks for your interest in Afro-Latinas talking about the Pandemic, Black Lives Matter, and Juneteenth. I have really struggled with how to introduce this video, which was recorded specifically for Juneteenth, two days ago. <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Latina-Outsiders-Remaking-Identity-Global-ebook/dp/B07RS4VHGY" target="_blank">Latina Outsiders Remaking Latina Identity</a></i> is the anthology that brings the speakers of this talk together and what I now realize is that while this is a discussion between scholars and intellectuals, this discussion is not a scholarly one. This discussion between Afro-Latinas is extremely personal, raw, and messy because it is a response to centuries of colonial racism that Afro-Latinx people and movements have only started to discuss in earnest (while historian <a href="https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/schomburg-arturo-alfonso-1874-1938/" target="_blank">Arturo Schomburg</a> may have started the work in 1891, when he came to New York from Puerto Rico, popular discussion of Afro-Latinidad may have started with Piri Thomas' work, <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Down-These-Mean-Streets-Thomas/dp/0679781420" target="_blank">Down These Mean Streets</a></i>, published in the 1960s, just a few decades ago). There is much to unpack here as some of the statements in the talk have layers of historical trauma behind them.<br />
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For example, at one point Author Diana Diaz discusses an incident where she and her mother were attacked by a white woman in lower Manhattan. The woman used the plural version of the [trigger warning: word used in video] N-word to address Diaz and her mother. What might not be clear to some viewers is that Diaz is pointing out that while she has always identified as Black, her mother may not have and the moment this woman called them both this racial slur made the construction of race clear. This is a phenomenon that is very Latin American. Whereas in the United States, regardless of the different shades of brown in one family, all members of that family will know that they are Black. This is not the case in Latin America, where the "one-drop" rule was applied in the opposite manner it was applied in the U.S. Anyone in Latin America who has a supposed drop of white blood is allowed to claim whiteness, regardless of phenotype. That obviously doesn't work in the U.S. or for some of us who have a more realistic view of ourselves in the mirror. However, Diaz is trying to point out that claiming our Afro-ancestry should be a point of pride and not of shame, as it has been for some in Latin America and Latinx groups, and that because of this history her own mother didn't realize she was perceived this way. The source of this shame is rooted in old practices that were colonial, such as the nearly immediate promotion of the <a href="https://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/1934/2015/1600/cronica-de-castas.jpg" target="_blank">Casta economic system</a>, which was based on a mythical racial purity but really functioned as a way to place white Europeans at the top of the economic system. These practices continue today with an echo of that system in neoliberal practices that are structured around a racist economic system in all Latin American countries, again, as a way to continue to pool wealth and resources in the hands of white leadership. As a result, many times citizens of our countries were not allowed to identify as Black for fear of deportation (to Haiti from the Dominican Republic, for example), murder, or being ostracized from one's family. In several countries, the category of "Black" was taken off of citizenship and census forms, so residents could only identify as white.<br />
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At one point in the talk, I mention that in my family we did not talk about race, and this left me with no ability to deal with the moment I was first called the N-word, when I was about seven or eight years old. I later reveal that it was likely that my family did not talk about race because my own grandfather on my mother's side rejected my father and the marriage between him and my mother. My mother didn't talk her father for 20 years because he did not go to my parents' marriage. My parents, very likely, did not talk about race in our household, because not only did they grow up in systems that did not create a language for such discussions, but they also did not want the trauma of their own marriage to affect their children (as if they could prevent that). When I finally learned my history and my family finally agreed to have a conversation about race with me, I was determined to be the person in my family to change the course on how we handled race. However, through these new conversations, I did learn that my mother had an aunt who identified as Black and said so openly in Cuba. However, she was completely ostracized by the family. The fact that my life's work has been about this subject and that my family has not ostracized me, makes me feel as if we are making a little progress.<br />
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That said, there is another moment in this part of the talk where I talk about shame, a word that Diaz also brings up. I talk about feeling shame, as a child, in the moment that I was called the slur and put into a category "that everyone despises." That thought is the thought I had as a child and it was taught to me by various people and sources. I was taught by many people in the Latinx community, mainly white Latinx but not limited to white Latinx, that being Black was the worst thing in the world. I was taught to cross the street if a Black person was walking on my side of the street. This was said to me without a drop of irony when Latinx people knew full well what I looked like. That is one source. I was also taught this racial hatred by media in the U.S., which in the 1970s and 1980s depicted Black folks in mainly minor roles, oftentimes, many of them stereotypical (there is a reason The Cosby Show, which broke those stereotypes, was so important for many of us). I knew what it meant to be called that slur and I was afraid of that reality. At the same time, as I explain in the video, I knew that I was Black, even though I had not had a conversation about it in my home or anywhere else. I was not blind and I knew that I looked more like the people on Soul Train than the people on American Bandstand. I also knew that I wasn't the ugly thing that I was being called, but as a child, I was afraid of being ostracized. I already knew this was the start of something I didn't quite understand yet, and that it would be a big thing. I spent the next couple of decades trying to discuss this with my family. As you can see, this is a deeply personal talk where those of us doing the work are incredibly exposed and saying things that need to be said.<br />
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Finally, when I originally planned this talk, I thought I was certain about whether Afro-Latinx folks should celebrate Juneteenth: Of course, we should! My thinking was, if we were transported back to an earlier time, via Octavia Butler sci-fi antics, I'd know exactly what situation <i>I'd</i> be in (something I allude to in the video talk). Therefore, why not celebrate Juneteenth? I also express in the talk that I felt "robbed" of the knowledge of Juneteenth because it was not taught in schools in Chicago, and that my Latinx background likely made my African American friends assume I wasn't interested in Juneteenth, if they celebrated it. Latinx folks, regardless of race, do not traditionally celebrate the holiday. As Dr. Monique Guishard points out, some of us from the islands celebrate our own specific independence or emancipation holidays that are related to our countries of origin, instead of feeling connected to Juneteenth, which is a holiday that was started by African American folks in the South in 1865, when they learned (two years after Lincoln made the announcement) that they were free. As a child, I already felt that any history relevant to my own or my ancestors' experience was left out of my school curriculum, so to learn in my 30s that Juneteenth was yet another item left out of the books, was surprising and upsetting.<br />
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However, after having this talk--in its very rough and messy form, with some thoughts fully articulated while others are left to hang there in an uncomfortable space--I feel less certain than I did when we started. Juneteenth is something that was formed by a specific group of folks in a specific time and while I do feel that Black Latinx folks are part of Black Lives Matter because we are Black, I realize now that Juneteenth doesn't feel exactly the same. If I am welcome at a celebration, great. There are a lot of people who worked very hard to create this joyous celebration and I am happy to support what they created. I celebrate the day ALL people were declared human in the United States because that is what is just. I also recognize that, ultimately, like what I describe in the anthology I edited, I will always be an Afro-Latina Outsider, not fully-claimed by anyone because I did not grow up in my parents' countries of origin (Cuba and Colombia), I am not white, and even though I am Black, in some circles my Latinidad erases that, and even further still, in some circles, my Blackness null and voids my Latinidad. Somehow, I manage to move in and out of all these groups, but I am rarely centered; I'm starting to realize that maybe that isn't necessary. Still, if you see me hanging in the corner of the party, dancing by myself, know I am thankful for all you have done to make it happen.<br />
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With that said, here is our humble talk, featuring Dr. Monique Guishard and Author Diana Diaz. Like I said, it is messy, sometimes we will struggle with the ideas, but on occasion there is a moment that hints at something worthwhile.<br />
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRANSCRIPTION OF VIDEO:<br />
(Spanish language transcription is forthcoming)<br />
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<b>Dr. Grisel Y. Acosta:</b>
Hello everyone, thank you so much for coming to this talk. The talk is inspired
by the anthology <i>Latina Outsiders
Remaking Latina Identity,</i> published by Routledge in 2019, and specifically
today, we are focusing on Afro-Latina outsiders. The anthology focuses on
Latinas on the periphery in general, Latinas who do not meet the stereotypical
idea of light brown skin, straight hair, very J.Lo, very Salma Hayek. We actually
want to bring light to the diversity under the Latinx umbrella and,
specifically, today we are focusing on Afro-Latinas and how we support and are
part of the Black Lives Matter movement. We also want to talk a little bit
about the pandemic and self-care for Afro-Latinas and we want to talk about
Juneteenth and whether we think Juneteenth is something Latinos should be
celebrating—I personally do, but we’ll get into that in a little bit. So I want
to thank Vincent Toro for the tech and we’re going to read the bios of our
wonderful participants today. So, a little bit about me: <o:p></o:p></div>
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I am Dr. Grisel Y. Acosta and I’m an associate professor at
the City University of New York-Bronx Community College. My first book of
poetry, <i>Things to Pack on the Way to Everywhere</i>, is an Andrés
Montoya Poetry Prize finalist and it is forthcoming from Get Fresh Books in
2021. My recent work can be found in <i>The Baffler</i>,<i> Acentos
Journal</i>, <i>Kweli Journal</i>, <i>Red Fez</i>, <i>Short
Plays on Reproductive Freedom</i>, and <i>Celebrating Twenty Years of
Black Girlhood: The Lauryn Hill Reader</i>. I am a Geraldine Dodge Foundation
Poet, a Macondo Fellow, and the editor of<i> Latina Outsiders Remaking
Latina Identity</i>, an anthology that features over Latinx 30 contributors and
subjects. My work focuses on my Afro-Latinx and indigenous ancestry, queer
identity, the punk and house music subcultures, my birthplace of Chicago, and,
hopefully, the destruction of post-colonial neoliberalism.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our other contributors who are incredible people, we are so
lucky to have them here today:<o:p></o:p></div>
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Dr. Monique Guishard is a participatory action researcher, a
de-colonial ethicist with expertise in using Brown feminist (Black, Latina,
& indigenous feminist epistemologies) to theorize back to conventional
research ethics frameworks. She is an associate professor at Bronx Community
College-CUNY, and committed to student-centered, culturally relevant, blended
learning andragogy theory.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our other speaker today is Author Diana Díaz who is a
Nuyorican writer and producer. Her creative nonfiction appears in<i> Red Wheel Barrow </i>and in <i>A Cup of Comfort for Mothers to Be</i>. Díaz
is the editor of <i>Kevin Cole: Straight
from the Soul </i>and her article “Nuyoricans In Film” appears in <i>The Encyclopedia of Latino Culture, From
Calaveras to Quinceañeras.</i> She co-produced <i>El Barrio Remembers Piri: Down These Mean Streets, 45 Years Later</i>. Most
recently, she contributed to <i>Boricua en
la Luna</i> and she is a certified yogi. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So, please welcome our speakers and we’re going to get
started with our talk. So, this is really exciting. Welcome both of you, thank
you so much for being here. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Dr. Monique Guishard:</b>
Thank you for the invitation. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>GYA:</b> Of course,
of course. We’ve already pre-planned these questions so I’m just going ask and
say a few words on my end, but then we want to hear from both of you. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The first question is about how you’ve been handling
self-care during quarantine and the re-opening of our city. I was mentioning to
both of our speakers that I am very immunocompromised. At one point I had my
lungs working at about 23%, this is when I lived in Texas. It actually got
better when I came back to New York, but my lungs have never fully healed. So I
was social distancing from the moment I heard from a friend in Korea about what
was going on with the pandemic. It was a very scary thing for me; it still is.
What I try to do is I go for walks. There’s this program called GirlTrek, and
it’s specifically for Black women. Every day you get—they’re doing a Black
History Bootcamp—so every day you get inspiration via different wonderful Black
women in our history. You can listen to the podcast while you’re walking every
day. Basically they’re asking Black women to walk 30 minutes a day for radical
self-care so that we live longer, because the stats are that we don’t live as
long as other folks. So, they want us and our wisdom to stay around. So, I‘ve
been doing that and cooking a lot, but what have both of you been doing?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>MG:</b> Okay, so
Diana and I were talking about this before we started recording. I’ll be the
first to admit that I’m probably not doing the best self-care at the moment,
since the pandemic started. I live in close proximity to Roberto Clemente State
Park, which is not the same as Roberto Clemente City Park, which is nearer to
Yankee Stadium. The state park is maintained by New York State Environmental
Police and State Troopers and they have strictly been enforcing social
distancing. So I was going on walks and I was participating in the GirlTrek
challenge. I’ve been burning palo santo, right? I’ve been burning incense. I
hope Diana will talk about this, but a lot of the mediation apps that I usually
use are hard for me because sometimes they’re white men, a lot of them are
white women, so I’ve been using Shine, I’ve been doing my daily Shine
meditations, but also using the Liberate app, right? Because it’s important for
me to hear Black-sounding voices. And, quite frankly, going to demonstrations
has been my community care. Meeting up with my friends, especially young,
Latinx graduate students, we check on each other, we walk, we develop our
strategy, you know, if they barricade us, what we’re gonna do. That’s been my
self-care. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>GYA: </b>Thank you!
What have you been doing, Diana? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Author Diana Díaz:</b>
Wow, besides being impressed with what Monique is doing. We were laughing about
this beforehand because she noticed I have lipstick on. This is my form of
self-care in the house, because I love wearing lipstick. It’s the only make up
I wear and no one can see it under the mask. So that’s one thing; if I can
possibly get up and put lipstick on, that’s what I do. But more inwardly, as you said, I started my
certification in yoga prior to COVID, prior to the Black Lives Matter revolution,
I started in February on ground, and we needed to move online. I’m very
grateful that the institution did because others did not, so part of my
self-care was not only completing that training online, which I’ve never done
before, I’ve never taken a class online, but also apply the teachings of yoga
as I was training in order to stay focused as to why I was doing this training
to begin with. And it was to, and it is to serve our community, to realize and
understand our inner peace. That is everyone’s birthright, it is inside of us,
it isn’t something we need to heal to get to or anything like this. So, I’ve
been really concentrated and focused on that because we need to be at peace
with ourselves before we go out and do anything for anyone else. Aside from
that, I did not expect to have to do this but I have been very discriminating
with my email and my DMS because well-meaning people, actually, love to send
videos of another Black body being beaten, or a headline that they saw, or a
sound-byte of someone being racist, without the understanding that it’s just
triggering and it’s putting us through some more trauma and, guess what, it’s
not news to me. It’s a little disturbing that it’s news to you, it’s not news
to me, it’s a little insulting that you’re showing me this, and then asking
what I think about it. So my form of self-care is to not open those. Some of
them I have not answered. Some of the people who I consider friends who were
well-meaning, I give it some space and I answer them. And I just keep in touch
with my kids who are no longer kids. They’re actually on the forefront of all
of this, 20 and 25 years old, and just, you know, remaining centered and proud
of them. Doing what I can. No cooking. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>GYA: </b>Believe it
or not, I actually do get a lot of peace from cooking. I never ever thought
that that would be my thing. I was adamant that I would never learn to cook,
never do anything domestic, but here I am. It actually brings me peace. Wow. <o:p></o:p></div>
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So I’m glad that both of you brought up the protests, not
only as self-care but also something that maybe our children are being involved
in. I want to talk about how the Black Lives Matter protests are important to us
specifically as Afro-Latinas because I think that sometimes people think that
it’s about “we are Latinos <i>for</i> Black
Lives Matter” whereas they don’t realize we are part of Black Lives Matter
already because there are so many of us who are Black. If you want to support
this movement, you don’t want to be this fringe group that says, “Yes, we support
what YOU are doing.” You want to realize that in our own countries, in Latin
America, in the U.S., we have been struggling with these same issues for a very
long time. So for me, as a Latina, I feel like this is…Black Lives Matter is <i>my </i>life matters, is my friends lives
matter. If we value Black lives, we value all lives. I mean, that’s really the
thing, we can’t value any life if we don’t value this group, it just doesn’t
make any sense. Then we don’t really value lives. That said, I think there are
many Latinos who don’t realize that there is Afro-Latinidad. A lot of Latinos
don’t know their history, which is why I try to teach it in my Latino
literature classes and really in all my classes I have works that address this
because of our student population at BCC. We have a lot of Latinos who, whether
they realize it or not, they are Afro-Latino, so I feel like these protests are
incredibly important as a way to talk about these issues. <o:p></o:p></div>
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How do you all feel about this?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>MG:</b> So many
thoughts pop up by you asking that question. The most recent demonstration I
participated in was this Sunday, and it was intentionally an African Latinx
Diasporic march from the Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz Center in the Heights, all
the way to down to Adam Clayton Powell on like 125<sup>th</sup> or whatever. It
was good that we walked through the Heights, right? What I didn’t know, the
interesting thing about these demonstrations that outsiders don’t know is you
learn about something two, three days before it’s going to happen and that’s to
always keep the police guessing about where we’re going to be and interrupting
their ability to organize and shut stuff down, but still thousands of people
show up, right? We gathered in front of BBQs and there were lots of famous
Afro-Puertorriqueños and Afro-Panamanians who reinforced the connection to what
you said, right, our shared ancestry but also talked about how Malcolm X, how
different Puerto Rican independence scholars have always historically
demonstrated this type of unity. I’m mentioning this to you in answer to your
question because…taking pictures of signs and not people’s faces has also been
part of my community care, let me tell you, some of these signs are AMAZING,
right? So my sign said, “Latinos, please bring that same #Justice for Junior
energy to Black Lives Matter. I wasn’t trying to be messy, I was really just
trying to say what it is because sometimes in the Bronx it is very polarizing.
I have never seen “Las Vidas Negras Importan”, more signs that said that, than
on Sunday, and it made me bawl, but it also was just so affirming. To Diana’s
point about being bombarded with emails and messages about the violence, [the
counterpoint at the march is] that we love each other and that we show up for
each other. But you still have these weird conversations with your families and
your students, about how we always need to be there for each other and they’re
not separate things. I hope that begins to answer your question. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>GYA: </b>Yeah,
absolutely, absolutely, thank you for sharing. Diana?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>DD:</b> Well, I’m not
going to reiterate what you Drs. have just said, because I agree completely. I
was going to say something along the same lines, maybe not so eloquently. So I
will just be personal about it. Black Lives Matter to me because I am a Black
life. I never thought this was in question. Like, I look in the mirror and I’m
brown, as is my daughter, as is my grandmother. The ship just stopped on a
different shore, it doesn’t make us of any different heritage. So, when I’m
faced with this divide, I always thought of it in terms of colorism and not
racism because in the Caribbean we have this thing where, “Oh, you’re trigueña,
and you’re negra” and we have all sorts of words for the rainbow of skin
colors. And there’s a lot of denial in the Latino community about the fact that
we are, indeed, Black. Some of us may show it on the outside but we’re all…if
you’re from the islands, it’s in there somewhere. I think my mom might have
gotten a really rude awakening. My mother who is 76 years old just for the
first time in her life decided to go to an acupuncturist, she’s suffering from
arthritis and [unheard] and all sorts of things. Western medicine is just not
helping. She’s on a bag of medicines. So, I finally get her to do this, I take
her to an acupuncturist in Chinatown, she comes out and she’s feeling, not
100%, obviously, but markedly better. So we’re happy, we’re walking through
Columbus Park, it’s in Chinatown, a white Southern homeless woman shows up out
of nowhere, starts yelling N---s, with an “s”, at us, snaps a filthy town at
us, an then proceeds to go rambling in the other direction, about how Black men
love white women and whatever else she was talking about. I think just the
disturbing nature of that incident alone should say to everyone, if you don’t
think you’re Black, guess what, that’s how this [gestures to her face] is
showing up in the world and in the country. The fact that a homeless woman
across the street from a police precinct in Chinatown, outnumbered, still felt
safe enough to verbally and physically attack me and my 76 year old mother says
a lot about where in this society, how we are viewed in this society. So, it’s
important because this is us, and whether or not someone has had specific
incidents like that, this happens. This is not the first time, maybe it’s the
first time it happened like this, but it’s everywhere. My son is very
light-skinned. He got harassed when he was in college, in his dorm. They would
call campus police with false accusations while he was sleeping. We are seen as
Black because we are Black. So part of me doesn’t understand where that divide
happened, it’s just like willful denial, but it’s important to me to affirm
that yes, we are part of Black Lives Matter, but that is nothing to be ashamed
of [like some Latinos think], particularly because our history does not
highlight it and particularly because lots of us grow up in household where
that is not a welcome point of view. I remember we had our hair “fixed,”
meaning “straightened,” from the time…I can’t even remember when our mother
wasn’t straightening our hair. It’s in adulthood that I decided to leave it
like this [points to natural hair texture]. It’s things like that that are
building within, and I think now the time is wonderful with all the support and
out in the open, with the collective healing, to embrace it. It’s
uncomfortable, it’s really uncomfortable, but now is the time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>GYA: </b>Thank you so
much for sharing that. That story really upsets me. It reminds me of the first
time that I was called the N-word. I think that a big problem right now is a
lot of Latino families kind of want to shove this history down, they don’t want
to have these conversations that, in African American households they’re very common,
but in Latino households, regardless of your phenotype, we do not have
conversations about race. At least, not the Latino families who I grew up with.
So, the first time I was called the N-word, it was at a roller rink, I was
really young, maybe like seven or eight years old, and it was by these kids who
were white in the roller rink, and I remember at the time feeling such shame
because I was being put into a category that I knew was despised by everyone,
but at the same time I remember thinking, “Yeah, but what they’re seeing in me,
is in me.” Just because my family hasn’t talked about it doesn’t mean it isn’t
true, you know? What they’re seeing in me, they’re calling it something ugly,
but it’s not something ugly, it’s something that they see in me and it’s
something that I need to have a conversation about. Now, I didn’t have the
words to say all of that as a child but it was at that moment that I knew that
this conversation had to be had in my family and it took me like 20 years to get
my parents to talk about it with me. My father had been rejected by my grandfather
on my mother’s side, so they didn’t talk about race. My father had been
rejected because of racism. My grandfather didn’t go to the wedding because of
racism, so we have to have these conversations and hopefully, BLM can help us
do that. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So the next question we’re getting to connects with the
previous question and it’s what are you personally doing to support these
movements. No pressure with this question, I know some of us are more active
out there marching than others, but it could be as simple as having these
conversations, right? Or posting certain information on social media, I try to
post certain information on social media. One thing I will bring up is that I
had an extraordinary privilege to actually kind of voice my truth and help with
a Latino arts organization, and I’m not going to name them right now. But it’s
a very prominent Latino arts organization for writers they had not done their
part for Afro-Latino writers. They just hadn’t. They tried but didn’t
understand because the leadership was not diverse but through a miraculous
series of events a friend of mine called me and said they’re having a meeting
about this and I think that you could say some things that might help. So even
though I’m not part of the organization, I was able to be part of a statement
that they made. Let me tell you something, the people in the room, they are
doing everything on that statement. It is not like other statements that I have
helped construct, in academia, for example, that may not actually come to
fruition, because we have a lot of layers of red tape to go through, but I know
that this arts organization is actually going to back up everything that they
wrote on that list. And that makes me really, really proud, to have been a part
of that. Now, I’m very privileged that I was even asked to be there. Many of us,
we don’t have these connections. So, how do we support? What have we been doing
to feel connected to this movement that’s worldwide now?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>MG:</b> Right, I’m
going to be the first to admit that I’m #Doin’ Too Much. When I can’t go to a
demonstration, because you always have this moment after you come back where
you’re mindful of every cough and every inhalation, like, “S--- did I pull down
my mask to drink water and become exposed to COVID,” you know what I mean? So I
take breaks between demonstrations, but when I can’t physically be there, I am
contributing to bail funds or acting as a safe call for my friends, in case
they get arrested, or just texting, “Where you at?” [laughs], “Did you make it
home?” Sometimes, like Dr. Acosta, I’ve been invited to contribute to
statements, most of the time I’ve said no, sometimes I’ve inserted myself when
people are writing statements that are still full of anti-Blackness or are just
performative. Forgive the noises behind me; I live next to the Major Deegan and
it’s just noisy. But then I’ve been—this is probably weird to say to other
people that are not familiar with the genealogy of scholarship but I’ve been
also resting. For folks who are interested, there’s a wonderful account by some
wonderful <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Brown women scholars called The Nap Ministry, on Instagram, and
they talk about how resting, like taking naps [laughs] is a form of self-care
that Black women, especially, need to be engaged in because we cannot wage the
sustainable war that we need to wage against white supremacist imperialist
capitalist patriarchy without being rested. Like who’s gon’ do that and be
tired? So I’ve been resting and going back to therapy. I don’t know if it’s
helpful but there’s the Black Girl Breathing Collective who facilitate breathing
circles. There’s SESH, scholars of color who do very particular types of
virtual therapy sessions, for Latinas, for queer Latinas, for Black girls, so I’ve
been doing all of those things to keep the rage and depression and sometimes
hopelessness that I feel at bay. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>GYA:</b> Thank you,
thank you. Diana?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>DD: </b>Wow, that is
a lot. So I’ll start in reverse. I’ll start with the breathing. What I’ve been
doing is, well, I was certified at the end of May. And Black Lives Matter was
just taking hold, so one thing that I’ve personally and purposefully done is
immediately inserted myself in another training, accessible yoga training,
where we deal with trauma, grief, and race, and it’s very intense and
condensed, and it’s specifically for this purpose. I thought it was very
interesting, Monique, when you said that you want your mediation with a Black
voice. If my Black voice is Black enough for ya, here I am! [All laugh] I’m
certified in not only Asana but also Pranayama. I’m doing this for my
girlfriends and my family and anyone who needs it but gifted in particular to
people of color. You need that yoga suite, you need that nap, you need that
mediation, you need to feel safe to close your eyes and take a deep breath, and
I want to be that person who will show you how to do that, because it’s hard.
And it’s almost a gift that we’re in our homes because I don’t know if I could
sit in a space where I’m the only visible woman of color being told by white
people to close my eyes and breathe. That suddenly takes on a whole new
meaning. So, I’m working specifically with that. I’m also implementing it in
our writing workshops so that we can start with it so that we don’t traumatize
ourselves again when we do sit down and we tell our stories. Or, so we can find
that inner peace and work from that place, knowing that we are not our trauma,
we are not our conditions, we are not what everybody tells us that we are, but
we need to be in that place of who we are so that we can express all of those
other things and how they affect us, as this human being in this body. So that
is specifically things that I have done, inspired by and for Black Lives
Matter. More tenuous things are, I am a safe call. My kids are in their 20s, I
am their safe call, I can reach their friends’ parents. I also edit
Hispanicdotes, an online magazine for Hispanic stories, and we have an issue
going out in print in October called Acendencia (ancestry). I am looking at,
with our editor-in-chief, specifically stories that explore the complexity and the
layers of our identity, whether it be the color of our skin or there are those
of us who may not be Black-presenting but identify as such, and that’s a whole
other thing. Now with everybody finding out their DNA, I can share that I was
more than a little disappointed to see the percentage of oppressor blood in my
wheel of percentages there. I knew it was going to be Black, white, and Taíno,
but I was not ready for that huge portion to be, “Oh no no, there’s a lot of
white blood in you,” and then here’s some African and then here’s some native.
Mostly because I didn’t expect it because I look like this [points to self].
Also, [it shows] just how much of a construct this is. It’s truly based on how
a person<i> looks</i>, because if I match
this up against a random European, I can probably have more “white” blood, but
I look different, and my daughter looks different than my son. So,
[Hispanicdotes] is just giving a platform to all sorts of identity and working
the messiness out for people who are willing to listen. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>GYA: </b>Wonderful!
So people can learn more about that at Hispanicdotes.com, and where can they
reach you for the yoga? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>DD:</b> You can
actually email me because I am newly certified, so I haven’t really put my
website together, but my email address is ddwordsmith@gmail.com, and
ddwordsmith on all social media. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>GYA:</b> Okay, great –
thank you so much! So, we’re at our last question, and I want to thank both of
you so much, and if there’s any information that you want to share in terms of
how folks can reach you or any specific events you want to promote, please
include those, but our last question is about, finally, Juneteenth! We know
that Juneteenth is a day that African American folks celebrate finally knowing
that are free, that they are considered human beings, legally by the United
States, and this is two years after Lincoln announced that slaves were free but
through a series of events folks in the Southern part of the United States did
not learn this until Juneteenth, in 1865. I, personally, feel that all people
should be celebrating Juneteenth, although I worry about how that will look. If
people start celebrating it, I don’t want it to be a Cinco de Mayo situation.
You know? I think it really needs to be historically-based. Something that just
honors the work that many people have done well before we were ever here. I
first learned about Juneteenth when I was in Texas and I felt very robbed. I
was upset that I’d never learned about this in Chicago. I’m sure there were
Black folks who I was friend with who celebrated Juneteenth but just never felt
comfortable talking about it to me because I am Latina. So, I was very upset to
learn that used to be something that was celebrated across the United States
but somehow it lost traction, I don’t know what happened. It’s just not
something that is shared in schools everywhere. I really do believe that it is
something that we should all be celebrating because it’s a day that Black
people in the United States knew that they were considered free and human and
that’s an incredibly important thing. If my ancestors had changed things around
a little bit, we were traveling back and forth in the Americas for centuries,
if things had worked out just a little differently, I might have been here
earlier, or my ancestors might have been in the United States area earlier, and
we would have experienced the same exact thing [in terms of laws against Black
people]. I think that this is something, as a Black person, I want to be a part
of it, I want to honor that legacy. I don’t know how other folks feel about
this. Should Latinos, Afro-Latinos, all people be celebrating Juneteenth. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What do you think, Monique?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>MG:</b> Okay! My
answer is complicated, I guess, because, I was born in…I’m a Latina by way of
my father who is a Dominican man of mixed ancestry, and I’m unapologetically
Black, but if there’s a hierarchy to my identity, I’m a Virgin Islander first.
In the U.S. Virgin Islands we celebrate Emancipation Day, which is July 3<sup>rd</sup>.
That’s a controversial holiday, too, because we were purchased by the United
States for our “thought of” strategic position, if they were ever going to go
to war with other entities. And I’m mentioning the Virgin Islands, I guess,
because a lot of my youth was spent in summers there and then ferry trips to
Puerto Rico, always remembering that people escaped enslavement by going to
places like Loisa. And there were few [places, throughout the Caribbean, where
enslaved people found some form of safety, even established Maroon societies,
in Latin America. So, why not [celebrate Juneteenth]? And Juneteenth is
complicated for me also because it make the Declaration of Independence, it
makes the Emancipation Proclamation, performative documents; what’s freedom?
What’s freedom if people don’t know that they are free? Who can declare that for
me? But also questions about decoloniality and what that means. I think, for
me, Juneteenth is when not only do people have consciousness of this government
decision but it’s a time for immense Black joy. So I’m thinking people should
follow #JusticeForGeorgeNYC on Instagram, and I think that I said on social
media this morning that I am HERE for the 5,011 Juneteeth demonstrations that
are happening [ALL laugh] in New York City. There’s a silent march through Seneca
Village, the place that we call Central Park. There are a million and one
celebrations [unheard] Plaza, City Hall, in Harlem at the Adam Clayton Powell
Building, for people just to come together and celebrate the…and remind
ourselves that Blackness is not about enslavement, it’s not about trauma, that it’s
about joy, there are hair braiding boutiques set up, all kinds of drinks, and
things like that so, if you identify as Black. And at some point we should have
a conversation, because you know I love you both, about it’s not who you claim
but it’s also who claims you, you know what I’m saying? It’s also who claims
you. And I can say, I know Grisel a little bit more than Diana, but I remember
going through the BCC workplace demographics and seeing there were two people
who identified as both Black and Latinx and I knew that was Grisel without
asking. Does that make sense, you know what I mean? Okay! That’s me and Grisel!
So, if you identify as Black, you are welcome. So come through. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>GYA: </b>Excellent!
Thank you. Diana, should we celebrate Juneteenth?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>DD: </b>Of course we
should celebrate Juneteenth! You know, we should acknowledge it. I think it’s
kind of bittersweet. Using the word “celebration” to me, right now with
everything that’s going on, feels a little bit heavy because we were lied to
for all that time. We were “free” but, again, without access, you know, so what
is it we are really celebrating? Are we celebrating that the slave owners
decided to let the enslaved people know that they could go now but they could
have two years ago, but they needed all that free labor, is that what we’re
celebrating? Because that’s kind of what it feels like to me today, in this
scene, with everything going on and that colors it very much. I feel like it
should be more in the vein of Martin Luther King Day, a celebration of
knowledge, because I think this is the clearest example of how knowledge is
passed on. You stayed enslaved even though you were not, because you lacked the
knowledge that you were no longer an enslaved person. And so I think it should
be knowledge-forward, sure, let’s read books during barbecues, something like
that. Just acknowledging that power of…not just knowledge of yourself but
knowledge of who’s claiming you, who’s claiming what about you, who’s making
the decisions for and about your life, that sort of thing. But, yeah, I’ll get
my hair done, I’ll have barbecue, but I don’t want this to happen again. Like, “Hey,
prisons have been reformed but we’re not going to tell you guys, we’ll let you
figure that out.” There are just so many instances where that can happen, in
the medical industry, government agencies, I’m repeating myself now, but the
point is the knowledge and education and how important it really is. And that
is independent of school, because technically, I don’t even know what school is
right now. Everybody is online, some kids are learning, others aren’t, I really
know who is learning what, and we need to separate that as well, because we got
all our misinformation from school. I also didn’t know Juneteenth existed and I
grew up in New York City on the Lower East Side. That’s ridiculous. I was
ashamed about that for a couple of minutes but, you know what, you don’t know
what you don’t know. And maybe that should be what Juneteenth is about, you don’t
know what you don’t know, so get to knowing, so you know what you can and
cannot do. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>GYA:</b> Yes, yes,
knowledge! Celebration of knowledge! Celebration of who we are! I think this
has been healing. I think this has been healing. Please unmute yourselves – I just
want to talk!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
[ALL LAUGH]<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>GYA: </b>Thank you so
much for this beautiful conversation. I needed this. You all had an okay time,
too?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>MG:</b> We did!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>DD:</b> Yes, this was
wonderful!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>MG: </b>It was!
Amazing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>GYA:</b> Thank you,
thank you. I will be including some transcriptions when this is posted so it is
more accessible. I will be including an English transcription and an Spanish
transcription. I’m hoping to share all of that on Juneteenth—the recording will
be shared on Juneteenth—but the transcriptions might take a little more time. I’m
going to do my best. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Again, I want to thank Dr. Monique Guishard and Author Diana
Diaz for being here. I think we have an outgoing slide with a little
information on the anthology. Vincent will put that up. Again, thank you so
much, and I really look forward to when we can be in the same space. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>MG:</b> Same!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>DD:</b> Me, too. <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<br />Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-69374126372325907692020-03-24T15:55:00.000-04:002020-03-24T15:59:06.437-04:00When Teaching Remotely is Safer for Reasons Other than COVID-19<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4MpnQROviEEx7OW7A1bP3YpH6EcQ_ehgYsWnXhI9UeDS4og6aQZmgdnEkNOB_jQfCokSQH3IrH8WBTddIq00tXMRicD7OUr-NMSLL0bpxHR9k44zDVHFIsQrt6psuEip4M-vwg/s1600/Petrusich-Yelling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="1600" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx4MpnQROviEEx7OW7A1bP3YpH6EcQ_ehgYsWnXhI9UeDS4og6aQZmgdnEkNOB_jQfCokSQH3IrH8WBTddIq00tXMRicD7OUr-NMSLL0bpxHR9k44zDVHFIsQrt6psuEip4M-vwg/s320/Petrusich-Yelling.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Getty Images/The New Yorker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I nodded at the joke, posted by one of the editors I recently
worked with, claiming that while everyone else was running around panicking
about COVID-19, women of color were at home giving themselves spa treatments,
catching up on their reading, and spending quality time with their kids. I knew
this to be true for myself, of course, delighting in being able to cook meals from
scratch more often in the first few days of social distancing. However, as the
days continued, I also noticed that both my partner and I had a bit of a lighter
tone in our voices, a bit more sparkle to our smiles. It’s not that we weren’t
working just as hard, if not harder. I was on deadline for a review of a new
anthology whilst trying to make sure that my students understood the changes
taking place in our classes. I was negotiating whether my mother should go to
certain doctor appointments and physical therapy, and trying to ensure that we
had the groceries we needed despite the shortages and overwhelmed food
production system. My partner was taking an entire student outreach program
online in order to make sure that everyone working for the program, many of
whom were college students, would get paid during the pandemic crisis. We were
and have been working hard each day. However, somehow we felt better and
lighter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> As soon as I
thought it, I understood why. I have been working for a diversity task force
for the last four years at my college campus, and during that time, I’ve been
attacked in various ways, the worst being when a senior faculty member screamed
at me in front of a room of my colleagues. My partner, too, has suffered
incredible attacks at his workplace because he is the head of a program where
art education for low-income students of color is the focus, and one peripheral
faculty member has been abusive to him non-stop. Now that we are social distancing,
we are free of the micro- and macro-aggressions wielded our way on a regular
basis. That is, we are free of these behaviors to a certain extent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Ultimately,
we have always seen and been victim to these behaviors in a systemic fashion.
Right now, the most vulnerable populations are being positioned as disposable.
Many people are ready to get back to work, thinking that two weeks of social
distancing will be enough, despite clear proof in other nations that is nowhere
near enough. According to our leadership, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/23/us/politics/trump-coronavirus-restrictions.html" target="_blank">cure is worse than the cause</a>. In
other words, protecting our weakest is worse than keeping the status quo. This
kind of thinking is exactly why someone like me, someone viewed as a minority (despite world stats), </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">suffered <i>before</i> the crisis</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">. For
some people it is always easier to continue with the status quo, to allow
abusive people at best and racist people at worst to dictate policies in our
organizations. It is supposedly easier to just let these leaders continue
leading, and not listen to anyone brave enough to speak out, even if that
person might have a better, kinder way of leading. In the end, social
distancing—or hiding—is not enough to escape this abuse. Now these abusive
leaders want all of us to work in close quarters again, saying that people like
me, who are immune-compromised because of asthma, or people like my friend, who
suffers from severe immune disorders, or people like my mom, who is elderly and
a cancer-survivor, <a href="https://www.sacurrent.com/the-daily/archives/2020/03/24/texas-lt-gov-dan-patrick-suggests-grandma-and-grandpa-should-be-willing-to-die-to-protect-wall-street" target="_blank">should be happy to die for our country</a> (according to one
official from Texas). So much for social distancing.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> I have
always known as a Black woman, as a Latinx woman, as a queer woman, my life is disposable in the eyes of many. I have seen the hateful eyes right before me,
telling me in their red fury, “You don’t belong here.” Still, somehow my
excellence has always found a way to secure a place in rooms where most of the
people there would have me shunned. <a href="https://poets.org/poem/wont-you-celebrate-me" target="_blank">What a miracle that is</a>. Maybe what I carry
with me, what I might pass on to others, is what people fear the most. Maybe
that unimaginable world, the one I have always been a part of, the one where
someone like me is valuable, is what everyone is really reacting to right now. In
order to get through this, we have to imagine that <i>everyone</i> is valuable, even
people with disabilities, even people who are older, even people who cannot
afford insurance, even people who are undocumented. I have always known we are all valuable, and my behaviors
fall in line with that, crisis or no crisis. Wouldn’t it be nice if we all
behaved in a way that exemplified that idea? I guess that idea is too scary for
some of us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-9706692710905127862019-07-10T23:49:00.000-04:002019-07-12T12:40:05.633-04:00We Carry the Earth: A Poem for Lights for Liberty/Families Belong Together Vigil in New Jersey, 7/12/19As a response to the torturing of children/families who are seeking asylum in the United States, via the for-profit concentration camps placed at the U.S.-Mexico border and throughout the U.S., over 600 cities throughout the world will hold a vigil on Friday, July 12, 2019. I am proud to be part of the movement, thanks to Leah Fowler, Laura Gonzalez, and the Leonia Action Alliance in New Jersey. I've posted the flyers below, both in English and Spanish, for the particular vigil I plan to attend. I've also included the poem that I'll be reading at the event, before the moment of silence. I consider it an honor to have written it specifically for the vigil. As I mentioned, there are events all over the country and planet. Please find your local Lights for Liberty/Families Belong Together Vigil and attend!<br />
<div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We Carry the Earth<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">by Dr. Grisel Y. Acosta<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">for Lights for Liberty/Families Belong
Together Vigil protesting U.S. concentration camps<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We bring the harvest and lay
it at an altar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">of bread crust, pierced gold
earrings, and the bones of our first born<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Banana leaves halo the
foundation of her body,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">we salt the sand she rests
upon, sprinkling the mineral from seashells<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We pick translucent grapes
and squeeze the juice into our downturned<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">mouths, lay gardenias to
frame her death, perfume the pain within our muscles<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">You see a carcass of stone,
barren of life, bleached ossein, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">we see the child that ran
between the Saguaros and wore red Matucana’s in her hair<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Cognac woven leather wrapped
her brave feet as her toes tipped<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">sharp rock, skipped over
puddles bordering the desert on lucky rain days <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">White sun burned through
camisas de primos, sent to us del Norte,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">worn threads unraveling with
each day of wear, cada dia without descanso or certainty<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Black hair flying like
whipping palms, set aflight from much needed breezes<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">cooled café skin burning
cedar brown with each step on the red tawny dirt taking us closer<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Cyan sky hovered over our
contorted path, twisted like a sapphire river<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">pooling into a sea of
compadres singing the blues at the frontera, asking, “¿Y de donde tu vienes?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">It must have been the cold<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">concrete holding her like
iron gate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">choking her lungs into frozen<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">prayer, holding her breath<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">tight within grey mucus and
swollen sacs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">bubbles of air that stopped<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">circulating, like language<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">words that fall dead on icy
ears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">mihcacocone<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">tlahquilli<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">tlamiz </span></i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">†<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Se murio de neumonía. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There was no water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There was no soap.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I was taken away from her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Lloró en la mañana.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">She called to me at 3 am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">I was not there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">You were not there. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We were not there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We still are not there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">She will continue to cry her
song in wind until we are there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">A shriek in the current is
free to move, cross, fly beyond the flimsy delusion of barriers. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">*<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Her body will dust your land
which is my land which is our land<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We do not carry danger to
your door<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There is no door<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There is no danger<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There is only land<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">There is only earth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We carry this Earth on our
skin<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We carry it in our lungs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We carry it as our body which
holds all bodies<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Dirt from many <i>tierras</i> that are one <i>tierra</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We set it at an altar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We set you at the altar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We set ourselves at the altar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">We set our firstborn at the
altar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">See the altar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">See the Earth<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Come carry it with us<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Carry the child<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Carry the family<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">Carry the people who are your
people who are yourselves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">You have been invited. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
*<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">† <i>The
words at the center of the poem are in the Nahuatl language. They mean “dead
children,” “tomb,” and “this will end.”</i></span></div>
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Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-23996667056278616792019-05-06T12:03:00.000-04:002019-05-11T11:14:51.101-04:00Rev. Dr. Samuel Acosta Eulogy 5-5-19<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwo2-QXUfIRiuyqus-LAI8Cy980f5bQyhxuo4nvMdsv3hGzNP4SavNMH6rnsh6IgVihOnCKbGLNiDCOlNzp3v2j30JeCb4CO7ZzMcLzrO-_242RYj2F2rj8Rhaapp7BGzkdYc9ng/s1600/IMG_20190506_103239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="983" data-original-width="1600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwo2-QXUfIRiuyqus-LAI8Cy980f5bQyhxuo4nvMdsv3hGzNP4SavNMH6rnsh6IgVihOnCKbGLNiDCOlNzp3v2j30JeCb4CO7ZzMcLzrO-_242RYj2F2rj8Rhaapp7BGzkdYc9ng/s400/IMG_20190506_103239.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad's ashes, the Colombian hat he always wore, his Princeton diploma. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Thank you so much for being here
today with us. It means so much to the whole Acosta-Toro family that all of you
carry my father in your heart. I know that he was the kind of man that left an
impression on people because of his kindness, his child-like love of life,
family, and friends, and his dedication to serving others. I cannot list the
acts of generosity that my father shared with the world, or the ways in which
he demonstrated his loyal friendship or commitment to family. We wouldn’t just
be here all night; it would take another lifetime to recount his diligence
towards others, because every single day of his life was dedicated towards
others. So, today, I’ll focus on a few key memories that I want to share, ones that exemplify Papi’s love of life, his faith, and his family. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The
reason Papi was so special is because he made everyone feel the joy he always
carried in his heart. This was a man who woke up happy to be alive because God
gave him another day of life. There is no one I know who loved, and appreciated,
life more than him. He found joy wherever he went. When I was a child, we
visited a beautiful place in Michigan called Tower Hill, which was a property
owned by the United Church of Christ, along Lake Michigan. It was full of pine
trees, rustic cabins, and there was a short walk to a very real beach with
enormous sand dunes. We often spent all day at the beach and, after dinner,
Papi would invite everyone for ice cream at the beach with a view of the
gorgeous sunset dipping into what seemed like our own Midwestern ocean. The
afterglow was every shade of orange, pink, purple, gold, and green, and we
often just sat next to each other, quiet, looking at the sky change its
kaleidoscope before us. One time, when I was not yet 10, he looked at the sky
and then at me and told me, “That there is proof that God exists.” I looked at
him with a curious face, not understanding quite what he meant. Then he
explained, “If there were no God, then why create something so beautiful that
all of us can enjoy?” I don’t think I’ve ever forgotten that moment because it
explained to me that God was not something that was necessarily trapped in
words or acts, but it was something that you chose to see in the world and,
ultimately, in other people. At that moment, for me, my dad taught me that one
could find God in a moment with one’s father, having ice cream, enjoying the
beauty of nature. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>In
practice, Papi’s faith had many branches. He was not only a minister, but also
a licensed psychologist, and a community leader. It could be easy to take
oneself too seriously with that combination of professions, but Papi had a
wonderful sense of humor that was a huge part of his discipline. After a trip
to Hawaii, for a United Church of Christ conference, he decided that at his next
service back home, everyone would wear leis and for some bizarre reason, he
kept doing this every year. There was always at least one service where we all
wore leis. He also became obsessed with outlandish summer outfits and he would
often wear shirts and shorts with mismatched prints during summer outings with
the church, causing everyone to wonder, “What will Pastor Acosta wear this
time??” It was also common for him to reveal his most vulnerable moments in his
sermons, if only to reassure other men in the congregation that such
vulnerability was okay, even if it made everyone giggle nervously. For example,
he was happy to share how violated he felt during his first prostate exam, at
the pulpit during Sunday service, just so other men would know that they needed
to get one too, and that they could live through it. When the church celebrated
his 50<sup>th</sup> birthday with banners that said, “Over the Hill,” he was
screaming, “Over the Hill” and cracking up for years after that—any time it
hurt to bend down, “Over the Hill!” Anytime he forgot something, “Over the
Hill!” I want to say, Papi was an excellent writer; his sermons used examples
from his own life, from popular films and songs that the congregation could
relate to, and they always showed a great compassion for fears that folks might
have. He used his sermons to reassure everyone. He knew humor was the greatest
tool, in this respect, so if he could make them laugh, he knew they’d be less
afraid. After every service, Papi could be heard laughing the loudest with
fellow church-goers, who were cracking Catskill-type jokes over afternoon café.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I believe that this may be one of the reasons
my very different parents found a connection, for as a child and as I grew up,
I heard Papi laughing with my mother about something every day. Their
relationship was exemplary for me. When he and I would pick her up from work,
when she got out of her Michigan Avenue building and walked towards the car, he
would say, “Look, look at her, look at how she walks,” and he’d giggle in
anticipation of having his love near again. He did this all the time. It never
grew old for him. Papi probably struggled with raising us kids more than
anything else in his life. He was a dedicated father that told each one of us
that he loved us every time we saw him. He married all of us to our respective
spouses. When Vincent told Papi, secretly, that he wanted to marry me, Papi
leaped with joy and squealed so loud, he almost spoiled the surprise, as I was
only upstairs from where they were. Papi shared all his children’s joys. And he
cried and prayed for all of us when we needed strength. He was always there for
us, no matter what. His favorite phrase was, “I’m going to run the second mile
with you.” I spent my life wondering when the second mile ended, because there
seemed to be an endless second mile. It <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">was</i>
endless, like his love. He was not one to say, “I’ve given everything I can
give.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Papi felt that
love, like God, is an eternal well, and we always have more to give if we have
life. I want to extend that: Papi’s love, like God, is truly an eternal well,
because we still have his love here today, even though his body is no longer
with us. His love was so strong, so big, that we can still feel it even though
he is gone. Papi taught me to see that, over a simple, sweet moment, in front
of the sun.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
NOTE: We will have a Chicago memorial for my dad on 6/14/19, at Ravenswood Presbyterian Church, 4300 Hermitage Avenue, Chicago, IL 60613, at 6 p.m. Anyone and everyone is welcome at the memorial. The eulogy that day will be completely different from this one. </div>
<br />Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-62442217161642645472019-05-01T11:03:00.000-04:002019-05-02T10:44:48.012-04:00Rev. Dr. Samuel Acosta Obituary: January 19,1937 - April 28, 2019<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2LEQ2L1AwN-5u_ZdHKB4nVKaGVvnwcTJlXPS3x_hyphenhyphen1jQ371mmjGhkJenSGE161Yh_nqR2mIt-WI5XMPyswWz-5rdLStRcQ2PvMuJrjr8TfNQJMnACszNpeFov_fonVI4s5BFAQ/s1600/papi+memorial+pictures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="926" data-original-width="1223" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI2LEQ2L1AwN-5u_ZdHKB4nVKaGVvnwcTJlXPS3x_hyphenhyphen1jQ371mmjGhkJenSGE161Yh_nqR2mIt-WI5XMPyswWz-5rdLStRcQ2PvMuJrjr8TfNQJMnACszNpeFov_fonVI4s5BFAQ/s320/papi+memorial+pictures.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rev. Dr. Samuel Acosta believed in the transformative<br />
power of education and love. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<u>A Joyful Leader Leaves a Legacy
of Hope<o:p></o:p></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
The Bible says, “Do
not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,
that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and
acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). This is the doctrine that Rev. Dr.
Samuel Acosta lived by as a servant of God, by which I mean a servant of his
community, mainly in Chicago’s Logan Square. Instead of being rigid in his
ideas about community, Sam always listened to what his community needed and
responded accordingly. When helping young men in prison, for example, he was
known to say things like, “They don’t need Bibles; they need jobs.” His
flexibility and cheerful disposition earned him the trust of many in the
Chicago Latino community, where he came to be known simply as “El Reverendo.” We
would often hear this called out to him when walking around the city, as he
could not walk a block without someone who he helped running toward him to say,
“Hola.” The congregations that he led were extremely diverse, representing
Latinos from an array of countries of origin and varying beliefs, which
underscores his ability to bring different minds together. He earned countless
accolades for his community service through the church, though he never boasted
about any of them. In fact, he worked 80 hour weeks, as a minister and
psychologist specializing in pastoral family counseling, rarely charging his
clients or parishioners for his dedicated care. El Reverendo helped LGBTQ folks
face coming out to homophobic parents and friends, he helped Latino refugees
who had been tortured by dictators in Latin America, he helped families
struggling with abuse, and he encouraged women in the neighborhood to learn to
drive and earn their degrees so as to be more independent. This work earned him
a commendation by Mayor Richard M. Daley and a Celeste Peña Community Service
Award from the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. Even though
it may sound like it, his work in Chicago was not a singular experience. When
he moved to San Marcos, Texas, he had a similar effect, participating in events
like San Marcos Chamber of Commerce’s Navidad Para Los Niños fundraising event. Such work earned him the San Marcos Key to the City. Somehow, he always renewed his spirit and determined what the will of God was
wherever he went. This man, who has people who love him all over the U.S., will
be greatly missed. His brief and incredibly incomplete bio follows. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Rev. Dr. Samuel Acosta
died at age 82, in North Bergen, New Jersey, on April 28, 2019, at 10:30 p.m.
He struggled with complications from Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s
disease for about 10 years before passing. He was born in Barranquilla,
Colombia, in 1937, to Luis and Justicia Acosta, and had three sisters, Nohemi,
Dorcas, and Mariela, all of whom are still alive. Sam and Yolanda met and
married in Matanzas, Cuba, in 1961, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in
Theology. They then moved to Sam’s hometown to be with his family. There, he
fathered his first two children with Yolanda, sons Luis (his father’s namesake)
and Carlos. Sam continued his education at Princeton Theological Seminary,
where he earned a Master’s in Theology in 1967. He and Yolanda eventually moved
to Chicago in 1969, to start his ministry at First Spanish United Church of
Christ in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago, where he worked for over 20
years. Daughter Grisel was born in Chicago in 1971, and during this time he earned
multiple degrees from Loyola University and The University of Chicago
Theological Seminary, including his Doctorate in Theology. Sam continued his
practice at Ravenswood Presbyterian Church for his remaining days in Chicago.
Eventually, he and Yolanda moved to San Marcos, Texas, where he semi-retired,
devoting his last working days to Memorial Presbyterian Church. Upon facing his
debilitating illness, Sam and Yolanda finally retired in Florida, where they
lived near Luis, his wife Susie, and their daughters Michelle and Madeline.
However, as the disease progressed, Sam and Yolanda decided to move to New
Jersey to be with Grisel, who could devote more time to their care in their
elder years. Sam was happily married to his wife, Yolanda, for 58 years. He
also leaves behind Elizabeth, Carlos and Lori’s daughter, and Sam and Yolanda’s
first grandchild.</div>
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SERVICES<br />
<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; border: 0px; color: inherit; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We will have a gathering in our home in New Jersey to commemorate the life of Rev. Dr. Samuel Acosta. </span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="border: 0px; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Please join us for a small ceremony and time for contemplation on Sunday, May 5, 2019, at 3 p.m.</span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="border: 0px; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We will say a few words about Sam starting at 3:30 p.m. Please feel free to stop by any time between 3-7 p.m.</span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="border: 0px; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">We will have light refreshments, but if you are inclined to bring something, we are eternally grateful (by no means is this required).<span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Please email me at acostagrisel@hotmail.com for our address.</span><span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-size: x-small; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="border: 0px; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">*For those of you who cannot attend this event, there will be a larger church ceremony in Chicago during the summer of 2019.<span style="border: 0px; color: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="border: 0px; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">SPANISH TRANSLATION:</span><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="border: 0px; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tendremos una reunión en nuestra casa en New Jersey para conmemorar la vida de m</span><span style="border: 0px; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">i padre, el Rev. Dr. Samuel Acosta, esposo de la Sra. Yolanda Acosta y padre de Luis y Carlos.</span></span></div>
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<div style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #1d2129; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Por favor, estan invitados para una pequeña ceremonia y tiempo para la contemplación en dominigo, 5 de Mayo, 2019, a las tres de la tarde. <br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Diremos algunas palabras sobre Sam a partir de las 3:30 p.m. Por favor, siéntase libre de pasar por cualquier momento entre las 3 y las 7 p.m.<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />Tendremos cositas pequeñas para comer, pero si están dispuestos a traer algo, estamos eternamente agradecidos.<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased;" />* Para aquellos de ustedes que no pueden asistir a este evento, habrá una ceremonia religiosa en una iglesia en Chicago durante el verano de 2019.</span></span></span></div>
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Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-10683787695545213852018-02-09T17:13:00.000-05:002018-02-09T17:21:50.510-05:00Latinx Erasure, Censure, and Buffoonery--Day 1I have not written a blog in over a year because I didn't want to add carelessly to the back and forth between racist rhetoric and resistance against it. I wanted to make sure that when I contributed, it would be to say something significant, something that made sense to me. I didn't want to just shout the same anger that echoed the anger of so many others. I wanted to have something fresh to say, or at least something that I could live with, something that, for me, wouldn't get lost in the static.<br />
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After hearing about our current State of the Union and subsequent language about the statements made in it, where immigrants were again equated with violent behavior, and after thinking a lot about what has been happening around me, I finally have something to say. There is a clear movement to erase Latinx existence in the United States, by way of destroying families by separating them (see DACA termination and other hostile immigrant policies), by way of destroying education in Latinx communities (see privatization of public schools and school closures in Latinx neighborhoods and Puerto Rico), by destroying any possibility of job security for Latinx workers and professionals (see tenure process in academia and migrant worker rights), by destroying our history and our literature (see Arizona book banning and multicultural studies banning), by silencing our voices in spaces where liberal conversation is supposedly accepted (see the Democratic Party and activist groups that claim to be radical but aren't), by erasing our full and diverse presence from the majority of forums in the media (see films, books, magazines, news programs, Spanish-language television that has no Afro-Latinx or queer presence), by including us in major media forums only as buffoons who exemplify stupidity and/or violence, by having non-Latinx actors play us or non-Latinx writers and directors write stories they think are about us (see Saturday Night Live and Stephen Spielberg), by impeding access to healthcare and safe housing, by pretending to sympathize with our plight only to continue the same practices that ignore the heritage and labor that we cultivated in the Americas (the full Americas, meaning both North, South, and Central America, and the Caribbean), a heritage and labor that has literally made Europe and its descendants rich, and fed the world and kept it dynamic and interesting with a culture of intellectual depth and spiritual magnificence (see the works of Junot Diaz, Carmen Tafolla, Julia de Burgos, and Arturo Schomburg, just to name a very few). </div>
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We are not and have never been immigrants. </div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://users.humboldt.edu/ogayle/hist383/SpanishNorthAmerica.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="519" data-original-width="703" height="295" src="https://users.humboldt.edu/ogayle/hist383/SpanishNorthAmerica.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Humboldt.edu</td></tr>
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This map shows that the Spanish, who in combination with our indigenous ancestors and African ancestors, created who we are. We were here in the full Americas before the United States was created and back then it was common to move all around the Americas. Our movement today echoes our original travels back then. And, yet, some of us never moved, having inhabited areas called California and Texas well before they were ever considered the United States.<br />
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When people call us immigrants, that is an attempt to erase our history and, in effect, erase us. All the behaviors I describe above have one purpose: to erase our existence and contribution to the Americas because the occupiers and their cohorts want to erase us. More space for them. But we are here. We've always been here and we always will be here, despite this multi-pronged attempt at genocide. Don't call it genocide? What else is it when you don't grant someone access to healthy housing or healthcare and know that will mean their death? What else is it when you destroy someone's chances for education or don't allow them to see characters who represent their existence (thus destroying self-esteem and self-actualization)? What is the ultimate result of that action?</div>
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Therefore, I will now post again because I literally have to point out the Latinx erasure, censure, and buffoonery so that people will become aware of this silent, yet obvious, attempt at both cultural and literal genocide, and maybe, just maybe, they will feel disgusting about their own part in it. This post explains the context. Future posts will be brief like what you see below. </div>
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Today's erasure: </div>
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DACA Dreamers were recently portrayed as both terrorists and stick-'em-up thugs in an urban environment, holding up two white people, in a political cartoon in <i>The Albuquerque Journal</i>. <i><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/08/us/dreamers-cartoon-albuquerque-journal.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a></i> has since reported that the <i>Journal</i> apologized for printing the cartoon, but considering nearly 50% of the population in New Mexico is Latinx, according to Pew Hispanic, the newspaper had to realize that at least one-half of its population would take issue with the cartoon; we are not even including disapproval from allies in the state and allies in the rest of the U.S., all of whom were outraged by the incident.<br />
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I classify this incident as an erasure because what the cartoon does not show, what it in fact obscures, is that DACA Dreamers are literally here to study. They are excellent students, and they can be deported if there is any incident of violence, so they, for the most part, are absolute model citizens. Those of us who are not under a contract like they are have the luxury of getting a parking ticket, or a speeding ticket, or goofing off on spring break, for example. DACA Dreamers study and work. I'm sure some of them may have actually indulged in behaving as a young college student might, but trust me, many of them are hardcore about their goals because that is the choice they made.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGMfphgoxEZYJ8J-WXgzawulKpo68fY3aphnjB8To6Ar3KWIIP369G0rKP-VzBJeEmLYX2yJuBgGZ_0rfmWADJ1Co52MnmMHxnYl1zkGFSL7xGCVXJt5vrEwh80eccnrjuVwxhQ/s1600/Dreamers+erasure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1152" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGMfphgoxEZYJ8J-WXgzawulKpo68fY3aphnjB8To6Ar3KWIIP369G0rKP-VzBJeEmLYX2yJuBgGZ_0rfmWADJ1Co52MnmMHxnYl1zkGFSL7xGCVXJt5vrEwh80eccnrjuVwxhQ/s320/Dreamers+erasure.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">By Sean Delonas</td></tr>
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Furthermore, the cartoon is poorly executed. If you take a look at it, seen above, you'll see one Dreamer is a suicide bomber and two others are holding up a couple. I mean, are these supposed Dreamers going to rob the couple and then blow everyone up? That isn't exactly logical, is it? Or, is the cartoon supposing that one of the Dreamers is a Middle Eastern terrorist who just happens to be hanging out with a gang member from M.S. 13, which is a gang that is based in locales like Los Angeles and El Salvador. Does the cartoonist think that all Dreamers hang out with each other and plan evil deeds together? A more realistic tableaux would be all three of them studying for a calculus exam. And, why is the landscape a New York landscape? Did the gang member from L.A. actually fly to New York in order to hold up people? If he's so poor that he has to hold up people, how did he fly to New York? So many plot holes, so ridiculous, so over the top, it could actually be classified as buffoonery, too. We can give it that I suppose, but it is the erasure that bothers me the most. I've worked with Dreamers, heard them give incredibly moving speeches, watched them make the lives of everyone around them better, so it's the erasure that we must highlight, because no one's hard work should ever be erased that way. </div>
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Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-54829582263505910402016-12-24T14:22:00.001-05:002016-12-25T06:49:55.400-05:00The "Worst Year" is My Best Year<br />
2016 has been an awesome year. Here is a list to prove how magical it has been:<br />
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1. I got to see Xiomara, a wonderful, artistic woman who was my teaching assistant when I worked in the high school program at Hostos Community College, years ago. She introduced me to her artistic friends and family at the Botanical Garden. It was lovely!<br />
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2. I celebrated Papi's 79th birthday! Here, he and Mami kiss over birthday flan.<br />
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3. Vincent and I celebrated our 11th anniversary! We went to the Russian Tea Room.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0DUEZ44PvHTVOi2ahrZz50W6WQaWsknqDnMUGfexMWywU2KrEChDh2adicY4lf5oPN6Nn5xbhsNb-7AN2ewsu5ykYCx81o6pO_g-ARbtJiVyZdoYRWr_EBQrA-SIzI7fKEK3uA/s1600/12715847_10153663508359093_4993166839032940445_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0DUEZ44PvHTVOi2ahrZz50W6WQaWsknqDnMUGfexMWywU2KrEChDh2adicY4lf5oPN6Nn5xbhsNb-7AN2ewsu5ykYCx81o6pO_g-ARbtJiVyZdoYRWr_EBQrA-SIzI7fKEK3uA/s200/12715847_10153663508359093_4993166839032940445_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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4. I was accepted into the <a href="http://www.kwelijournal.org/the-art-of-the-short-story-workshop-1/" target="_blank">Kweli Writing Workshop</a> and received invaluable mentorship from Laura Pegram. I strongly recommend it to any writer at any stage of his/her/their career.<br />
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5. I was accepted into a <a href="https://www.creative-capital.org/" target="_blank">Creative Capital Fellowship </a>program and received incredible tools in order to continue my work as a writer.<br />
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6. I had the opportunity to be one of the preliminary judges in the <a href="https://algren.submittable.com/submit" target="_blank">Nelson Algren Stort Story</a> contest; this was so exciting for me because I always list Nelson Algren as one of my favorite writers (a fellow-Chicagoan!). Thank you, <a href="http://nancymendezbooth.com/" target="_blank">Nancy Mendez-Booth</a> for recommending me! 2017 submissions are open now!<br />
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7. I had a second monologue brought to life by <a href="http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2016/03/in_full_color_returns_to_jersey_city_for_womens_hi.html" target="_blank">In Full Color</a>, a production which highlights the experiences of women of color. Thank you Summer, Paola, and <a href="http://www.arthouseproductions.org/" target="_blank">The Art House</a>!<br />
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8. I had my monologue, "Hardcore Chica Punk Birth Fragments," produced for a second time (the original was by In Full Color last year), by the <a href="http://reproductivefreedomfestival.org/" target="_blank">Reproductive Freedom Festival</a>. This was live-streamed worldwide. Thank you Cindy Cooper and Words of Choice.<br />
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9. Both monologues mentioned were published in two anthologies: The <i><a href="http://www.lulu.com/us/en/shop/summer-hortillosa/in-full-color-anthology/paperback/product-22601108.html" target="_blank">In Full Color Anthology</a></i> and <i><a href="http://www.indietheaternow.com/Play/reproductive-freedom-festival-plays" target="_blank">The Reproductive Freedom Anthology</a></i>.<br />
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10. I was able to be a part of Montclair State University's Live Literature program again. Thank you Melissa Adamo!<br />
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11. I got to perform with Vincent, as our collective <a href="http://www.grito.org/" target="_blank">GRITO</a>, at the Bronx Community College English Department's Faculty Lecture Series, and it was amazing!<br />
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12. I got to see the incredible <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j39CI-qpswA" target="_blank">Buraka Som Sistema</a> and dance my ass off!<br />
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13. It was wonderful to provide Mami with tickets to see <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mkLoSqqvq8" target="_blank">Michel Camilo</a>, one of the best jazz pianists alive. Yay!<br />
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14. I was able to provide a modest scholarship to a student graduating in the Social Science Department at Bronx Community College; the scholarship is the Rev. Dr. Samuel Acosta Memorial Scholarship. It will be provided every year.<br />
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15. My panel on social justice and creative writing was accepted by the <a href="http://www.poetrycenterpccc.com/information" target="_blank">"Celebrating the Poetic Legacy of Whitman, Williams and Ginsberg: A Literary Festival and Conference,"</a> at The Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College (which has hosted Poet Laureates, Inaugural Poets, and Pulitzer Prize-winning poets from all over the U.S.). The conference is in June 2017 and the folks on the panel include Vincent Toro, Marina Carreira, Ellen Hagan, and Jeremy Michael Clark.<br />
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16. <a href="http://mariagillan.com/" target="_blank">Maria Mazziotti-Gillan</a> was a featured speaker at Bronx Community College, upon my recommendation, and she rocked!<br />
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17. When Vincent featured at NJPAC for its <a href="https://twitter.com/dodgepoetryfest/status/729700275796250624" target="_blank">Oigo a Cantar</a> event, featuring Bobby Sanabria, Mr. Sanabria brought me up on stage to help him teach everyone how to salsa properly. Vaya!<br />
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18. I had the honor of celebrating Vincent's beautiful book, <a href="https://ahsahtapress.org/product/toro-stereo-island-mosaic/" target="_blank">Stereo. Island. Mosaic.</a>, at his book party at the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe'. The poets who read include Carlos Manuel Rivera, Ellen Hagan, Marina Carreira, Rosebud Ben-Oni, Rigoberto Gozales, Kamilah Aisha Moon, and Michael VanCalbergh - all of them so wonderful and genuine. Thank you to Kweli for supporting this event.<br />
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19. I was asked to write about my vision for the 1st ever Hall of Fame, housed at Bronx Community College. The essay <a href="https://bcchalloffame.commons.gc.cuny.edu/on-issues-of-representation/" target="_blank">is here</a>. I still think Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall belong there.<br />
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20. My poems were accepted by the<i> <a href="http://luisurrieta.blogspot.com/2016/03/call-for-chapters-lauryn-hill-reader.html" target="_blank">Lauren Hill Reader</a></i> project. They are forthcoming.<br />
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21. My short fiction was accepted by the <i><a href="http://www.unr.edu/latinocenter/basta.html" target="_blank">BASTA: 100 Latinas Write on Violence Against Wome</a></i>n project. The anthology is forthcoming.<br />
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22. I was asked to organize Hispanic Heritage Month at Bronx Community College by Prithi Kanakamedala and Ahmed Reid (of the BCC History Department). Thank you, Carmen Rivera, for providing your papers and ephemera for an exciting exhibit, and thank you for the wonderful conversation with a packed house of students. I tried to facilitate many other events, including a poetry reading featuring <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjcD5h-mO_c" target="_blank">J.F. Seary</a>, organized by Prof. <a href="https://twitter.com/mcossaquino" target="_blank">Melissa Coss-Aquino</a>, an exhibit of Latinx artwork, and a dance class that featured Latinx traditions which come from Africa. A special thank you to Prof. Gloria Rodriguez (who is known for her work as a Young Lord) for supporting this event.<br />
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23. I was voted to be on a Task Force at BCC where we focus on how to address issues of equity for faculty and staff of color and female faculty and staff. It is an honor to have such a great responsibility at my college.<br />
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24. I was able to visit the beachy side of Long Island, including legendary Cherry Grove, which was so much fun! This trip allowed me to understand New York in ways I hadn't before.<br />
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25. I had a wonderful visit by Nova and her wonderful mother and family. The time is never enough!<br />
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26. I had so much fun going to Afro-Punk and seeing Fishbone, Bad Brains, Living Color, and George Clinton jam onstage!! Wow! We also saw the Prophets of Rage a week earlier. What an August!<br />
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27. My dear friend Chris, who I hadn't seen for over a year, visited and we had such a wonderful time chatting in our backyard. Miss you so much already! When in Los Angeles for AWP, we got to see my dearest, most fun high school friend, Jen (so much fun!) and her man, Brian, while staying with Vincent's college friend Derek and his fiancee, Callan. Thanks for the hospitality! Vincent and I also visited our dear friend, Andrew, in Vermont; again, never enough time.<br />
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28. I had a poem accepted for the special <a href="https://amsjournal.wordpress.com/2016/04/25/call-for-papers-american-studies-journal-special-issue-honoring-the-70th-anniversary-of-mendez-v-westminster-1947/" target="_blank">Mendez v. Westminster issue of The American Studies Journal</a>; that is forthcoming and I can't wait!<br />
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29. I was commissioned by The Dodge Poetry Foundation, NJTV, and the Center for Investigative Reporting to write a poem in response to the heroin crisis. The poem was debuted at The Dodge Poetry Festival in October, and it is published on NJTV's <a href="http://www.njtvonline.org/addiction/your-stories/dr-grisel-y-acosta/" target="_blank">site here</a>. I am extremely proud of this work because a lot of research went into it. I followed the journey of the poppy, and learned a lot about our economy in the process. It is not an easy truth to bear.<br />
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30. I wrote two pieces, upon request by the incredible poet,<a href="http://www.rosebudbenoni.com/" target="_blank"> Rosebud Ben-Oni</a>. The first is on Latina intellectuals, and it went viral. A million thanks to everyone who shared it. It was published by VIDA <a href="http://www.vidaweb.org/the-invisible-latina-intellectual/" target="_blank">here</a>. The second piece was a collaboration with other writers, and it was in response to the election. It is published by Kenyon Review, and it <a href="http://www.kenyonreview.org/2016/11/house-gated-latinao-writers-resistance/" target="_blank">is here</a>.<br />
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31. I also wrote a longer essay in response to the election, published by English Kills Review, and it <a href="http://englishkillsreview.com/a-month-in-the-life-of-an-impending-dictatorship/" target="_blank">is here</a>. Thank you Ian MacAllen for publishing it and to all who shared it.<br />
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32. I was asked by Cindy Cooper to be part of a series of creative workshops with women at <a href="https://www.greenhope.org/index.shtml" target="_blank">Greenhope</a>. This request came later in the year and I was so tired and depressed because of recent events; it was a gift to receive this opportunity and to have good conversation with truly generous artists. I thank Cindy for that.<br />
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33. I had the honor of seeing <a href="https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/tisch-award-program/" target="_blank">SC Justice Sonia Sotomayor accept the Tisch Award in Civic Leadership,</a> and the double-honor of asking her a question. She was delighted to tell me what the most exciting thing about being "the only Latina in the room" is: "Having a voice."<br />
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34. Marina Carreira invited me to celebrate the life of LGBTQ activist and amazing poet <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louie_Crew" target="_blank">Louie Crew Clay</a>, who just turned 80! I and many other poets I admire read at the event and had cake. He made me blush when he said, "I always want to hear you read more." I don't feel deserving because he is the real deal, but I'll keep remembering the words when I doubt myself.<br />
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35. I was able to take Mami to Carnegie Hall to see the New York Pops play Christmas tunes, in celebration of her 78th birthday. It was the happiest I've seen her in months!<br />
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36. I had a wonderful lunch with <a href="http://www.dodgepoetry.org/about-us/staff/ysabel-y-gonzalez/" target="_blank">Ysabel Gonzalez </a>and learned that she is cousins with DZine, the artist who brought life to my Chicago underground youth (at places like the warehouse party Club Naked and Wicker Park club, Red Dog)! Small world!<br />
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37. My 45th birthday party this year had all my friends and family dancing, and Papi was the highlight of the event when he was practically breakdancing to house classic, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKgXvuDILrQ" target="_blank">Din Daa Daa</a>." Alzheimer's has nothing on Chicago house!<br />
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38. My dear friend Norma had open heart surgery this year. I was so fearful, but I knew she was strong. It has been such a blessing to see her recover so well. I can't wait until I see her next summer. I will be in town then, Norma! Abrazos!<br />
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39. GRITO also performed at my old alma mater, The University of Texas at San Antonio, as part of its <a href="http://colfa.utsa.edu/english/CW/cwreading.html" target="_blank">Creative Writing Reading Series</a> (something that I never in my wildest dreams I thought would happen). It was pretty dope. Thank you to Wendy Barker for inviting us and thank you to Norma Cantu for coming to see us. I also thank all of our former students who showed up (a special shout to Blanca Hurley who has never ceased to be supportive).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1OiU3q_LGi_hfqA3meHPmNWSemrUdaxzndqgl23UiYBO7JGZ3XaEnA_qo7LwZdU3ZAsvrhNFx3kq86w8nSxrW3tmqH0b52qju7Od5SLWFi8BshyJEuxauuRtT_f67DHvtQ8pkA/s1600/14468707_10154225690344093_2100305944615563100_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv1OiU3q_LGi_hfqA3meHPmNWSemrUdaxzndqgl23UiYBO7JGZ3XaEnA_qo7LwZdU3ZAsvrhNFx3kq86w8nSxrW3tmqH0b52qju7Od5SLWFi8BshyJEuxauuRtT_f67DHvtQ8pkA/s320/14468707_10154225690344093_2100305944615563100_o.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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40. The biggest gift has been seeing how my family - from both Vincent's side and my side - have come together to support my parents. I am eternally grateful.<br />
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I write this list because I must remember the blessings. It has sometimes been hard to remember the blessings when watching my father's mental state decline, watching my mother suffer because of his condition, and struggling to create special moments with Vincent when we are so busy with caregiving and work. It is also difficult when we are constantly being told that it is the end of the world because of our political situation. Yes, there are many challenges ahead, but it is clear that I have such wonderful people around me, and so many of them are supportive and giving and generous that I wonder how in the world I can repay them for their generosity. All I can say to my friends and family (especially Vincent, mi vida. my love) is this:<br />
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THANK YOU FOR ONE OF THE BEST YEARS OF MY LIFE.<br />
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<br />Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-15966899728677844092016-07-10T16:47:00.001-04:002016-07-10T20:29:56.380-04:00How the Media Destroys Black Lives Matter: "Anchor Left, Pivot Right"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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As a college professor who teaches her students to decipher information, I have found it increasingly difficult to guide my students through current rhetoric, current texts, whether they be in the form of books, articles, films, documentaries, or performances. What I've come to understand is that, in the guise of complexity, insidious messages are couched within the framework of sensible logic and liberalism or even the idea of "revolution." An overt, less sophisticated example would be the stereotypes perpetuated in the films of Quentin Tarantino--stereotypes about women or people of color that rarely show any wisdom or complex characterization--all presented in way that tries to convince the viewer a violent woman is liberated or a revenge-driven Black man is happy. I lament how often film-goers think Tarantino has a revolutionary message. He does not.<br />
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However, there are other, more sophisticated examples of how we imply a liberal message while actually planting a covert, conservative message, a message which actually serves the status quo and keeps people divided. For example, current rhetoric about former President Theodore Roosevelt would have us believe that he was a pioneer of democracy, despite the fact that he led with a "Big Stick" mentality and enslaved people of color throughout the world with his foreign policies. Our documentarians are not revising history when they change the rhetoric about his bullying ways; no, they are showing the complexity of the man, supposedly. The result: venerating a man that caused the deaths of countless South American and Caribbean peoples. The internalized message: it's okay to enslave/murder people as long as they don't live too close to us. It isn't a surprise that such a message is important to those in power today, given our <a href="http://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/neoliberalism.asp" target="_blank">neoliberal global economy</a>. Another example is how in Arizona, Latinx studies classes, and many books (by both Latinx and non-Latinx authors), were banned not because of racism, but because they were supposedly divisive and could cause treasonous actions. Pay no mind to the fact that the students, both students of color and Whites, who took the classes graduated at much higher rates than students who didn't. While this ban was, thankfully, overturned, the rhetoric at the time was that banning the classes and books was protecting students from racism. The internalized message to non-Latinx: Latinx studies is dangerous and causes controversy, and Latinx and historical books are bad.<br />
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And now, some of us wonder how in the world there can be anyone who doesn't understand the reform that is needed in our police departments, in our educational systems, in our political system, in terms of respecting the lives of people of color, most importantly Black brothers and sisters. How is it possible that some folks don't understand the gravity of the situation? Those of us who have been stopped, or who have family who have been stopped, or who have experienced both macro- and micro-aggressions in the workplace or elsewhere, or who have lost loved ones, or who were nearly lost ourselves, we know exactly what is happening. But how can someone who read about Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. being arrested on his porch not understand? How can someone who saw the blood spilled over and over on video not understand? How can someone who can look out the window and see that their environment is Whiter than Wonder bread, and know how it got that way, and know that it will remain that way, not understand? How can some of us who claim to be open-minded and loving, who claim to be good people, not understand?<br />
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I know how. It is because we are inundated with little seeds that many of us do not see. I see these seeds because they nearly killed me throughout my life, so I trained myself to see them, as a survival tactic. Many of us never notice them at all.<br />
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Who plants these seeds? Lots of people, but there is a current ringmaster. His name is Steve Bannon. He runs what I would call a media think tank and empire where young people, most White but not all, push a message that supports a conservative agenda. His storied biography is covered in depth <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/graphics/2015-steve-bannon/" target="_blank">here</a>, and you'll find that in addition to having a military background, he worked on Wall Street, he took over a studio in Hollywood (one that produced hit indie films<i> The Indian Runner</i> and Julie Taymor's <i>Titus</i>), he jumped into television at the perfect time to make lots of money off hit TV show <i>Seinfeld</i>, and also became a leader of conservative web media when Andrew Breitbart died and Bannon became executive chairman of <a href="http://breitbart.com/">Breitbart.com</a>.<br />
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Somehow, Bannon, who has a degree from Harvard Law and degree in national security from Georgetown, always seems to be in the right place at the right time, and he has used those moments to his advantage in order to be of great influence in the media. For example, after making his indie films in Hollywood, he quickly changed his tune and then began to make documentaries on conservative leaders like Ronald Reagan and Sara Palin (I acknowledge that I'm stretching the boundaries of meaning by calling her a leader). His earnings from his time at Goldman Sachs, royalties from <i>Seinfeld</i>, and other successful jobs and investments, have also allowed him to train and support other young, conservative writers.<br />
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One of the most successful is <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/wyntonhall" target="_blank">Wynton Hall</a>, a Texas A&M graduate who is a regular speaker on Bill O'Reilly's <i>The Radio Factor</i>, and who has <a href="http://wyntonhallco.com/blog/" target="_blank">ghostwritten many books</a> (some <i>NYTimes</i> bestsellers) for conservative politicians, Jewish icons, and - wait for it - Kylie and Kendall Jenner (are you surprised?). Hall's prowess as a writer sets the tone for the group of writers that Bannon has cultivated, and Hall often has mottos and phrases that he repeats in order to inspire. This activity is what brings me back to the theme of this essay, and how the crucial need behind Black Lives Matter is slowly chipped away by insidious media. One of the phrases that Hall promotes in the think tank is, "Anchor left, pivot right." What that means is that articles that are posted on Breitberg.com, for example, which are the most right-wing articles you can think of and that can be really polarizing, are not useful for the conservative, neoliberal mission (a mission which wishes to put public dollars into private hands - think of how our prisons have been privatized, how charter schools funnel public dollars into private institutions, and how projects like that ruin the lives of people of color). Instead, it is better to start with a seemingly liberal idea or seemingly logical idea - such as, our schools are in trouble and we don't want to burden the public with more taxes - then the idea is pivoted into a conservative realm - so, we should allow the private sector, for fewer dollars than would normally be spent on schools, to provide a better education for our children. We often don't realize the problems with such a strategy until we find ourselves with schools that don't accept children of color at the same rate as others, that don't provide equal support for disabled students, and that skew success rates by expelling students who need more help. Anchor left, pivot right.<br />
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The anchor left, pivot right rhetoric is especially dangerous because it is not a<i> Fox News</i> tactic. It is a <i>New York Times</i> tactic. As the<i> Bloomberg News</i> article I linked to above reports, Bannon's book on Hillary Clinton provided information that was widely cited in the <i>NYTimes</i>. The article literally states that the conservative information is preferably "weaponized...onto the front page of the <i>New York Times</i>." In other words, even though we may think we are reading the most liberal and well-written news in the country, "facts" in some of the articles can be from a decidedly conservative and agenda-driven source: Bannon's think tank. Bannon and Hall stress that they work in facts, and even go so far as to use a program that mines the Deep Web for hard-to-find information. The <i>NYTimes</i> also cited one of their Deep Web finds, regarding the Clintons and donors who benefited from their relationship. While this kind of journalism seems reputable - facts are facts, right? - what we forget is that Donald Trump, who Bannon endorses enthusiastically, hasn't allowed the public to see his tax returns at all. The implication is that the Clintons are doing something wrong, but the same scrutiny is not given to the candidate that Bannon endorses. Anchor left, pivot right is done to get liberals to question their own ideas, but Bannon does not encourage his group to anchor right and pivot left in order to get conservatives to question their ideas. The idea is to undermine the ideas of people who are in the middle or left and steer them to a conservative viewpoint, and never the other way around, which results in a lot of unquestioned conservative thinking.<br />
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Ultimately, this information that Bannon's group generates comes to you in the form of posts that friends you probably have de-friended have put on social media. For example, the video that started my initial search into this group of writers shows a goofy looking man by the name of Milo Yiannopoulos explaining why "Black Lives Don't Matter to Black Lives Matter," his main argument being that Black people kill each other more than police kill Black people. I knew the statistics and argument were nonsense when I saw the video, and most of the people posting in the thread of the video knew that, too, but there were some folks who were convinced by the weak argument. Yiannopoulos is a senior editor at <i>Breitbart News</i>, and apparently he was recently denied a visit to DePaul University because the students protested, but the video was not disseminated by him. It was posted by<i> <a href="http://www.subjectpolitics.com/" target="_blank">Subject: Politics</a></i>, tagline: "No Safe Spaces Here." The tagline implies that those of us who have advocated for safe spaces where we can be ourselves without persecution are asking for something silly. The tagline implies the LGBTQ community needs to "man up" and the Black Lives Matter organization needs to "get over" an issue that supposedly doesn't exist. The tagline completely ignores how many Black, Brown, and LGBTQ people have been murdered and persecuted for centuries.<br />
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<i>Subject: Politics</i> does not list its Board of Directors or even just a webmaster, but I found the guy who runs it. <i>Subject: Politics</i> is run by Eric Wemlinger and he lives in Washington, D.C., he was a Constituent Visitor Assistant to Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), and he, like Bannon and Hall, is a White man. (Wemlinger, as of the printing of this essay, is also on Facebook.) Bannon funds the creation of content, Hall creates the content, Wemlinger disseminates the content. And that is just one scenario of how these insidious ideas infiltrate our media. There are other writers and other bloggers who mirror this dynamic. Bannon, on the other hand, seems to be one of the main funders of such information.<br />
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These White men, and others like them, and people of color who somehow work for them (hello people like Stacey Dash and Wendy Williams), work night and day to influence folks who are somewhere in between the right and left - and that is most of us, realistically. They anchor their statements in those that we already hold, and then they veer the conversation towards what they really want, which is continued power for White men. This is an exciting game to them, a game that their privilege allows while the rest of us face possible death while it's being played. Sometimes the seeds seem innocuous: like an episode of <i>Seinfeld </i>where a person of color with an accent is the butt of a joke the group of friends enjoys; or an episode of<i> Saturday Night Live</i> where we finally have Black actors, but a White actor plays an ignorant, sleazy Latina with a horrible accent, or an episode where we are asked to laugh at a presidential candidate who hates people of color. These are not innocuous moments. These are the seeds that make horrible ideas grow in us, ideas that make us think someone's poverty inevitably brought on being shot by police, ideas that make us think that we have nothing to do with what is going on because we are different from those who are affected, ideas that allow us to brush off the buffoonery of a race, ideas that allow us to see others as less than human, thus allowing us to degrade our own humanity in the process.<br />
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Don't let your principles be steered by anyone. Be aware of the anchor left, pivot right dynamic. Find out who is in control of the information and what their motives are.<br />
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Me? I'll tell you my motive: I want to <i>live</i> and I want all my brothers and sisters to live and thrive. We've fought for our lives for centuries. We ain't about to stop now.Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-20441551626029628702016-06-15T00:15:00.000-04:002016-06-15T00:28:03.387-04:00Jersey City Vigil for Orlando Victims<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyebE5BWxo-coddGslqUUCkSRiMhR8-UM7VO63Ses6vt708_7XHNOLKNuWgE_mxZE5dTNlsEniPA9VYvFNmbVbuolbBGNb9ZjUhp86G5HA7zABWA9KP9OYIrXK3k4u_8c1ZvICyQ/s1600/DSCF1370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyebE5BWxo-coddGslqUUCkSRiMhR8-UM7VO63Ses6vt708_7XHNOLKNuWgE_mxZE5dTNlsEniPA9VYvFNmbVbuolbBGNb9ZjUhp86G5HA7zABWA9KP9OYIrXK3k4u_8c1ZvICyQ/s400/DSCF1370.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
Tonight, 6/14/2016, I went to Jersey City, the place I called home for several years, for a vigil remembering the victims of the violent act at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida.<br />
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As I walked up to Newark Avenue Pedestrian Plaza, I immediately remembered how diverse Jersey City is. When I worked at Hudson County Community College years ago, I became familiar with the fact that Jersey City is one of the most, if not the most, diverse city in the United States. Hundreds of countries, languages, and ethnicities are represented in J.C. This is why the vigil in Chilltown, as JC is lovingly known, was so special. Partners of every gender representation and color held hands, men in turbans handed out free water to people who came for the event, young Latinx and African American folks handed out free candles. It was an impressive sight.<br />
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One of the first speakers of the evening was a Muslim man from Jersey City, representing a local organization. He said a prayer that promoted unity and understanding, and that urged non-violence. He prayed for the families of the victims and emphasized that if one falls, we all fall. Then, the names of the dead were voiced, but the speakers also included statements from the family and friends of the victims, details that allowed us to understand their unique personalities, facts that allowed us to visualize their last moments, like the fact that a mother died shielding her son on that night, just to name one example. Everyone listened intently, and many wept.<br />
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The main message of the evening was love, and a need for gun control, especially in terms of automatic weapons. The crowd cheered the possibility of a safer world, but they especially cheered love and genuine acceptance.<br />
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It was beautiful to see so many people come together in love. And what happened among those present was in stark contrast to the rhetoric that has been promoted on television and in the media, in general. I believe that coming together - breathing air together, catching our breath, in sync, just like the victims tried to do that night to the rhythm of music - I think the coming together is the truth. I don't believe anything that the media is promoting now. When we come together and look into each other's faces, we know we love each other. We know we do not want what people who are out of sync fool themselves into wanting or believing.<br />
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The message in the media right now is <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/this-is-how-fascism-comes-to-america/2016/05/17/c4e32c58-1c47-11e6-8c7b-6931e66333e7_story.html" target="_blank">fascist</a>. When I watched Bill O'Reilly on The Late Show, on 6/13/2016, spew hatred and say words like "annihilation" in regards to certain populations of people, I knew he was out of sync, or wanted to get people to be out of sync, for whatever reasons he might have. Shame on <a href="http://www.cbs.com/shows/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert/" target="_blank">Colbert</a> for allowing him to speak such hatred. <a href="http://www.msn.com/en-us/health/watch/fbi-says-orlando-killer-was-not-connected-to-any-terrorist-networks/vp-AAh0fSv" target="_blank">The FBI has said over and over</a> that this crime had nothing to do with any extreme groups. The facts show that this man was out of sync with his own body, with his o<a href="https://www.rt.com/usa/346613-orlando-mateen-gay-tendencies/" target="_blank">wn gender identity and sexuality</a>. That is a result of the hateful fascist ideology that is promoted regarding the LGBTQ population, an ideology so many folks have worked hard to fight against. Donald Trump has tried to use this tragedy, just as O'Reilly has, to promote his own fascist agenda, too. He is also out of sync. They promote violence, war, walls, guns. Violence, war, walls, and guns are fascist. These men also promote corporate, neoliberal* domination, and that is fascist, too. These unwelcoming men are ugly and they have no real connection to the population of the world. They need cameras and microphones to be heard. We are forced to listen to them because they are loud, and because equally ugly people give them the power to be heard. Shut that noise out. It isn't the truth.<br />
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Tonight, in Jersey City, the people in the crowd needed no microphones or cameras to hear each other. The love was felt between everyone because we were all tuned to the same frequency. We all know that warm, loving acceptance of people is the only way. That love is an art form, much like dancing to music in a room full of people who all know the pattern of the baseline, every beat, moving in sync, smiling at each other without saying a word, understanding that the same blood is pumping through everyone's veins, knowing that everyone's heart is squeezing out the same rhythm, the rhythm of life.<br />
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Thank you, Jersey City, for creating a safe place for all of us to remember, recognize, and rejuvenate.<br />
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*Neoliberalism is the process of transferring public funds and resources to the private sector.Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-91849702500782763412016-04-24T22:50:00.002-04:002016-04-24T23:05:07.224-04:00Adam Maljan, the DJ I Grew Up With, Has Died<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIP7alTlgkCLukbwDwRsmS1Mz0C-w5BZiFIlRZ9ENeMySItHu48C991AmLl-yBZzeWcfgypyTtj_Lx_sCLA6J1KIs9Uec0n_-MMcTNjV3Nno2wLYm7mOxYq4EfSvt0BL4l50hsnA/s1600/adam+young.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIP7alTlgkCLukbwDwRsmS1Mz0C-w5BZiFIlRZ9ENeMySItHu48C991AmLl-yBZzeWcfgypyTtj_Lx_sCLA6J1KIs9Uec0n_-MMcTNjV3Nno2wLYm7mOxYq4EfSvt0BL4l50hsnA/s400/adam+young.jpg" width="382" /></a></div>
I only have one picture with Adam Maljan. It is a Polaroid that was taken when he came to a church banquet with me in 1987. I had just turned 16 that September. It was the year the teachers went on strike, and we were partying until the beginning of October, which is probably when this event took place. He didn't want to get in the conga line, but he sat off to the side, and he watched me dance with my parents, laughing.<br />
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I met him the spring before that. My high school friend, Jake Austen (he had the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/chicagogo" target="_blank">Chica Go-Go</a> show in Chicago, and his brother, Ben, writes important <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/24/magazine/chicago-after-laquan-mcdonald.html?_r=0" target="_blank">articles</a> for the <i>New York Times</i>), was having a killer party in Hyde Park. Jake had been advertising Club Naked, a club which was run by Adam's older brother, Troy Abshire, and many other folks, and where Adam was learning to become a DJ. Every week Jake handed out flyers for Club Naked at Kenwood, our high school. He was really good at promoting a party. So, when I saw Adam and <a href="http://sperryart.com/" target="_blank">Bryan Sperry</a> handing out flyers at Jake's party, I said, "Oh, I know about that place," even though I'd never been there. I took a flyer and huffed away. Later, Adam would admit that he remembered me from that night and thought I was a B-I-T-C-H. I remembered him from that night, too. He had such pale skin and such red lips, and his hair was slicked back like a jazz man from the 1930s, with waves. I thought he looked androgynous, strange. He looked different from anyone else.<br />
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Over a month later, I was sitting bored with friends, listening to the Saturday night mixes on the radio, and in our desperation for something to do, I pulled out the flyer, which was still in my purse. We decided to give it a shot. The music was so wonderful, and the dancing was so excellent, we became regulars at Club Naked. But I didn't officially meet Adam right away. I was dating a guy who eventually went away to college, so I had my mind on him, and Adam wasn't too impressed with my spiked hair, so he didn't pay much mind yet. It was in late summer, when we should have already been in school but weren't because of the strike, that we finally talked to each other. I wore my hair like you see in the picture above, and that is what drew him to me, at least that is what he said. We bonded over music and style. He was floored that I knew both house music and odd rock like rare, early Talking Heads. He traveled up north and I shared my love of David Bowie and Catherine Deneuve in "The Hunger," and I traveled south and we listened to jazz records. My mother remembers that we all went to the Chicago Jazz Festival to see <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7KMJ_dTawI" target="_blank">Irakere</a> together. But he was younger than me, and that meant a lot in those early years. He didn't know how to act in our relationship and was often argumentative. I knew the relationship wouldn't last, but somehow an indelible impression had been left. He had such a good ear. There were very few other people who I met during my high school years that appreciated a wide range of music. I learned to appreciate Bobby McFerrin more through him. We sweated Annie Lennox's voice, and Santana instrumentals, and he even went to see Front 242 with me. Damn, I'd forgotten that one. We went to the Metro for the concert and then took the bus down to Club Naked afterward; what a night! And because of him, I pulled out my disco records, which I had abandoned for punk at that time, a little more often.<br />
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I stayed connected to Club Naked for a while, but eventually, I lost touch with the group because I became focused on studying once in college. I literally had to abandon all my friends, even my best friend, so that I wouldn't party and just focus on school. But once I got the hang of things, maybe around 1991 or 1992, I decided I could handle going out to dance again. That's when my best friend's boyfriend told me that Adam was DJing at a club in Wicker Park. "It's called Red Dog," he said.<br />
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"Really? Is it any good?"<br />
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"Uh, yeah, it's really good. You should go."<br />
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I did go, and when I got there, I decided to say "hi," even though I was worried he'd be annoyed or not remember me. I was lifted into an overhead DJ booth and the person behind the turntables was unrecognizable. Adam had dreds! When he saw me, a huge smile came on his face and he gave me a big hug. Then I introduced him to my boyfriend, and his smile sank. I decided I should cut things short.<br />
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However, months later, when the relationship I was in had ended, and I was lonely and somewhat nervous about dating someone entirely new, I figured I'd give Adam a call. It was easy to reach him in Pilsen, as his family was established there. He called me right back and asked me to dinner. We began dating right away and I became a fixture at Red Dog, completely mesmerized with how he had grown as a DJ. His hit <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPXlPgUORU4" target="_blank">"Zig Zag"</a> was playing everywhere, and it was a joy to dance three or four times a week. I was working two jobs and I was an excellent student at <a href="http://www.colum.edu/" target="_blank">Columbia College Chicago</a>, so dancing was a way to de-stress. It was also fascinating to see everyone from Club Naked again. <a href="http://www.carlosrolondzine.com/" target="_blank">Dzine</a> had done the artwork at Red Dog, Troy and his crew were the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtp5_qYgbYI" target="_blank">United Freaks of America</a>, and they were all so beautiful, especially Yvette, whose outfits were <i>inspirational</i>.<br />
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I spent most of my nights in Adam's loft or listening to tracks in his studio, when we weren't at Red Dog. If I stayed all night, I called home to let my folks know, and Troy would say, "That's nice. You're a good girl. That's really nice." Adam wasn't ever as mellow as Troy back then. He was more argumentative than I remembered him in high school. But his <i>ear</i>. Now he was really into Duke Ellington, and when we listened to Bjork, he always pointed out the squeaky highs in her singing, and I learned, "Yes, that is the thing that gets to your bones, to your inner guts, that squeak, that desperate squeak." He pointed out the squeaks in Janis Joplin, and when we went to see "Carlito's Way," the squeak in Joe Cocker's "You Are So Beautiful," right at the end, when he sings, "...to <i>me</i>...." One night, he took me into the studio and played an early version of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHSDV3XR-cc" target="_blank">"Chunk-a-Nova,"</a> and he asked me what I thought. I said, "That's cool," in a totally inexpressive way. It was not what he needed. Yet, weeks later when it was playing everywhere, and I was dancing like crazy to it, he said, "You didn't act this way about it when I shared it with you," I had no explanation for him. I don't think he realized that he knew how to hear something before others could hear it. He knew what the whole room wanted to hear. I felt <i>moved</i> when he'd mix Pink Floyd in with a deep house track, for example. The bizarre combinations broke racial barriers, broke art barriers, and they created a harmony that most of us wished for in human interactions but rarely found.<br />
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Adam was a true artist, but at the time, I sensed a lot of frustration. One night, when he'd taken a bevy of pills and inhalants, he had a panic attack and I had to sit with him in the stairwell of Red Dog to calm him down. He said he didn't think what he wanted was going to happen and that's why he was so nervous all the time. He said to me, "Do you want to know what I really want?"<br />
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I said, "Sure."<br />
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"I've never said this to anyone. Don't repeat this."<br />
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"Okay."<br />
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"I want to be like Quincy Jones. I want to be able to make amazing music and help other people make amazing music." He looked so scared to tell me.<br />
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I said, "But don't you know I know that already? It's obvious."<br />
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When his birthday came around in February, I bought him a book. It was a well-received tome all about every jazz musician you can think of. I figured he could read about them and maybe follow in their footsteps, DJ-style. He didn't like the gift, at least that's how he acted. "Buyin' a DJ a book, psshh," he said, looking at it. I didn't think that maybe, as a high school drop out, he had disdain for books. That broke my heart because I thought it was a thoughtful gift. He often grew cranky, in ways I didn't understand. He complained about so many things and people, and the only thing that calmed him down was DJing (and what he was named after, sometimes).<br />
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One night, when he was packing up records to go to Red Dog - that's what DJs did back then (!) - he was particularly cranky, swearing about this and that, throwing things around. I asked him, "You don't really like anyone, do you?"<br />
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"No," he said without pause. When he saw the look on my face, he backtracked and said, "Oh, but I like you." He didn't understand that what he saw on my face wasn't a desperate need to be loved by him, but a genuine sadness because of his sadness. I wanted him to love life, I wanted him to feel how I felt when he played his mixes, I wanted him to dance and feel what I felt when I danced. I didn't try to explain to him. I knew, just like Troy implied when he called me a "good girl," that my experience was different.<br />
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He wasn't the best boyfriend, so things ended. Every now and then we'd see each other, here and there, but it was finally over around 1994 or so. There were ways in which Adam hurt me that I cannot express here, but I will say that I was able to forgive him, perhaps because it felt like we grew up together. We were kids, you know? Trying to have fun, trying to figure things out, usually failing.<br />
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I didn't reconnect with him again until the invention of Facebook. When I did see him on the site, our interactions were pleasant enough. When our friend Larissa planned a Club Naked reunion, I was initially excited about it, but then when it actually came to going, I felt like I had moved on and wasn't sure I wanted to open that door again. I didn't go. Nonetheless, Adam came to me for help with his Red Dog page, and regularly reposted my blog about <a href="http://writetoright.blogspot.com/2006/01/warehouse-of-dreams.html" target="_blank">Club Naked</a>, at one point even saying to me that he thought I was an excellent writer. When we had dated, he had judged my ability to be a writer, so his change of heart felt like it came from the heart. He had never been one to admit he was wrong before.<br />
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If Facebook is good for anything, it is good for seeing how an interaction with someone can change into something you didn't expect it to be. I did not have any significant relationship with Adam for the last 20 years, but the interactions that we did have in the distant past shaped me, in both good and bad ways. It means so much to me that, in his own way, he took back the bad and acknowledged that he'd been wrong about some things. It also means a lot to me that I got to see how he survived many challenging years and situations, and maybe learned something, maybe became a better man. But what pleases me the most is that he never gave up making music. It's nice to know that neither one of us abandoned our dreams, the dreams we shared with each other when we were kids.<br />
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Adam will never read my book, but this poem in it, which has been read across the country, was inspired by him and our time at Club Naked and Red Dog (normally, it is sung; he won't ever get to hear me sing it, either):<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>I Lost My Virginity to a DJ</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fiasco’s drinkin’ gin and
tonic<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fiasco’s drinkin’ gin and
tonic<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
curly girl’s walkin’ in with
a fake fur<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
curly girl’s walkin’ in with
a fake fur<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
blue…light in the water<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
red…light in the water<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
coat check girl is under
eighteen<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
but her daddy’s the owner,
know what I mean<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
bartender is her brother<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I ain’t ever seen her mother<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
curly girl is spinnin’ in the
middle of the crowd<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
don’t go into the stairwell<o:p></o:p></div>
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the walls and the floorboards
have a thing or two to tell you<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
a sniff a pipe a sip a life<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
tick tock tick tock tick tock
tick tock<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
slide that leg arms reach
overhead<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and bounce<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
and bounce<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
hide in a groove <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
in a circle that moves<o:p></o:p></div>
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deep down<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-2824854750889732602016-03-20T12:29:00.003-04:002016-03-20T12:41:24.294-04:00Reproductive Freedom Festival<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnttTEb8wvoeCUdaQzrS79cOsiDTPa-Gatu1977c5mEH6OH67zMI3f3skCLvzymbj8xD9wt6xFkXWwbc6PnGOP6dYdb1KnfSW5cZ5FrfAxOrvfJvYwSZkTuJnVCCv9AATv9vTitQ/s1600/ReproductiveFreedom_Facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnttTEb8wvoeCUdaQzrS79cOsiDTPa-Gatu1977c5mEH6OH67zMI3f3skCLvzymbj8xD9wt6xFkXWwbc6PnGOP6dYdb1KnfSW5cZ5FrfAxOrvfJvYwSZkTuJnVCCv9AATv9vTitQ/s640/ReproductiveFreedom_Facebook.jpg" width="540" /></a></div>
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I'm extremely proud to be able to say that I am part of an international group of women whose monologues were chosen for the Reproductive Freedom Festival. You can check out the bios of the talented women involved with the festival <a href="http://reproductivefreedomfestival.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/03/RFFProgram.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>; I'm in good company!</div>
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This event is extremely important to me because Latinas are often treated in a condescending fashion when they are getting medical care, especially in terms of their reproductive rights. Whether there is a language barrier, whether they are being pushed to participate in studies they don't understand or have no knowledge of, or whether they are outright lied to, Latinas need to be aware of their reproductive rights. Latinas are also pushed into the role of mother/caregiver to an extent that their many other talents can be ignored; reproductive freedom ensures that Latinas can choose to be whomever they want to be and explore life to the fullest in surprising ways.</div>
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The event will be taped live today, 3/20/2016, at <a href="http://tactnyc.org/" target="_blank">TACT Studios</a> in Manhattan, starting at 5:30 p.m. </div>
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All of the monologues and interviews with the writers will be live streamed via the Reproductive Freedom <a href="http://reproductivefreedomfestival.org/" target="_blank">website here</a>. You can watch talented New York actors perform the work of the writers, while live tweeting your thoughts and reactions during the performances.</div>
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I'd love for you to watch the event, wherever you may be, and enjoy the insights of women all over the world. My specific monologue will be performed Julissa Roman, between 6:00-6:30 p.m. I'll be in the studio during the live taping. Maybe you'll see me! </div>
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Cheers,</div>
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GYA</div>
<br />Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-91585370636458294912016-02-17T14:28:00.000-05:002016-02-17T14:40:59.437-05:00The United States Abuses Its Elderly Population<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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She didn't look at us when she barked her orders. Eventually, when we questioned her tone, questioned the extra steps she was asking us to take, she looked at our faces, our younger faces, but she didn't look at <i>her</i>. She didn't look at <i>Mami</i>. The barking woman, who was supposed to be helping us at the Bergen County Department of Motor Vehicles didn't look at my elderly mother, who we had to drag out on a cold day because on the previous day we were told that the person who had Power of Attorney over my father, who has Alzheimer's, had to be there. Like a good daughter, I had tried to do all of this for my parents, so that they would not have to worry about red tape anymore in their old age. I went to the DMV with the doctor's form and I tried to get a handicapped placard so that my dad, Papi, would not have to walk too much, in his delirium, when we took him to appointments or restaurants. Our kind doctor said it would be a breeze, "Just give them this form. It's only a placard, not the actual plate or anything."<br />
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But this was not the case, because not only did the folks at the DMV make me drag my mother there, they also mistreated us when we questioned the now additional requirements they hadn't mentioned the day before, they yelled at us, they told <i>us</i> to calm down when we spoke in a normal tone, and they even threatened to remove us from the station. All this, just so that I could get a small plastic square that acknowledges that my dad is old and needs help. Didn't the doctor confirm that? My little viejita mother was pointing her finger at the folks at the DMV, <i>caliente</i>, upset, and they still didn't listen to her, she who has lived more than them and has more wisdom in her little toe than they. I told her, "Vamonos, they don't care about what they are making a viejita do here." The woman behind the counter, finally seeing my mother and maybe even thinking about her mistake said, "Yes, we do." I said, "No, you don't," and we left.<br />
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This is how we treat our elderly in the United States. This past weekend, my husband and I decided to see the new Michael Moore film, "Where to Invade Next," and I was struck by what a woman, a CEO in a northern European country, said directly to us, citizens of the U.S. She said, and I paraphrase, "I would not want to live there in a million years because of how you treat each other. I could not live with myself knowing that even though there is plenty, there are people who go hungry, there are elderly people who aren't cared for. I couldn't live with it." Michael Moore said to her that he felt bad about it and she said, "Well, that's good. You should."<br />
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I do, too. I cannot bear it. On the drive home, being solution-oriented as I am, I decided that the best way to solve this problem is to give the doctors the power to distribute the placards. If the person drives, then yes, of course, have the person go to the DMV, but if it is just an issue of giving a placard to someone who is a caregiver, the doctor can do that. But that is only a Band Aid. The larger issue is how we treat our elderly. It is atrocious how we treat them. Each person should carry a reverence for someone who managed to stay alive longer than us. However, that takes proper training.<br />
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First of all, we have to <i>see</i> them. If they aren't in our lives regularly, how in the world are we going to learn from them and treat them properly? We must interact! I thank my parents for ensuring that I grew up with elderly people throughout my life, dancing with them, laughing with them, and learning from them constantly. The U.S. and <a href="http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/437541/Elderly-treatment-national-shame" target="_blank">England</a> are notorious for locking their elderly away in facilities and abandoning them. But that is only the beginning of the possible abuse we inflict on those who gave us all the knowledge in our brains. Let me outline care for the elderly, how we treat them, and then maybe suggest what we could be doing differently.<br />
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Roughly 20% of the <a href="http://www.census.gov/popclock/" target="_blank">U.S. population</a> is <a href="http://www.aoa.acl.gov/aging_statistics/future.../By_Age_Total_Population.xls" target="_blank">over the age of 60</a>; that's about 63 million people. That is a lot of people, in case you're bad at math. Furthermore, the elderly population is <a href="https://www.census.gov/prod/2014pubs/p25-1140.pdf" target="_blank">growing at a faster rate than ever before</a> because we're living longer, so expect to be part of that ever-growing population. We're clearly not prepared for this change, as has been widely stated by <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dorian-de-wind/santorums-netherlands-euthanasia_b_1301073.html" target="_blank">countless fumbling politicians</a> who don't know what to do with the population they are soon to be a part of. We've made healthcare part of our political rhetoric, but we haven't successfully addressed the growing need for elder care in the United States. <a href="https://www.caregiver.org/selected-caregiver-statistics" target="_blank">Nearly 30% </a>of the adult population in the United States is giving care to an elderly person, some of whom are also disabled and/or have dementia or Alzheimer's disease. These unpaid caregivers provide work that is valued at about half a trillion dollars.<br />
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The U.S. government is taking advantage of the fact that the mainly female caregivers are providing their work for free. Future Alzheimer's care alone is expected to <a href="http://journalistsresource.org/studies/society/public-health/trends-statistics-relating-us-seniors-elderly-census-bureau-2014-report" target="_blank">exceed $1 trillion annually</a>. The government wants no part in paying for that. If the women give the work for free, why bother? In other words, this is not only an elder rights issue, but it is also a women's rights issue. Women are not being given the support they need, <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2013/11/21/elder_caregiving_women_are_more_likely_to_drop_out_of_work_to_care_for_aging.html" target="_blank">often going into debt</a> to support their aging parents. Not surprising, some elderly folks end up <a href="http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/elderly.html" target="_blank">homeless </a>because they either don't have family to care for them or because their family cannot take on the financial/emotional burden. In fact, there is a <a href="http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/demographics-of-homelessness-series-the-rising-elderly-population" target="_blank">projected increase in homelessness among the elderly </a>because our population over 60 is growing, so the number of elderly who are homeless will, in turn, increase. Right now, we have 45,000 homeless seniors; that is expected to <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/45000-homeless-seniors-in-the-us-number-to-double-by-2050-98914459.html" target="_blank">double by 2050</a>. I think that number should always be zero. I don't see any reason why there should ever be an elderly person on the street. It is the worst offense possible.<br />
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But even elderly folks who do have the financial/mental stability to have a home and healthcare have a difficult job ahead of them in the United States. Elderly folks in the U.S. are sicker than in other countries. <a href="http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/issue-briefs/2015/oct/us-health-care-from-a-global-perspective" target="_blank">68% of our elderly</a> have two or more chronic health conditions; compare that with 37% in New Zealand. I choose New Zealand because it is the only other nation with an obesity rate close to ours. Somehow, even though they are 30% obese, they still manage to stay healthier than us into old age. That, despite the fact that we spend much more than most other developed nations on healthcare, especially in terms of out-of-pocket costs. <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/03/health-affairs-among-11-nations-american-seniors-struggle-more-with-health-costs/" target="_blank">Over 10%</a> of the U.S. population reported difficulty with paying medical costs, and while seniors definitely benefit from Social Security and Medicare, nearly 20% of U.S. citizens over the age of 65 report not going to the doctor or taking a prescription because of issues with the cost. Again, that is an unlawful burden that we are placing on the elderly. They, who gave us everything that allows us to exist, should not be expected to worry about the costs of their care, especially medical care. Would we expect a child to pay for his/her medicine? I am not infantilizing our elderly with that comparison; I am reminding everyone that just as we were taken care of when we were vulnerable, we must take care of those who gave us so much when they, too, return to a vulnerable state.<br />
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The inevitable result of disregarding the elderly in such a widespread fashion is outright abuse. We have set a precedent in this country, one of total abandonment of age, wisdom, and responsibility, and that has led to the widespread abuse of our elders. We often hear of children being abused, but did you know that we abuse our elderly at nearly the same rate? About<a href="https://www.childhelp.org/child-abuse-statistics/" target="_blank"> 6 million children</a> a year are abused in the United States; it is estimated that about<a href="https://www.ncoa.org/public-policy-action/elder-justice/elder-abuse-facts/" target="_blank"> 5 million </a>elderly people are abused a year, but most abuse isn't reported because the elderly are incapable of sharing the information and they are incredibly isolated, more than a school-going child would be. Similar to child abuse, it is often family members who are abusing the elderly. This would occur less if folks had the support to care for the elderly properly. We have extensive systems in place to try to minimize how many children are abused but we have nothing in place to ensure that the elderly are not neglected, abused, or taken advantage of. To return to the notion that this is a female rights issue, 33% of women with disabilities in elder care report being abused. That is one-third! What is also important to note is that the elderly are especially vulnerable in terms of their finances. The abuse is not just physical and mental, it is also financial. Simply put, <a href="http://www.ncea.aoa.gov/resources/publication/docs/finalstatistics050331.pdf" target="_blank">we steal from our elderly</a>, and that deserves prosecution. Most people haven't heard of elder abuse, while all of us have heard of child abuse, but that shouldn't be so. We should all know about how we neglect and abuse our elders in this country. There is even a <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/features/elderabuse/" target="_blank">World Elder Abuse Prevention Day</a>; it is on June 15th.<br />
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Ever watchful, the treatment of the elderly intrigued Jared Diamond, author of <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guns-Germs-Steel-Fates-Societies/dp/0393317552" target="_blank">Guns, Germs, and Steel</a></i>, and UCLA professor. He decided to study it and figure out why different cultures treat the elderly in different ways. He said this in an <a href="http://newsroom.ucla.edu/stories/jared-diamond-on-aging-150571" target="_blank">interview</a>: " 'The repositories of knowledge are the memories of old people,' Diamond said. 'If you don’t have old people to remember what happened 50 years ago, you’ve lost a lot of experience for that society,' from communal history to advice on how to survive a cyclone or other natural disaster." In Korean cultures, there are special celebrations at the 60th and 70th birthdays, and in Chinese cultures, one is ostracized for putting a parent in a nursing home, according to<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/02/25/what-other-cultures-can-teach_n_4834228.html" target="_blank"> this article</a>. We would never ostracize someone for placing their parent in a home in the U.S. because we all have very long workdays that rarely allow us to care for our own children, let alone our parents, properly. It would be great to adopt the customs of other countries, or be able to support our own customs - Latinos/as traditionally care for the elderly in the home - here in the U.S., but without social support, it is incredibly difficult. Interestingly, a Latina wrote <a href="http://theweek.com/articles/462230/how-elderly-are-treated-around-world" target="_blank">this article</a> on the same subject, how we treat the elderly around the world. Karina Martinez-Carter starts the essay with the Elderly Rights Law, passed in China, which requires children to treat their elderly parents in a humane way, visiting them at least once a week. China, too, has long work hours and young people who have moved to urban centers to work, but unlike the U.S., they have made it a requirement to care for the elderly. They are experiencing their own challenges, especially because their one-child policy created a lack of children to actually care for parents, but the government does <a href="http://www.chinabusinessreview.com/senior-care-in-china-challenges-and-opportunities/" target="_blank">reimburse citizens for in-home care</a>, which would be considered shocking in the U.S.<br />
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However, that is exactly what I am recommending. Just as parents are given tax credits for having children, adult children should be given some sort of reimbursement or credit for caring for their parents, beyond what the tax law allows for dependents. <a href="https://www.ourparents.com/articles/how_to_get_paid_to_care_for_your_elderly_parents" target="_blank">This site</a> has some suggestions on how to get reimbursed for elder care, but they aren't very good. The first one is to get paid by the elderly you are helping! However, there are also some state programs that, apparently, reimburse caregivers (a little, anyway).<br />
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<a href="http://www.chapa.org/sites/default/files/ELI_policypaper_final.pdf" target="_blank">The Hearth Organization</a>, which seeks to end homelessness among the elderly in the U.S. recommends a variety of low-income housing services for the elderly, at both the federal and state levels, and interagency programs with Medicaid and Medicare that connect the elderly to services they would not have known about. I agree with its suggestions. I also believe there should be an initiative to make sure there is never an elderly person on the street. Just as we try not to have homeless children, we should not have homeless elderly folks.<br />
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I also suggest that the media be more vocal about this issue, so that we may face it fearlessly as a community and find new ideas. No one is thinking about our elderly, but everyone is thinking about Beyonce's latest video. There's something wrong with that. Julianne Moore could have used the word "Alzheimer's" in her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzR3CUU51IU" target="_blank">acceptance speech</a> when she won for her role in "Still Alice." She could have advocated for more help in elder care, let alone Alzheimer's research, but she chose not to. That was irresponsible of her.<br />
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When I was an undergraduate, a wonderful professor brought in a disabled speaker, a young man who lost use of his legs in a car accident. The most important thing he said, to me, that day, was that we always think of the disabled as "other," as "that" population, even though at any moment we could be part of that population. It is unlike being Latino/a, or White, or Black, because those things don't change. Your ability can change. Anyone can become disabled.<br />
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The same is true of being elderly, except for the words "can become." Instead, the words are "will become." <b>Everyone will become elderly.</b> And that shouldn't be perceived as death itself. We have the right to live, and <i>enjoy </i>life, as elderly citizens. We have the right to live and enjoy life until our breath decides to leave and not before.<br />
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WE have the right to live with dignity as elderly citizens.<br />
WE have the right to healthcare as elderly citizens.<br />
WE have the right to a safe environment and home as elderly citizens.<br />
WE have the right to be cared for as elderly citizens.<br />
WE have the right to clear and easy access to needed services as elderly citizens.<br />
WE have the right to enjoy our families as elderly citizens.<br />
WE have the right to be respected as the creators of the existing world as elderly citizens.<br />
WE have the right to be honored as the keepers of wisdom as elderly citizens.<br />
WE have the right to happiness as elderly citizens.<br />
WE have the right to live.<br />
WE have the right to live.<br />
WE have the right to live.<br />
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<br />Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-68670556180936787202016-02-12T15:42:00.003-05:002016-02-12T15:42:46.851-05:00New Website!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHe_yxyns_485vYOu4PnBE6kzc6ECXAhsEewZwyfReCLWY2wTWnnzZR3Xr2X3PEE95eFraC6645mfaAR8D80YIpmVtkMC5aBC8YW7CWvjlf5pK9C7hm8enC56286GkFASl3uAyw/s1600/DSC03270+-+Copy+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHe_yxyns_485vYOu4PnBE6kzc6ECXAhsEewZwyfReCLWY2wTWnnzZR3Xr2X3PEE95eFraC6645mfaAR8D80YIpmVtkMC5aBC8YW7CWvjlf5pK9C7hm8enC56286GkFASl3uAyw/s400/DSC03270+-+Copy+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sometimes you just have to teach yourself new things! Somehow, I got it in me to create my first website in order to promote my work and the work of my partner in crime, Vincent Toro. Together we are known as GRITO, and our simple new space is located <a href="http://www.grito.org/" target="_blank">here</a>. We'd love for you to check the space out and learn a little bit more about us and our creative projects and events. And remember, it is my first website, so expect simplicity - be kind, folks! Cheers. </div>
<br />Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-86137348001719994202015-10-13T17:45:00.001-04:002015-10-13T17:46:30.942-04:00Featured Speaker at Hudson County Community College (where it all began...)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Never did I think that I would return to the place where I became a professor in earnest. I started teaching as an adjunct at Hudson County Community College when I was 29 years old, just about to turn 30, and I had just moved in with a bunch of musicians and artists - a collective my dad referred to as "a commune" - in Jersey City. I wasn't at work a month when I was interrupted by my boss in the ESL Department with the news that the top of the World Trade Center was on fire. So many of my students had family who worked there. I grew so incredibly fond of my students there, so much so that I'd have them walk over to my apartment so I could lend them a book, or I'd give them a big hug when seeing them shop in the same vegetable market. It was awesome teaching at HCCC.<br />
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But what I must admit is equally delightful about returning to the place where I became Professor Acosta, is that I am Dr. Acosta now. I remember going to an orientation meeting at HCCC and someone looking at me and asking, "And what do YOU do?" We both taught the same classes. I also remember having someone else tell me, "You REALLY have to PROVE yourself," when I applied for a full time job after working there for five years. Well, I think I've proven myself. And it is awesome to know I've done that.<br />
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Please join me at the reading on the 15th! Both Nancy Mendez-Booth and Vincent Toro are EXCELLENT writers and readers, so it should be great fun. (Thanks to Nancy for the hook-up!) Take the PATH to Journal Square and celebrate this reading with me, for it is a celebration, indeed!<br />
<br />Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-62784700488782703172015-08-08T11:33:00.001-04:002015-08-08T11:52:15.745-04:00Logan Square Cirque du So-Hip Moves into My Church (or When Truth is Stranger than Fellini) <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The new look of the Big Top!</td></tr>
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Yesterday, a childhood friend sent me <a href="http://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150807/logan-square/trading-pastors-for-trapezes-church-will-become-circus-training-center" target="_blank">this article</a>, which details how the church where I grew up; where my Princeton and University of Chicago-educated, Colombian, minister father helped lead the Logan Square community toward education and faith, all with incredible humor and sensitivity; where I and countless others learned to become the best versions of ourselves, will become a circus training center. Yes, a circus training center.<br />
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When I heard the news, visions of bratty hipsters with overpaid brokers, spouting phrases like, "Oh, we can really do something with those high ceilings, and the stained glass will cast such a lovely glow over everything...," came into my head. I wanted to punch their smug faces and scream, "You know nothing of what has happened in this space! You cannot appreciate it and your petty talents will never come close to the grandeur of the viejitas who taught me everything I know here. Screw you and your stupid double-jointed, pelvic-bone-on-top-of-skull pseudo artistic acrobatics! Blah!" The article itself has the kind of troublesome phrases that most certainly belong in a <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001775/" target="_blank">Whit Stillman</a> or <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000876/" target="_blank">Noah Baumbach</a> screenplay, stuff like, "Chicago is sort of becoming a home and a mecca for the contemporary circus movement" [Seriously - are you listening to yourself? Why are we trying to elevate the circus?? Please keep it low, where it belongs!] and "Every time I see a church get turned into condos I'm like 'No!'....It could be something so cool." Yeah, cool, like a <i>circus</i>. That's what I think of when I think of cool.<br />
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Did anyone ever think that there could be a cool place where Latinos/as congregate and learn to become awesome people by discussing philosophy, helping the disenfranchised in the community with food and education, and making sure to dance and cook like it's nobody's business? Nah, that's not cool enough, right? Because who cares about what Latinos/as do to make their worlds incredible. Let's swing from trapezes, instead, and ensure a community center closes down. Granted, swinging from trapezes does sound like fun, but I never thought that someone would do it in the place that all of my childhood friends and I consider a <a href="https://sacredsites.com/images/middle_east/saudi_arabia/mecca_hajj_the_kaba_02_600.jpg" target="_blank">Mecca</a> of sorts. I never thought the place I consider holy would turn into marketplace (story sound familiar?). Somehow (read: SARCASM), it cheapens the space, kind of like how clown paint makes me think of cheap, like velvet paintings to glittery, watery spectacles called <a href="http://www.vegaschatter.com/files/22650/Cirque.jpg" target="_blank">"cirques" that take place in the cheapest of all places, Vegas</a>. I mention this because, apparently, the organization that bought my childhood home of contemplation trains Cirque du Soleil flying goofballs. Look, I love cheap. I'm not a John Waters fan for nothing - give me the kitsch and I'm there! - but I guess I needed this place to remain, perhaps, a historic landmark. That seems more fitting. White people get historic landmarks all the time; why not Latinos/as? People DO know that we have been a huge part of Logan Square's history, right??<br />
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Let me explain. I cannot speak for the current leaders and current congregation that has allowed this travesty to take place, nor can I speak for the United Church of Christ which, apparently, doesn't give a f*** about its Latino/a community centers, but I can speak for First Spanish United Church of Christ, where my father was the leader from the early 1970s to the mid-1990s. Here's some of the stuff that took place, because of my father's work and the incredible work of the congregation that supported his vision: 1) Dad brought an extension of Elmhurst College to the church, and that branch educated countless Latinos/as and non-Latinos/as in the Logan Square area who could not attend college otherwise; 2) First Spanish had a day care, La Progresiva, where tons of little kids got excellent nutrition and care while their parents worked all day - many of these parents could not have afforded daycare, otherwise; 3) Dad, who also worked for Lutheran General Hospital, as a therapist, brought a branch to the Logan Square area and he helped countless families and single folks get their lives back on track (normally, therapists at that time charged a minimum of $80 per session, but Dad regularly gave sessions to folks for $20 because he knew they couldn't afford more; he also was not a Woody Allen-esque infinite analyst who took advantage of patients - Dad's patients had goals and there was a set date they had to meet them by, so the sessions definitely came to an end); 4) we, of course, had a food kitchen and regularly fed folks who didn't have food; 5) we had a ton of donated clothes which we gave away to the needy and, on occasion when we had too much, we sold for about twenty-five cents an item - people LOVED our penny sales for the 1960s dresses and perfectly kept kitchen appliances; 6) we worked with the Logan Square Neighborhood Association in order to make several events take place, the best being the Logan Square Festival, where all the area churches and organizations put on a neighborhood-wide party with games, contests, music, dancing, and food - there was NOTHING better than the Festival day/night, which kept us busy with laughter and friendship among a wide array of ethnicities, including but not limited to Polish, Puerto Rican, Mexican, and Korean; other events included the Logan Square Olympics, which had kids from all over competing for trophies, and the Logan Square Summer Camp, which gave kids arts, sports, and educational activities during the school-free summer months; 7) Papi (that means Dad!) also made sure to have a service every year that celebrated anyone who graduated at any level, so us young people saw education, from kindergarten to doctoral studies, being honored on a regular basis - that left an incredible impact and definitely encouraged us all to strive to be well-informed people; 8) our pulpit was a place where the unexpected took place: El Reverendo (that's Dad!) quoted people like <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/luther_martin.shtml" target="_blank">Martin Luther</a> AND <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6vxmoSa1ok" target="_blank">Juan Luis Guerra</a>, he often wore Hawaiian shirts and leis (simply because he loved them), and his sermons could include analyses of world politics, the latest Susan Sarandon film, or how his penis made him feel awkward when he was a kid - totally not joking and yes, my face was red during that one - Papi was an EXCELLENT writer and educator and if there is anything that everyone remembers about First Spanish, it is his love and his sermons; 9) the congregation regularly went on camping trips to UCC locales, like Tower Hill, in Sawyer, Michigan, and Pleasant Valley, in Woodstock, Illinois, and as a result, many of us had a wonderful exposure to the natural elements not found in the city, which often reminded us of our countries of origin, or if we were born here, gave us knowledge of non-urban spaces; these places also exposed us to racism on a regular basis, because non-Latino/a UCC churches, also there, treated us like mierda, but that strengthened our character, too; 10) we all cared for each other, everyone's mom or dad being everyone else's mom or dad.<br />
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For that last number, 10, I have a set of things I want to add which cannot fit in my awkwardly punctuated, run-on paragraph. At First Spanish, when I got into an argument with my mom, Gladys took me aside and helped me make up with her. At First Spanish, when I was having trouble in college, Reimundo took me aside and reassured me, told me I could do it. At First Spanish, when I decided to spike my hair up and wear black lipstick, my mom said, "Wear what you want! (Just try to include a bra, please!)." At First Spanish, when my closest friend, Nancy, and I had a huge falling out, our families got together and sat around and talked about it, all so that we could remain friends. She is still my oldest friend to this day. At First Spanish, whenever anyone had a baby or a wedding, everyone was ready to gather to celebrate with that person. At First Spanish, whenever anyone had a divorce, or a drug/alcohol problem, they were not shunned from the church (at least not by the best members); everyone gathered to help that person keep moving forward, in love. At First Spanish, whenever illness took over, we could stand up and ask others to keep our worries in mind, and they all did, and they often visited bed-ridden members with food, or just to keep them company. At First Spanish, my dad put our HOME NUMBER on the front of the program that everyone would get at each service, and whenever our phone rang, he answered, any time of day or night, and no matter how small or big the problem, Papi was there for that person. At First Spanish, everyone cared about everyone else. Punto.<br />
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This did not go unrecognized. Between 1975 and the early 2000s, you could not go anywhere in Chicago with my father, Rev. Dr. Samuel Acosta, without someone recognizing him. Papi even received a commendation, for his exceptional efforts, from the now retired Mayor Daley. The document has faded under sun exposure, but it's still there. Papi cannot remember much of what he contributed to, as he has Alzheimer's disease now, but his incoherent ramblings always have a specific subject: First Spanish. He goes on and on about helping the children, helping the young people, doing things in the community. He may not remember our names, but he remembers his mission, the congregation's mission. And so do I.<br />
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Hip acrobatics cannot erase what took place there. When I look at that building, I will always feel what Logan Square was, what it should still be - a community. I find it incredible how people can look at something and not wonder anything about what was once there, what it has been, where it comes from. It's kind of like meeting a person and never asking him/her what his/her influences have been, and just imposing what you want right now. But I guess history can be incredibly inconvenient because it just might make you adjust your vision, and for that, we'd have to be flexible, kind of like an acrobat.<br />
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*I am currently writing a creative non-fiction memoir called <i>First Spanish: Logan Square in the 1970s to 1990s</i>, and I recently worked on it in June 2015, at a residency in Spain, at <a href="http://www.canserrat.org/" target="_blank">Can Serrat</a>. I hope to publish it soon.Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-43247723450968397702015-06-06T20:20:00.000-04:002015-06-06T20:20:23.272-04:00Can Serrat Residency<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For the month of June, I will be at the Can Serrat Writer's Residency, along with Vincent and our good friend Ching-In Chen, and many other visual artists and writers. I'm incredibly excited to have this time to concentrate on several projects I have, including writing poems in response to James Blood Ulmer songs, continuing my sci-fi novella, <i>The Script</i>, and continuing my work on <i>First Spanish</i>, which is about Chicago's Logan Square, pre-gentrification. Wish me luck! <br />
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<br />Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-56017111428304141722015-05-26T09:22:00.000-04:002015-05-26T09:22:59.193-04:00"Hindsight" by No Peeking Productions at The Dopeness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.7600002288818px; text-align: left;">Please come out to an exciting </span><a data-gt="{"entity_id":"502179936587092","entity_path":"WebEventPublicProdFeedPermalinkController"}" href="https://www.facebook.com/nopeekingtheater" style="background-color: white; color: #3b5998; cursor: pointer; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.7600002288818px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">No Peeking Theater</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.7600002288818px; text-align: left;"> Event, which brings poetry and spoken word to life. The production will immerse the audience in living memories by creating smells, sounds, tastes, and texture that represent the poetry and spoken word being performed. And, as an added thrill, you are blindfolded (!) so that your other senses are heightened. Sounds (and feels and tastes, etc.) like a cool night!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.7600002288818px; text-align: left;">Multiple poets and performers have contributed to the project, including myself and Nicole Miranda, who wonderfully interpreted my words in the production "In Full Color." This time around, Nicole will interpret my poem, "Historia."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.7600002288818px; text-align: left;">Dates are May 28th, 30th, and 31st. P</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">lease note that there isn't a Friday performance.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, 'lucida grande', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18.7600002288818px; text-align: left;">I will be at the May 28th performance. Hope to see (or hear) you there!</span></div>
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Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-41950021781121370232015-03-18T11:27:00.001-04:002015-03-18T11:28:45.872-04:00In Full Color featuring Women of Color Monologues<div style="text-align: left;">
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On March 26,28, and 29, an adaptation of one of my poems, from my collection <i>Chica!Go!: An Afro-Latina Punk Odyssey</i>, will be featured in "In Full Color," a series of monologues written and/or performed by women of color. Please come to one or all of the nights! All the women involved are incredible and you will not be disappointed.</div>
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Here are the details:</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">Art House Productions presents</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">68 Productions'</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">IN FULL COLOR</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">"In Full Color" features 13 women of color sharing their stories in celebration of Women's History Month. From dealing with curly hair and men with "yellow fever" to being mistaken for a terrorist, these women give us a glimpse of what life is like in their skin.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">Performers include Jennifer Cendaña Armas, Karen Eilbacher, Samille Ganges (reading a piece by Alicia Wright), Inés García, Yvonne Hernandez, Amanda Levie, Nicole Miranda (reading a piece by Grisel Y. Acosta), wendelin, Nerissa Tutiven, Shirin Terhune Vazir and director Summer Dawn Hortillosa, co-founder of 68 Productions.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">DATES</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;">Thursday, 3/26 at 8 p.m.</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; display: inline; line-height: 18.7600002288818px;"><br />
Saturday, 3/28 at 8 p.m.<br />
Sunday, 3/29 at 3 p.m.<br />
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Art House Productions, 136 Magnolia Ave., Jersey City.<br />
(Summit Avenue behind the Journal Square PATH) Wheelchair accessible. Limited free parking available.<br />
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Tickets $8 in advance, $10 at door.<br />
<a href="http://infullcolor.brownpapertickets.com/" rel="nofollow nofollow" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">http://<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>InFullColor.brownpaperticke<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: inline-block;"></span>ts.com/</a><br />
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to WomenRising.</span></span></div>
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Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-65130538571220170492015-02-06T12:37:00.000-05:002015-02-22T17:50:26.093-05:00Racism in BOYHOOD is the Worst Kind<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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I propose to you that a film with the subtle racism of "Boyhood" is worse than a film with the overt racism of, say,<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Birth_of_a_Nation" target="_blank"> "Birth of a Nation," </a>for example. When we see "Birth of a Nation," after returning from the bathroom because of becoming sick to our stomachs, we know without a doubt what the problem is and we can easily criticize the film - despite its merits in editing - for its horrendous content.<br />
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A film like "Boyhood," on the other hand, has been praised universally for its "life-like" dialogue and visual realism, largely due to the fact that it was shot over the course of 12 years. Much like "Birth of a Nation," it is being praised for its innovative technique and will likely be shown in many a film school, just like "Birth of a Nation" often is. However, unlike "Birth of a Nation," the racism depicted in "Boyhood, " I suspect, will not be seen as clearly as the racism in the former film.<br />
<br />
Let me explain. "Boyhood" is a film about a family. Truth be told, I'm not sure why the film is called "Boyhood" because it seems to be more about the entire family than just the male child in the family. Nonetheless, the film follows the growth of the family over 12 years in Texas. The family is white and <i>everyone around them</i> is white, except for one character, who is a migrant worker. We only see Enrique, the migrant worker, twice in the film. There are two problems with this dynamic: 1) the idea of "reality" which the film is clearly trying to convey; and 2) the problematic Enrique storyline.<br />
<br />
1) "Boyhood" is a film that will be praised for years to come for its techniques in presenting "reality." If you are only looking at the family in an isolationist kind of way, the film does seem realistic. The characters are not polished, their dialogue is awkward with believable levels of emotion, and the difficulties and joys they face are ones we are familiar with. HOWEVER, the setting is completely unrealistic in the sense that anyone who lives in Texas KNOWS that you cannot walk five feet without encountering people of Mexican descent. We see Patricia Arquette's character, simply known as "Mom" (which I think is a bit reductive), travel throughout the state, have various jobs - including one as a professor at Texas State University - and at no level in her life do we see friends who are of Mexican descent, co-workers who are of Mexican descent, or even people in restaurants who are of Mexican descent. I was LOOKING. As someone who lived in Texas for five years, and whose parents lived in San Marcos, where Texas State University is located, I know for a fact that this is an impossibility. The bulk of people in these areas are of Mexican descent - some of them are White Latinos/as (which can pass for plain, ol' White), but many of them are not - and you can see these folks in everyday life. Furthermore, you simply cannot avoid having them in your own everyday life. If you somehow manage this task, you must be trying very, very hard, and the Mom character is not depicted as that kind of person. She would literally have to stay in her house 24/7 and shoo people away from her door who are delivering her mail.<br />
<br />
The reason this type of racism, by elimination, is so insidious, is because in such a supposedly realistic film, it implies that deleting reality is normal and even wholesome. When we see a hard-working family being real and caring toward each other, and oddly removed from a state that has a majority of people of color, we think that this kind of removal is understandable and normal. We simply don't think anything is wrong. It's like watching "Friends" (which showed NYC homogeneous instead of realistically multicultural) except you are convinced that it's not a bad TV show; no, you are actually watching art, art that deserves awards, but which does the exact same thing as "Friends," in terms of our perception of the world/reality.<br />
<br />
2. The actual storyline that actor Roland Ruiz was forced to bring to life - bless him, we all need work - is the horrific "save me White person" trope that has been depicted in countless films, from "Dangerous Minds" to "The Blind Side." A simple Google search will bring up many criticisms of this pervasive form of racism. Not only does his presence in the film stand out more because of the lack of other Latinos/as throughout the film, but the interaction he has with Mom is so ridiculous that one simply cannot ignore how it underscores the deletion of reality/brown people throughout the film.<br />
<br />
In the first scene Enrique and Mom are together, he is fixing some plumbing issues and Arquette says that he's smart and should go to school. I cringed and hoped that was the end of it. Unfortunately, years later, we see him coming towards Mom in a restaurant, beaming, and the friend I was with knew the words before they came out of Enrique's grateful mouth: "You changed my life!" Mom's brief statement had inspired him to turn around his life. Ugh. Both of us were furious. I met hundreds of Latinos/as in Texas while I was there and the majority of them were extremely educated and capable people - even the ones who ALSO, not ONLY, knew how to do physical labor. You cannot go to Texas State U. and not encounter Latino/a professors. There are overachieving, type-A Latinos/as everywhere! At every level of society! I should mention that I was not in some Ivory Tower when in Texas; I lived in a variety of neighborhoods, including the working class West Side of San Antonio, and taught everywhere, including a juvenile detention center. So to think that Enrique needed this woman, who was struggling herself, to give him advice and introduce education as a "novel" concept is more than condescending. Furthermore, people who talk to you for less than one minute do not change your life. If Linklater wants a realistic film that spans years, he should know that. <br />
<br />
Some folks will argue, "Well, what's wrong with the Mom character being nice?" You must look at the overall structure of the story. If you delete all people of Mexican descent from the imagery onscreen, then only have one interaction with a person of Mexican descent, and that one interaction is one of a white savior uplifting the Mexican, THAT IS RACIST. But, because it is cushioned in the decade-plus depiction of a warm, interesting family, we will accept it. We will say, "Oh, but it's still such a wonderful film." We will say, "Oh, but didn't Linklater really accomplish something with this." We will say, "Look at how brilliant we can be." We won't say, "Damn, we made a really racist film." Ever. I mean, it's not like we have the KKK running around lynching people, right? <br />
<br />
No, there is no lynching taking place. Only sweetness abounds in this film. And for us Latinos/as, it's the kind of sweetness that places us in the same category as a dog, who you teach tricks, who makes you happy when he does said tricks. Or perhaps the same category as wallpaper, lovely wallpaper you only notice when you want to admire your interesting-looking surroundings. <br />
<br />
But the truth is we are not dogs or wallpaper. We are like keratinocytes, which make up the main part of your skin, Mr. Linklater. You don't think of us much, but we are very important to everyone's existence. We build, we protect, we are flexible, and those of us in the know are very aware that if we went missing, the world would be exposed to all kinds of dangers. I can tell when we are missing. When will you be able to?<br />
<br />
Con carino,<br />
Dr. GYA<br />
<br />
UPDATE: Salon.com asked me to write an expanded essay on the topic of Whiteness and Latinidad in film. It can be found <a href="http://www.salon.com/2015/02/22/racism_begins_in_our_imagination_how_the_overwhelming_whiteness_of_boyhood_feeds_dangerous_hollywood_myths/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
<br />
NOTE: Anyone who trolls the site or posts in an anonymous, spam-like fashion will risk having comments deleted.Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-88139321851220930052014-11-16T17:38:00.000-05:002014-11-16T17:38:26.982-05:00Ain't I a Latina/o?: Embracing Latinos/as Outside of the Major Groups<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryhYCrR0Mf9G162hlaWv4HYXpRuUNn5DCWQElWHAaa_BTNHWjJwNrpOrDwWYXHoIXgNZ2s43xFDssdXr1u5HLlfr66YRFAJIoEFAwz7MzUtGnIlpSMwW_94DWR3mi18W27mcIhg/s1600/German_Venezuelan_Family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjryhYCrR0Mf9G162hlaWv4HYXpRuUNn5DCWQElWHAaa_BTNHWjJwNrpOrDwWYXHoIXgNZ2s43xFDssdXr1u5HLlfr66YRFAJIoEFAwz7MzUtGnIlpSMwW_94DWR3mi18W27mcIhg/s1600/German_Venezuelan_Family.jpg" height="227" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A German-Venezuelan family.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I first visited Cartagena, in 2008, for a Caribbean studies conference where I was speaking, I was so happy to see the incredible diversity of the city. However, what really astounded me was that, unlike my experience in the United States, most folks seemed to be quite comfortable with not only every racial group (on a <i>social</i> level, mind you; the system of racism is everywhere), but also everyone's national background. If your parents had a different country of origin, but you had made your home Colombia, for example, they had no problem calling you "Colombian." I know that my experience with my father's country is quite limited, so perhaps there is an idealization that has occurred in my interpretation of the social system there, but I cannot help but wish for that idealization here in the United States, especially among my fellow Latinos/as.<br />
<br />
Last night I had the privilege of attending two Latino/a events: one in the Bronx, and one in Harlem. The former was at the Bronx Museum and it focused on the work of Piri Thomas, and the latter was at La Casa Azul. There were two things that occurred that made me think and wonder about a more ideal world. <br />
<br />
The first was when fountain of <a href="http://www.mamboso.net/nuyorican/2009/11/12/remembering-dra-evelina-lopez-antonetty/" target="_blank">wisdom</a>, Elba Cabrera, spoke about her relationship with Piri Thomas, and how she was disappointed that he did not donate his papers to the <a href="http://centropr.hunter.cuny.edu/" target="_blank">Centro de Estudios Puertorri<span style="font-family: inherit;">que<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">ñ</span></span>o</a>s. They were, instead, donated to the <a href="http://www.nypl.org/locations/schomburg" target="_blank">Schomburg Center</a>. I immediately thought, "Yes, she's right. The Puerto Rican community has supported Piri and he should have done that." But then, something in me thought, "But Piri was also Cuban. He wasn't just Puerto Rican. And, a huge part of his legacy has to do with Afro-Latinidad, which is what Schomburg dedicated his life to." Who has the right to claim Piri's legacy? Why didn't Cubans claim him? If his papers are at the Schomburg, does that downplay his Latinidad? If so, how is that possible? How is it possible that a center that is named after an Afro-Latino seems to imply to some of us "only Black without the Latino"?<br />
<br />
The second moment came at La Casa Azul. It was a truly wonderful event with dear friends celebrating their work and accomplishments and there were few dry eyes in the house by the end of the night. We were all <i>blessed</i> to be there. However, my enlightenment came at the end of the evening when the authors who were celebrated spoke about current exciting writers movements: both agreed that the most exciting work is happening in Texas and Fresno, among the Mexican American/Chicano population. My first thought was, "Well, that may be their experience, and that's fine." But then my second thought connected me to the earlier event and I asked myself this question: Why do we often look to our own Latino/a communities as if they have the best to offer? The statement made at the end of the event made me feel the same way I have felt when I've been in classrooms where the professor and many of the students agree that most of the best writing comes from England or France or Russia. La Casa Azul by no means promotes only one Latinidad--it is one of New York's very best bookstores and I buy books from every kind of Latino/a or Latin American writer you can think of each time I'm there. I only highlight this one moment as springboard to write about something that has been brewing in me for a long time.<br />
<br />
As someone who has Cuban, Colombian, Black, White, and indigenous ancestry, I have had trouble finding a group that will claim me fully. When I was younger, I found great pleasure in identifying with artists like Tina Turner or Ricardo Montalban, but people in my own communities did not necessarily claim me the way I felt I could claim them. There have been moments when I was too white for the Black community, too black for the White community, not a real Latina/a for either the Puerto Rican community or the Mexican American/Chicana community, even though I spoke the same languages, read the same authors, listened to much of the same music, and ate very similar food. I think of this problem when I think of Piri's papers. Where does his legacy belong? Can one group claim him? Interestingly, lots of Latinos/as don't see the boundaries some of us do. Piri himself, just like Pedro Pietri, and many others, never felt the need to create boundaries between the groups, not just in the Latino/a community but also in the greater community itself, as they had great friendships with folks in every cultural group. People like Amiri Baraka and Martin Luther King, Jr., felt and lived the same way.<br />
<br />
What do we do with our mixed people, or to be more blunt, people like me? When the Spaniards arrived in what they named the Americas, they had a very specific plan, which is shown in the casta paintings.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-N4wIphEn7gah76LDDRv2979pbByKJkFyav8HwLt4YqC9oOYPRYg2C81PfT6U-enkhd7lFK0QcHnhyODYSXGc8pZLdPv57qgMN8zAk4H2p4Zk6llSdR0xZ9WXPecUIT3-DyCpA/s1600/Casta_painting_all.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-N4wIphEn7gah76LDDRv2979pbByKJkFyav8HwLt4YqC9oOYPRYg2C81PfT6U-enkhd7lFK0QcHnhyODYSXGc8pZLdPv57qgMN8zAk4H2p4Zk6llSdR0xZ9WXPecUIT3-DyCpA/s1600/Casta_painting_all.jpg" height="640" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e8/Casta_painting_all.jpg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Spanish created this system of hierarchy in order to ensure economic and social stability, purely through race. We still perpetuate this system today. It could be argued that we do this through our media system, and there is plenty to prove that, but it is also true that the system is so ingrained in several generations, that it gets perpetuated without much need for repeated imagery (not that anyone takes much chance; our books, films, and newscasts still support the imagery/system). What the system promotes is that the less you mix and the lighter you are, the more valuable you shall be. The most mixed and darkest folks are at the bottom of the value grid. They have no shoes and they have the accoutrements of harder labor. The <i>names</i> also signify what one's value will be. For example, in the 14th cell, two mixed people produce a child whose race is "tente en el aire," which translates to "in limbo." Was Piri in limbo? Am I in limbo because I cannot claim one country of origin? Is my work less valuable because I cannot claim one race? Do I not deserve a support system, a community? To draw from Sojourner Truth, <i>Ain't I a Latina</i>?<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Despite the desire to imply that people can belong to one and only one community - it's easier, for heaven's sake(!) - we know this idea is a myth. There are plenty of whiteness studies that have shown that all the idea of whiteness does is erase a variety of ethnic influences that exist in each person. Similarly, the idea of just being "Colombiana" can erase aspects of one's ancestry, too. This <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/17/latino-race-census-debate_n_2490592.html" target="_blank">Huffington Post </a>article reminds us that there are Latinos/as of Asian heritage, of German descent, and Middle Eastern descent, to name a few - and NOT because they moved to the United States and married someone from one of those cultures here. Those cultures exist in Latin America. They are in our history/ancestry already. People like Miriam Jimenez-R<span style="font-family: inherit;">om<span style="line-height: 115%;">án and Juan Flores have written extensively about Afro-Latinos/as. On the flip side, this<a href="https://mixedamericanlife.wordpress.com/2014/11/06/white-hispanics/" target="_blank"> blog points </a>out the great number of Latinos/as who identify as White Hispanics and who, culturally, don't claim much of Latino/a culture at all. Who gets to claim Louis C.K.? Who gets to claim Aubrey Plaza? Who do they want to be claimed by? Perhaps they'd rather be a part of a community that isn't based on race/ethnicity, but is based on their artistic interests? Is that wrong?</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">There is a group called <a href="http://www.mascsite.org/programs/loma/" target="_blank">Latinas and Latinos of Mixed Ancestry</a> (LOMA), and they seek answers to such questions. The group desires to create a space for Latinos/as with one Latino/a parent and one non-Latino/a parent, Latinos/as with parents from different Latin American countries, and racially mixed Latinos/as. On their site, they write, <span style="font-family: inherit;">"</span></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.5px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">So it appears that there are a growing number of mixed people with Latina/o backgrounds but not identifying with their cultural roots. But what is this group actually thinking? What are their sentiments on issues such as immigration, racial profiling, the economy and healthcare reform? Where do these people even live?" They also cite U.S. Census statistics that show that as many as 10 million mixed Latinos/as could have a Latino/a cultural background but not identify with it, possibly because of their mixed status. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.5px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.5px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ten million! Have those of us who are mixed Latinos/as not identified with any Latino/a groups because it would simply be too difficult? Would we go unclaimed by them if we did? Or do we find the parameters of such groups too narrow? For example, I identify with punk music much more than salsa. When I find myself in Latino/a writer communities, a lot of the Latino/a writers preserve the culture by writing about topics like abuelas/os and the food, but my work does not tend to be about such things because I didn't know my abuela very well and the food has been written about so extensively, I have nothing to add. Now, if you want to know about a hitchhiking, moshing, Chicago Latina who became a professor, I can do that (memoir forthcoming). Is my experience still a Latino/a one? I think so. </span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.5px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.5px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think the mixed Latinos/as that LOMA is reaching out to, people like Louis C.K. and Aubrey Plaza and Zoe Sal<span style="font-family: inherit;">da</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">ña</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 18.5px;">, break the stereotype that artists like Sofia Vergara perpetuate, and I think they break the myths of the castas grid. I understand the need create groups that support our goals, but I also understand that some of us don't fit - and may not want to fit - into such clean cut categories. My hope, in the end, is that when we encounter those who we feel might not fully fit into our group, we think twice, see if they need a community and then offer it, even if we feel there are differences. Perhaps those differences can be exciting.</span></div>
<div>
*</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
(I wrote this poem/fable that touches on the issue above.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u>The Myth of Limbo: Tente en el Aire</u></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There once was a land</div>
<div>
where the sun people danced</div>
<div>
and the rain and honey flowed.</div>
<div>
The babies lived and</div>
<div>
the harvests grew and </div>
<div>
the villages ate what they sowed.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But then strangers arrived;</div>
<div>
they were hungry and scared.</div>
<div>
They were dirty and crazy with grief.</div>
<div>
When they saw the sun land</div>
<div>
and the riches all around,</div>
<div>
their jealousy made them all thieves.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The strangers stole all the food,</div>
<div>
they harmed all the people,</div>
<div>
and they used swords to rule and divide.</div>
<div>
They confined the sun village</div>
<div>
to a small area, and separated themselves</div>
<div>
so the two worlds would not collide.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But you cannot keep the spirits</div>
<div>
of children from each other.</div>
<div>
One from each side did meet.</div>
<div>
They compared each others' hair;</div>
<div>
stared into their different colored eyes;</div>
<div>
they did cartwheels and danced with their feet.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The two left the divided lands,</div>
<div>
found home in a cave, and there</div>
<div>
grew and gave birth to their own.</div>
<div>
They hid their little mixed girl away,</div>
<div>
but tragedy struck when they went</div>
<div>
looking for food outside the home.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The police of the divided lands</div>
<div>
saw them foraging, two who</div>
<div>
should be separated, together.</div>
<div>
Both were executed in center</div>
<div>
squares of each separate group.</div>
<div>
Thus, their little girl was left alone, forever.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In her fear, she needed a voice</div>
<div>
to comfort her lonely days, so</div>
<div>
the girl began to sing out loud.</div>
<div>
The voice was sweet and melancholy,</div>
<div>
carried in the wind far along.</div>
<div>
From the divided villages, it drew a crowd.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>Me abandonaron</i></div>
<div>
<i>Estoy sola</i></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">¿</span></span><i>Cuando regresaran por mi?</i></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">¿</span></span><i>Sera antes de yo morir?</i></div>
<div>
<i>Ojal</i><i>á</i><i> que si...</i></div>
<div>
<i>Ojal</i><i>á</i><i> que si...</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The two groups saw the girl</div>
<div>
and could see in her features</div>
<div>
she was the child of the murdered couple.</div>
<div>
They screamed in fear and disgust,</div>
<div>
grabbed rocks in their hands and</div>
<div>
tried to stone and bury her under jagged rubble.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
She kept singing</div>
<div>
through bloody tears.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>I've been abandoned</i></div>
<div>
<i>I am so lonely</i></div>
<div>
<i>When will my family come for me?</i></div>
<div>
<i>Will it be before the dirt takes me?</i></div>
<div>
<i>Yes, hopefully...</i></div>
<div>
<i>Yes, hopefully...</i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With each verse,</div>
<div>
each side threw more</div>
<div>
stone to silence the song...</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
and they did,</div>
<div>
for a moment.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But since then,</div>
<div>
at the meeting place </div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18.5px;">between the separated sides,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18.5px;">on especially quiet nights,</span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18.5px;">you can hear her calling</span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18.5px;">from the air, from her sky-bound limbo:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18.5px;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18.5px;"><i>Me abandonaron</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18.5px;"><i>Estoy sola</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">¿</span></span><span style="line-height: 18.5px;"><i>Cuando regresaran por mi?</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">¿</span></span><span style="line-height: 18.5px;"><i>Sera antes de yo morir?</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18.5px;"><i>Oja<span style="font-family: inherit;">l</span></i></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>á</i></span><i style="line-height: 18.5px;"> que si...</i></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18.5px;"><i>Ojal</i></span><i>á</i><i style="line-height: 18.5px;"> que si...</i></div>
<div>
<span style="line-height: 18.5px;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-47766836412363086472014-10-04T14:13:00.000-04:002014-10-04T14:13:17.902-04:00Can Queer Folk Be Racist? Of course.: Be the Change You Want to See<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBFr-qSKKLrHOKknwtEsnAZTjzzBWEfKg2GG6G8riw3xyHCz6cOXb1ulzPF423RW1S51F687wz1fQUvNjKUfzEe8snGE1Y_jAZV5qbDK4EtSdZPOf0qFE8S_s_Jik7hB502hRRg/s1600/beautiful-baby04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrBFr-qSKKLrHOKknwtEsnAZTjzzBWEfKg2GG6G8riw3xyHCz6cOXb1ulzPF423RW1S51F687wz1fQUvNjKUfzEe8snGE1Y_jAZV5qbDK4EtSdZPOf0qFE8S_s_Jik7hB502hRRg/s1600/beautiful-baby04.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fear of a Mixed Baby Planet </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are few of us who haven't heard of the <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/oct/03/sperm-donot-lawsuit-racism-eugenics-lesbian-couple-black-donor" target="_blank">lesbian couple who are suing their sperm donor </a>bank because the mommy was inseminated with the "wrong" sperm, which happened to contain DNA for Black phenotype features. There has been justified outrage at their decision to make their discomfort of raising a mixed baby in their racist community a public issue for everyone to see on shows like NBC's "Today." "Couldn't they have handled the sperm bank's mishap in a more mature way that will not emotionally scar their child?" is the main question on the minds of many. However, there is a secondary question that has intrigued me more: Can queer folk be racist? I find the number of people who have brought up this question to be astounding. The question is on every thread I've seen regarding this news item. Of course queer folk can be racist. Of course. And the topic is not new in any way, shape, or form.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/justin-c-young/dear-gays-unite_b_5578813.html" target="_blank">Dr. Justin C. Young, on "The Huffington Post,"</a> recently called for gays to unite, and states, "<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">While we have the public appearance that things are going well, as a community there are signs of internal division and segregation and it's time to</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"> f</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">ix</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;"> it." <a href="http://bad.eserver.org/issues/2006/76/gaysofcolor.html" target="_blank">Chong-suk Han, in "A Different Shade of Queer: </a>Race, Sexuality, and Marginalizing by the Marginalized," states that current media images of queer culture promote </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 21px;">"</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2159996032715px;">a monolithic image of the 'gay community' as being overwhelmingly upper-middle class – if not simply rich – and white." His criticism doesn't include shows like RuPaul's "Drag Race," but one could argue that RuPaul's show doesn't depict everyday queer life. In the end, the implication is that a different shade of queer is "othered" within the LGBTQ community, just as in the larger, dominant culture.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2159996032715px;">A little while back, Scott Stiffler, a New York City writer/performer, compiled information about<a href="http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=&sc3=&id=107623" target="_blank"> gay White supremacists and cited several independent films</a> that address the issue of racism within the queer community, and a year earlier, <a href="http://www.citypages.com/2009-03-18/news/jamez-smith-a-gay-black-man-says-racism-is-alive-in-the-twin-cities-gay-community/" target="_blank">Bradley Campbell interviewed Jamez Smith</a>, about his encounters with racism within the queer community of Minneapolis. Most recently,<a href="http://time.com/2969951/dear-white-gays-stop-stealing-black-female-culture/" target="_blank"> Sierra Mannie, in "Time" magazine</a>, asked White gays to stop appropriating African American female culture. I find this last issue to be especially compelling because, as a teen and young adult, I absolutely loved that Black and queer culture were intertwined, most of all in nightclub and art movements. However, in the 1980s, when I grew up, one could argue that these intertwined cultures lived right next to each other in the arty spaces of New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. Today, in the land of the Interwebs, there might be less intertwining and more appropriation by, for example, a rural or suburban youth who has had no real exposure to African American culture yet feels the need to emulate it because he/she has heard the work of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj5bzbrWRd4" target="_blank">Sylvester</a>, or seen the work of <a href="http://www.adhikara.com/robert-mapplethorpe/1-mapplethorpe.jpg" target="_blank">Mapplethorpe</a>, or watched films like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78TAbjx43rk" target="_blank">"Paris is Burning."</a> I do understand the discomfort/cringe that comes from seeing someone try to emulate what is supposedly female/Latina/Black/Asian, when it is clear that the person has no real understanding of the culture he/she is trying to pay homage to (<a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/briangalindo/gwen-stefani-is-a-chola#3xcoy12" target="_blank">Gwen Stefani's portrayal of "chola" culture</a> comes to mind). But I digress. The point is that racism among queers is something that queers have been trying to address for a long time. This new development has brought it to the forefront.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2159996032715px;">In my own experience, I remember going to a queer female gathering in the early 2000s, in NYC, and I was the only Latina there. There was one African American woman and she never spoke. NEVER SAID A WORD. She didn't even say "hello." When we talked about 9/11, which was on everyone's minds back then, I tried to be part of the round table discussion. My only comment was one of hope, but I received death stares from other women and one woman even exclaimed, "Uh!" I knew it couldn't have been because of anything controversial I might have said; my comment was benign (something like, "I have faith that we will get through this.") and it was similar to what others said. I know I was unwelcome there. I, of course, never went back. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2159996032715px;">However, my main experience has been one of loving inclusion. The majority of queer gatherings I attend are extremely diverse and open, which is why I strongly believe that this incident provides an opportunity for <i>everyone</i> to speak about prejudices, in general. A common comment about the couple in question is criticism for their desire to live in a racist community to begin with. Many feel that it would have been unacceptable to raise a White child, or any child, in a racist community. Why create another White racist? Let's take this further. Han mentioned in his essay that current depictions of queer culture portray middle- to upper-class queers; can we get some love for working class queers? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2159996032715px;">Academics have been talking about the intersections of race, gender, and class for decades. We now have the opportunity to take the conversation out of the Ivory Tower and remind the general population that if you want to end <i>racism</i>, you have to end <i>sexism</i>. You can't fight for Black men if you are still raping Black women. If you want to end <i>sexism</i>, you have to end <i>classism</i>. You can't expect women to achieve equality if you still believe that some people deserve to be poor. If you want to change how we see/define gender, you cannot be an elitist or a racist or bigoted in any way. If you want others to stop behaving in a bigoted fashion, YOU have to stop behaving in a bigoted fashion, and that includes <i>all kinds</i> of bigotry. You cannot expect equality for all if you don't advocate for more ramps and spaces that are inclusive of the disabled. You cannot end racism if you are a nationalist who hates people from other countries. You cannot expect respect from others if you have already decided that you will not respect a population of people because of their religious beliefs. You feel me?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2159996032715px;">And the most important part of this conversation, for me, has to be what I learned from <a href="http://colfa.utsa.edu/english/lanehart.html" target="_blank">Dr. Sonja Lanehart</a> and <a href="http://colfa.utsa.edu/english/moody.html" target="_blank">Dr. Joycelyn Moody</a>, at a conference years ago at the University of Texas at San Antonio. There was a discussion where someone said something that I thought was ignorant and racist during a Q&A session. My first reaction was to attack this person fiercely, but my mentors had a different approach. They provided the person with historical context that she had never been exposed to and by the end of the session, she left the room a bit more culturally enlightened. I saw this approach by my dad, Rev. Dr. Samuel Acosta, too. He didn't hate bigoted people, which is not to say he sat back and accepted their behavior. Instead, he tried to guide them and teach them, while still giving them their dignity. It worked very well, many times. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2159996032715px;">He tried to be what he wanted to see: someone who saw possibilities in everyone, someone who saw opportunities in the situations that make us uncomfortable, someone who was ready to be proactive instead of reactive. I love that vision and I hope others might find it useful.</span></span>Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-13217541527589879292014-09-14T16:32:00.000-04:002014-09-14T16:32:13.863-04:00Why I Still Write Checks, Or How I Learned to Love People<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMx8RxyBoRnlWSqQY0lNyEO1nJr5kbMzW6pVD9cGV_IPOHen7Fqmbb7qP4gXbOsxQFS5TyAYJG1Mlo1C2uSfJmfElGnqMH9rUBo5ZH-Tx8YWBaVWACx0TWe5Ol3jft67RU_f3HEA/s1600/woman-writing-check1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMx8RxyBoRnlWSqQY0lNyEO1nJr5kbMzW6pVD9cGV_IPOHen7Fqmbb7qP4gXbOsxQFS5TyAYJG1Mlo1C2uSfJmfElGnqMH9rUBo5ZH-Tx8YWBaVWACx0TWe5Ol3jft67RU_f3HEA/s1600/woman-writing-check1.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To write checks, or not to write checks...that is the question!</td></tr>
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A large group of my friends and some new acquaintances gathered recently to chat about upcoming projects while having good food and wine. When the bill came, some people forked over cash but the majority pulled out debit cards and a conversation about how we represent money came up. One person, who I do not know very well, went on an angry tirade about people who still use checks. "If you are still using checks, first of all, WHY?" he said sarcastically. His sentiments are <a href="http://qz.com/216388/how-america-fell-out-of-love-with-writing-checks/" target="_blank">echoed by many</a>. His words were funny, but I kept my mouth shut about what I really felt. I certainly understand the desire to eschew checks when one is paying for groceries (it holds up the line) or at a restaurant (too inconvenient), but I had much to say about why I still use checks. I doubted he would understand my reasoning, so I stayed silent. It ultimately comes down to loving people and wanting them to be able to eat, as far as I'm concerned. Let me explain.<br />
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1. If one stops using checks altogether, that implies that one has to automate everything. That is the most dangerous thing I can possibly think of. I absolutely do not want to give any entity the option of going into my account and taking whatever it thinks I owe it. This kind of behavior amounts to having a safe in your house that you've given countless strangers the combination to. If an organization makes an error and decides that you owe it everything that is in your account, it has the authority to empty your coffers. Indeed, when Vincent and I moved back to New York from Texas, a very unethical man at the truck rental in New York took all our money out of our account because he was convinced we did not return a car trailer that we never used for the trip. Car and truck rental agreements have a clause that allows the company to take out whatever they see fit from your account, if you use a debit card, or to charge you whatever they want to your credit card. The rental amount is "open." Similarly, automatic payments to other companies have the same clause that allows them to go into your account. Obviously, it is bad business to abuse this power, but why put yourself at risk if you can avoid it? The "convenience" of automatic bill payment is a myth for some of us. There is nothing convenient about it for me. <a href="http://www.gobankingrates.com/savings-account/automating-finances-bad-idea/" target="_blank">This site</a> and <a href="http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/tips/automate-credit-card-payments/" target="_blank">this one</a> have several arguments against going paperless for bill payment. The conversation<a href="http://www.city-data.com/forum/personal-finance/582690-do-you-still-write-checks-all-8.html" target="_blank"> here</a> explains that countries in Europe that decided to go entirely paperless have had larger numbers of fraud as a result, too.<br />
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2. Said fraud and errors are harder to commit if people are involved. Furthermore, for just a few cents per check, stamp, and envelope, I can voice my desire to keep jobs. There are lots of people involved in the processing of bill payments: people who make stamps, people who make envelopes, people who process and deliver mail, people who deliver the checks I order, people who open up the bills I send to various organizations and process the payments. By avoiding automation, I allow folks to keep their jobs in the U.S. Postal Service, at my bank, and at all the organizations I make payments to. I literally think about that every time I write and mail a check.<br />
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I don't mean to "shame" folks who don't have the time to write checks; I completely understand how difficult it must be to remember what bills must go out couple of times a month when you are also raising a family, working full time, and have other activities on your plate. But when I hear about banks continuing to profit when they are <a href="http://triblive.com/business/headlines/3911552-74/bank-banks-jobs#axzz3DJht5XIA" target="_blank">downsizing </a>and <a href="http://articles.courant.com/2012-04-09/business/hc-bank-of-america-layoffs-20120409_1_check-imaging-paper-checks-bank-leases" target="_blank">laying off</a> workers, I want to be able to do my part to let the banks know that I need humans to be part of my interaction with them. I have the time to do it because I don't have three kids. Whenever I call my bank, I always <a href="http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/515926/how-technology-is-destroying-jobs/" target="_blank">insist on speaking with a human, too</a>. Technology, in the form of frustrating phone prompts or purely virtual money, is not always the answer. I think of the moment, in <i><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Handmaids-Tale-Margaret-Atwood/dp/038549081X" target="_blank">The Handmaid's Tale</a></i>, when Offred realizes she has no money she can access and that none of her plastic cards recognize her collected worth. The abstraction is frightening.<br />
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3. Writing checks creates a paper/electronic photo account (that can be printed) of a monetary transaction and makes the transaction tangible. It's not as good as when banks used to mail your checks back to you, stamped with the date the transaction went through, but you can print the photo version on good paper and have a record. I still get paper statements mailed to me, too. Writing out <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCa29vrEcqYpuze1xE8PTq2laD1bUHcV4LLSaQXzH9jAZZNTBQRZvIspv-FLrUBOPlbqxyV58gXfqNe01wl1blKachRGchvr57CtnJlQYTz8JPhowlv0k1jm2s6Fl4OCGh1qWvw/s1600/NagHammadi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCa29vrEcqYpuze1xE8PTq2laD1bUHcV4LLSaQXzH9jAZZNTBQRZvIspv-FLrUBOPlbqxyV58gXfqNe01wl1blKachRGchvr57CtnJlQYTz8JPhowlv0k1jm2s6Fl4OCGh1qWvw/s1600/NagHammadi.jpg" height="275" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The oldest paper book, the Nag Hammadi (Egypt)<br /> is 1,693 years old.</td></tr>
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the record also allows me to physically take within what is happening with my money. An electronic withdrawal that a machine at one organization makes from a machine at my bank (or is it just virtual, just energy, not connected to hardware at all - I don't even know!), a withdrawal that I may come to forget over time because it is constant and I don't see it or write it, ceases to exist in my consciousness. I always know how to budget accordingly because I have regular interactions with my account and with paper records. It is all in my hands and I interact with it. Without paper records, we place way too much power in someone else's hands. It's not convenient to have paper records - they are bulky - but they are tangible and they store for very long periods of time. Electronic records are at the mercy of others.<br />
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Ultimately, one could argue to just do everything with cash. You can't mail cash to pay your bills. And, in the end, just like with Offred, we are all at the mercy of the economic trends; if someone important decides that my cash isn't worth anything, I will have to accept that. Money, and what it represents, is always at the mercy of people outside of ourselves. I never wanted to have a bank account to begin with. I do not like having to put my money in a place where it becomes an intangible thing that someone else controls and uses for their own profit, often in ways that harm the larger world. I used to cash my checks as long as I could before it became a necessity to have a bank account. When I finally did get a bank account, I didn't want an ATM card because I felt it left me too vulnerable; the bank told me that I got one automatically, whether I wanted it or not. Great. In the end, it turns out you HAVE to have either that or a credit card to function. <br />
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Soon, we will have to function without checks, I suspect. Until I am told that I can no longer use them, I will continue to do so. I will continue to create a paper trail that other humans have to be witness to. I will continue to voice my opinion, by writing checks, that it is more important to work together as a team and have good work for everyone, instead of having convenience that only makes the very few very rich. I will continue to take responsibility for what is happening with my money, instead of letting a machine take on a responsibility that is too weighty for automation. I will continue to do the unpopular thing for reasons that some folks seem way to busy to think about, unless they have the time because they have been laid off or downsized. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUte1QGrzS_L1VSjKmmrpAFCB_o2iYUOaZWN4eAPx1BVsBCwQqwJ_2PHVENHiNThXnX8WThyInHMzlk1qMuU7t3aWdtQ7noRwJvtg0BCTr8S22M9Wl_TjRqmb-sK0RChoEDxMKrQ/s1600/mail+carrier+snow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUte1QGrzS_L1VSjKmmrpAFCB_o2iYUOaZWN4eAPx1BVsBCwQqwJ_2PHVENHiNThXnX8WThyInHMzlk1qMuU7t3aWdtQ7noRwJvtg0BCTr8S22M9Wl_TjRqmb-sK0RChoEDxMKrQ/s1600/mail+carrier+snow.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What they do is miraculous. I'm thankful for it!</td></tr>
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Or am I wrong? Do you think about the person opening envelopes somewhere? Or the mail carrier who works through rain or shine? Or our booksellers, or the small business owners, or the people at call centers, all of whom have little to no work now because we've created things like Amazon, or automated phone systems? Do you think of those folks? I do. I can't stop thinking about them.Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-76202342138646329682014-07-03T17:48:00.002-04:002014-07-03T18:24:59.648-04:00The "Anti-Vegas" Las Vegas Journey <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1oqkiPzT0FaXBAWqs4fBgqkQIr3xoFDiUOFwtN7TTM0lkk03unJMo2JSynf6g506fGkjLTtwXNqNpYy8ATxb1OIpkzvlsdlbr8HciUDPpcPG_P3RZ6_l11bCiYGmPKqfYFFntw/s1600/DSC03908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl1oqkiPzT0FaXBAWqs4fBgqkQIr3xoFDiUOFwtN7TTM0lkk03unJMo2JSynf6g506fGkjLTtwXNqNpYy8ATxb1OIpkzvlsdlbr8HciUDPpcPG_P3RZ6_l11bCiYGmPKqfYFFntw/s1600/DSC03908.JPG" height="320" width="283" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My in-laws, in their element, in Vegas. <br />
How could I not want to make them happy?</td></tr>
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What do you do in Las Vegas if you are the type of person who has never had any desire whatsoever to go to Sin City? Let's be clear - there are no prudes here, just a humble woman who wanted to please her in-laws by going to the one place they like to vacation every year. When I was a kid rumbling around Chicago and getting caught up in its nightlife scene, what I loved about it was that it was always an adventure. I never had to go to the same places, I never knew what to expect, and nothing ever felt cliche'. One night you could end up having a midnight swim on a high-rise rooftop, another night you could find yourself listening to an orchestra belt out some Beethoven, and on yet another night you could find yourself dancing on top of a bar with old ladies who spoke a language you did not know. It is this type of excitement I get from New York City, where I live, too. How could I go from my amazing life to places like Miami Beach or Las Vegas for spring break, like my college friends, and be expected to enjoy watching lugheads drink themselves silly and engage in acts that would land them on a reality show? I had no interest in it then. I have no interest now.<br />
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But being the adventurer that I am, I was determined, now at the ripe age of 42, to find a Vegas that I would like, darn it! I knew it would make my in-laws happy and there had to be <i>something</i> there I would like, right? So, here is a recap of my anti-Vegas trip. I've seen a couple of other "anti-Vegas" posts out there, but none are as comprehensive as this one. I hope this helps those of you out there who love a good drink - genuine gin martini, anyone? - but totally recoil at the idea of wasting good alcohol by engaging in the can't-taste-it-except-when-I-end-up-puking-it-up practice of beer bongs and beer pong. I hope it helps those of you who want to use your imagination, instead of stunt it by getting in fights on the strip (yeah, lots of those exist so why be there?). I hope it helps those of you who would rather spend your cash on a real, tangible thing rather than on the hope of getting a return at the slots - hope is priceless, in the end.<br />
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GRISEL'S ANTI-VEGAS JOURNEY<br />
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Day One:<br />
<br />
Vincent, my husband, and I singed ourselves at the pool with the in-laws but left quickly before the sun sucked every drop of water from our bodies like a H20 vampire, cleaned up, and then went for lunch and good coffee (a rare thing in the land of Starbucks) at <a href="http://www.emergencyartslv.com/" target="_blank">Emergency Arts</a>. In the way-cool arts complex, there is <a href="http://www.thebeatlv.com/" target="_blank">Beat Coffeehouse and Records</a>, which has yummy food that is vegetarian friendly and French press coffee. In addition to the funky collection of old records, which range from Vegas acts to jazz to '70s rock, there is a maze of galleries with excellent artwork. There is also a chapbook library where you can leave your own poetry chapbook for all the visitors to see - there are hundreds of chapbooks there that we definitely took a minute to look at. We spent the rest of the day exploring the downtown area and enjoying the excitement<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmra76IWGDOkSbDblktBXZHJNTn9fRze-seK0Rl6-sQH40bfpXdguPATlvJ6VTMng3N1CwViwUnVr6m1yCgKuUiqZH-ZMcF1YC5FfSGOluQStK2MsA20QPAwUX0Zyo7DlUNiM1g/s1600/DSC03813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmra76IWGDOkSbDblktBXZHJNTn9fRze-seK0Rl6-sQH40bfpXdguPATlvJ6VTMng3N1CwViwUnVr6m1yCgKuUiqZH-ZMcF1YC5FfSGOluQStK2MsA20QPAwUX0Zyo7DlUNiM1g/s1600/DSC03813.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here I am picking a ripe doll part from the<br />
dead doll tree outside of one of the Emergency<br />
Art galleries!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
around the World Cup. I have to say, Vegas is the perfect place to enjoy the World Cup because everyone is full of cheers and enthusiasm.<br />
<br />
Then, after a very Vegas buffet dinner with the in-laws, we got back on our anti-Vegas track and went to <a href="http://www.neonmuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Neon Museum</a>. Granted, the museum is obviously about Vegas, so it's not <i>exactly</i> anti-Vegas, but it is anti-cliche' Vegas. Case-in-point, we never met anyone who had been to the museum on their trip to Vegas. People gamble and shop, but learning about the history of the place isn't first on their list. It was on ours! <br />
<br />
The night tour, that takes you through a winding path of old signs, is guided by a tour guide that has a waterfall of information. The folks at the museum were extremely knowledgeable about all Vegas history and, specifically, the history behind the facades of the hotels and bars. Who would've thought that I would learn about women's history in Vegas? Turns out many important women designed those world-famous neon marquees. Who would've thought that I would learn African American history in Vegas? Turns out the very first integrated nightclub in the United States was in Vegas! I won't give you the names and facts so that you can experience the museum the way I did. I strongly recommend this tour. They have day tours, but I can't imagine that being as magical as the night tour.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoq2k7h0RaVMs4W8Z6WDlRiwCIwC2INtWgh867ecoa6Nwf8IlcvgDjTHMQpsqV_SX3v7fqRHrWgqV8X9Au8CziwIikm2jfD4uDh7XhO5Kg9oTQ5W_CjCJetJb74m6J0D6cqsrkw/s1600/DSC03857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifoq2k7h0RaVMs4W8Z6WDlRiwCIwC2INtWgh867ecoa6Nwf8IlcvgDjTHMQpsqV_SX3v7fqRHrWgqV8X9Au8CziwIikm2jfD4uDh7XhO5Kg9oTQ5W_CjCJetJb74m6J0D6cqsrkw/s1600/DSC03857.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Neon Museum sign incorporates elements from<br />
various signs used on the strip throughout its history.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_cF9Yx9nvPxMn7cVN97QbvoYReOLV6sKQBVMKEIq2ZSLC8p86L7ffLq5aOt2ViDiEXiKrbRieD7ALZC4BXG2Kyu6FU5rGR4QfEpCIsT1i3HAF3SMVfjrKKSOMiLASgcMJNEaBw/s1600/DSC03895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_cF9Yx9nvPxMn7cVN97QbvoYReOLV6sKQBVMKEIq2ZSLC8p86L7ffLq5aOt2ViDiEXiKrbRieD7ALZC4BXG2Kyu6FU5rGR4QfEpCIsT1i3HAF3SMVfjrKKSOMiLASgcMJNEaBw/s1600/DSC03895.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my favorite old sign - it's huge! But there are so many more - I took<br />
most of my pictures on the trip at this site.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Day Two:<br />
<br />
We probably had a drink at the hotel bar the night before but turned in early because of jet lag, had a cheap bagel breakfast on day two and then set off for<a href="http://www.skindesigntattoos.com/" target="_blank"> Skin Design Tattoo</a>. This tattoo parlor is not on the strip. No one got inebriated and decided to get a horrible tattoo in questionable circumstances. No, I planned the tattoo well in advance, researched the facility, and contacted Skin Design months before I was ever in Vegas. The idea was to get a wonderful work of art by a world-renowned group of artists. Robert Pho, who opened the space, is known for his photo-realistic work. Vic Vivid is an excellent color artist who has trained under Pho. I spent hours in Skin Design and by the end of the session, I was dizzy because I hadn't eaten lunch. It was all worth it. Vic, who is extremely kind and professional, is actually Colombian, like me, so we chatted about that. But the best part of the experience was the art. Here is Vic's interpretation of an artwork by <a href="http://www.camillerosegarcia.com/" target="_blank">Camille Rose Garcia</a>:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zZmx5Kxrnu_NhEPELYUx6ma6OMHWJe0Zgwn2_JGo6xrJ7FlpQoH5vvip4S5aR2HOf716TW2dtJ6alHD7fuEgTO1HhhaedrWV6GnfZVln5CnSX6px0vM7P7zIYwJVzHd0agE9SA/s1600/DSC03904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8zZmx5Kxrnu_NhEPELYUx6ma6OMHWJe0Zgwn2_JGo6xrJ7FlpQoH5vvip4S5aR2HOf716TW2dtJ6alHD7fuEgTO1HhhaedrWV6GnfZVln5CnSX6px0vM7P7zIYwJVzHd0agE9SA/s1600/DSC03904.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing, right? Vic Vivid does beautiful work!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Vincent picked me up and we were off to <a href="http://www.saipinchutima.com/" target="_blank">Lotus of Siam</a> to meet his parents for dinner. They raved about this off-the-path place and they were right to. This Thai restaurant is not on the strip but it can get very crowded. It has an impressive photo collection of all the famous people who have dined there. It doesn't look like much from the outside - it is in a strip mall - and while you'll recognize the pad thai and massaman curry, most of the dishes are not anything you've heard of before. It is an EXCELLENT meal and very anti-Vegas. The restaurant is casual and the atmosphere is lots of fun. You also get to choose the heat of your meal - if you are used to eating real Mexican food in Chicago, L.A., or the South, you can do a five or a six, and if you are used to real Indian food, you can go higher. Everyone else should stick to three or lower.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Day Three and Four:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We were at the Grand Canyon for two days. Totally anti-Vegas. 'Nuff said.</div>
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<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55NHMCRAGb54KwrNxRHPH5Mm4p6qtsUVW4jKPYtHyW6mkebi2dNAUqouiY0qnmWscYNYSFsdZx9DUdqDqj7fnCVZTJM5i_yzpvZC3StgB1gcoTLqXidxoikPzYgj2o64mklXKEg/s1600/DSC03944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj55NHMCRAGb54KwrNxRHPH5Mm4p6qtsUVW4jKPYtHyW6mkebi2dNAUqouiY0qnmWscYNYSFsdZx9DUdqDqj7fnCVZTJM5i_yzpvZC3StgB1gcoTLqXidxoikPzYgj2o64mklXKEg/s1600/DSC03944.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to keep my arm covered because of the healing tattoo - luckily there<br />
was a breeze!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
If you're looking for an excellent place to eat at the Grand Canyon, go for the place with the view of the Canyon: <a href="http://www.grandcanyonlodges.com/dining/arizona-room/" target="_blank">The Arizona Room</a>. You can get good meat, poultry, and fish dishes, many which are specified as "sustainable," and there are a couple of vegetarian options. Their local wines are great, too. The restaurant isn't fancy looking - which is great for folks who have been on their feet all day - and the service is given with a sweet smile.<br />
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<br /></div>
<div>
We drove back on Day Four, late in the day, so that we could sleep in and nab more pics on the way back to Vegas. That night the plan was to see my old friend Nicole, from Chicago. She saw from a post that I was in town and even though she had plans to leave for Paris in the next 48 hours, she made time to have dinner with us and meet my better half. Meeting and hanging with old friends and sharing our lives? Yep, that's kind of anti-Vegas, I think. It was a gracious moment within all the hullabaloo.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_Ksz2eNGgg881j25Tn0mljIW5rDUkmSM7vTzTM1m7lL5KcgIOs8ycKGxSjp_XSQR-_q3AuBwL1Tt-35LZtklGEK7aWtzbrLNx4a0mJi28L7jCKu_BWMn-lXtVsYQDwDm0uy3jA/s1600/DSC03993_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP_Ksz2eNGgg881j25Tn0mljIW5rDUkmSM7vTzTM1m7lL5KcgIOs8ycKGxSjp_XSQR-_q3AuBwL1Tt-35LZtklGEK7aWtzbrLNx4a0mJi28L7jCKu_BWMn-lXtVsYQDwDm0uy3jA/s1600/DSC03993_1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you recognize Nicole? Here's a hint: she and her hubby<br />
help bar owners in the red. ;) Isn't she gorgeous??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Vincent's parents joined us at the end of dinner, met Nicole, who is unbelievably charming and witty, then Nicole said her good-byes and the rest of us went exploring. We saw someone dressed up as a KISS member in a wheelchair (couldn't get a good pic), we heard many awful street bands, and because it wasn't yet the official weekend, we thankfully avoided much mayhem. The strip was busy but calm and it gave us all a chance to laugh with each other. Family getting closer? Not sure if that's anti-Vegas, but it was definitely wonderful.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-hdbFrsX4_hlDWpGFaYid0nki4Tx7o7efTdiHfnoIFN_hfaBaIKSPou5ilye3YtCaTw1a3OOsiT3Gt3oBH-ucEHM_kxqRgM__a3AGpe48w8uZKUzBGh7QtYVEIXqFXTaipDKuA/s1600/DSC03998.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP-hdbFrsX4_hlDWpGFaYid0nki4Tx7o7efTdiHfnoIFN_hfaBaIKSPou5ilye3YtCaTw1a3OOsiT3Gt3oBH-ucEHM_kxqRgM__a3AGpe48w8uZKUzBGh7QtYVEIXqFXTaipDKuA/s1600/DSC03998.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vincent's dad took this one!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Day Five:<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
At this point I was tired! Where was I going to get energy?? Luckily, Vincent's mom, Kathy, treated me to a spa massage. She and her sister, JoAnn, like to do it and they were kind enough to make me one of the girls. I've had trouble in the past with such things - I don't like strangers to touch me - so imagine my panic when I saw that the person who was going to massage me was a young man, from Long Island, no less! Despite my modesty, the massage was incredible and boy did I need it after all the walking for the past four days. The young man was totally professional and, thanks to Kathy, I felt rejuvenated for the rest of the trip. This isn't exactly anti-Vegas, but it does counteract the damage Vegas may have done.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Back into explorer mode! When Vincent and I regrouped, we decided to take some architecture in. We chose to take a look at the Frank Gehry designed Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. Yeah, that's on NO ONE's Vegas bucket list, but it was on ours! Here's how cool it is:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWYeA7-T9pEc2BW5jhMIQxd1tP46QM6Zz7fpqxToDALIkUPswpVpgV0r8VKjRqwch9KQ2-UnaRDF3jYJpnkZN7kZsF2mSqyw3yMbkI-enPykDFeogpxTrcBq5bNr9G8Qe0A11lw/s1600/DSC04008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOWYeA7-T9pEc2BW5jhMIQxd1tP46QM6Zz7fpqxToDALIkUPswpVpgV0r8VKjRqwch9KQ2-UnaRDF3jYJpnkZN7kZsF2mSqyw3yMbkI-enPykDFeogpxTrcBq5bNr9G8Qe0A11lw/s1600/DSC04008.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is it just melting under the Nevada sun?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Then, we decided to look at Vegas from its highest point, <a href="http://www.stratospherehotel.com/" target="_blank">The Stratosphere</a>. UNLIKE civilized places in the world, such as <a href="http://www.johnhancockcenterchicago.com/" target="_blank">The John Hancock Center</a> in Chicago, The Stratosphere charges money to go up to the tower. That is VERY Vegas. Still, the view, especially during the day, is not. There are few people, which means there aren't drunk people trying to hog up the view. And, what did we do when we were up there? We read poetry. By<a href="http://www.slc.edu/faculty/negroni-maria.html" target="_blank"> Maria Negroni</a>. Yes, the few people who were there were probably traumatized. We had a low-key dinner later with the family and tried to plan the rest of the weekend over the meal.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdT_xjbzcYD7X8xKITXXXeUrmT4AVazTBLrM2j-eOI-CP5WrCh9NifJbtdGPrzkR_IF45uHTKraaLO9DKesthdQqPEpPvdO8q5n8yTQaQWdyVS6CZfYis6bW_M1WKcP4TNWVJouw/s1600/DSC04031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdT_xjbzcYD7X8xKITXXXeUrmT4AVazTBLrM2j-eOI-CP5WrCh9NifJbtdGPrzkR_IF45uHTKraaLO9DKesthdQqPEpPvdO8q5n8yTQaQWdyVS6CZfYis6bW_M1WKcP4TNWVJouw/s1600/DSC04031.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A close-up of the lovely view at The Stratosphere.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
That night, it being the official weekend and all, we decided to hit a few bars off the strip. The first was <a href="http://thedowntownlv.com/" target="_blank">Downtown Cocktail Room</a>, which is dark, cool, and red. We got there around 9 p.m. and it was still quite mellow, with couples chatting and sitting on overstuffed chairs and lounge music playing. Vincent and I probably own at least 50% of the playlist, so we were happy. The drink menu is interesting in that it rates the drinks according to "sense of adventure." A drink rated a "1" will be something most people can enjoy safely, while a "4" is for people who want to experience new ideas and flavors. We loved it! And our server was great: she complimented my new tattoo and assumed we were locals.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The next bar was <a href="http://commonwealthlv.com/" target="_blank">Commonwealth</a>, just around the corner. This is a gorgeous, spacious, two-story facility with a 1920's vibe. All the fixtures and decor are antiques, or at least resemble them, and the drinks are refreshing and spirited. The music here was livelier than the previous locale and the patrons were a bit younger, but there wasn't any of the desperation one might see down the street at the Fremont Experience. These folks were fun and polite. In addition, our server was charming and thoughtful and also assumed we were locals. I was now starting to wonder what about me made me seem Vegas, when I was on an anti-Vegas trip. Eh, I just went with it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtctE-ju-GwuwNKfWF0vJcR6CvSAhjYn50UQeJdJG1Ex-eEri5GYee3Yd_fFj_ze-xTNKn54ULRAce40BXlR_yTWX-Z2f7XSpODWJ6GniFiHquBJ65OOHXrEl8p7WDe0pI9q1IiA/s1600/DSC04040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtctE-ju-GwuwNKfWF0vJcR6CvSAhjYn50UQeJdJG1Ex-eEri5GYee3Yd_fFj_ze-xTNKn54ULRAce40BXlR_yTWX-Z2f7XSpODWJ6GniFiHquBJ65OOHXrEl8p7WDe0pI9q1IiA/s1600/DSC04040.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lovely wallpaper and old-timey decor at Commonwealth.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Even though it was now past midnight, we still weren't tired - refreshing drinks, indeed - so we decided to head over to <a href="http://downtowncontainerpark.com/" target="_blank">Container Park</a>, which our friend Rachel suggested. Rachel is a unique person with a delightful enthusiasm for life, so I knew it would be interesting. There is a big, fiery, praying mantis beckoning people to enter the park and on the weekends they have live bands, so we walked a couple blocks to see what was up. The multi-story, outdoor facility, which is made of old truck containers, has many shops (which were closed at the hour we went) and lots of restaurants and bars, many of which were open. Vincent had very good coffee at The Beatnik there. In the center, there was a huge jungle gym and that's what we went for. We were NOT the only adults playing with bridges and slides. Container Park is definitely anti-Vegas! Loved it!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then, as is often the case with me, I began to crave ice cream. Alas, Container Park did not have this. We knew we would have to brave the strip on a Friday - ugh! Somehow, we ended up in Paris, and I was pleasantly surprised. We found our gelato in a bakery on a charming walkway in Paris, and then we came across a statue that summed up what we really honor in Vegas: the folks who have to clean up after our asses. The service in Vegas is beyond what I've normally experienced anywhere else in the world and all I could think about all week was how humbled I am at the folks who have to serve so many people all week long. They deserve sainthood! Well, here is the statue that commemorates their work (I wish it were Vegas-sized, actually):</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tDdP8zXdiv5CYSj4Z5wqKOCp-MlxRn2h7ljpzTx1CTNrURKsUtq0-qGyRqKrO_PZ32jJ-oT4MvK04KZOpXYv6C9WlPVWG06KHbY7Wc26wouAGS1v70QkGuy974pMKNowzdMAsA/s1600/DSC04048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tDdP8zXdiv5CYSj4Z5wqKOCp-MlxRn2h7ljpzTx1CTNrURKsUtq0-qGyRqKrO_PZ32jJ-oT4MvK04KZOpXYv6C9WlPVWG06KHbY7Wc26wouAGS1v70QkGuy974pMKNowzdMAsA/s1600/DSC04048.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Don't forget to tip and say "please" and "thank you."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Day Six:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's not over yet?? No. In fact, maybe our long stay is why people have been confusing us for locals. The in-laws like to stay a nice long time, whereas most folks do a three-day, spitfire trip. We have been getting to know Vegas, intimately. And our eyes and noses are burning as a result - golly, the air is dry out here!</div>
<div>
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On this day, we slept until noon. I think Vincent got up for breakfast. I did not. A lady needs her beauty rest, 'kay? He was right back in bed after eating, though. We weren't out of the room until about 1:30 p.m. Then we headed for what we like to call "linner" - a bad portmanteau of "lunch" and "dinner" - at yet another off-the-strip eatery called <a href="http://lolaslasvegas.com/" target="_blank">Lola's Louisiana Kitchen</a>. You cannot get a table at this tiny restaurant for dinner; the wait will be at least two hours. You can, however, walk in for lunch and have an unhurried meal. It WILL be decadent, so plan for it. This was, for the most part, my only meal that day. The banana pudding for desert is heaven.</div>
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Now, the next thing we did, I can say is the most anti-Vegas part of our trip. That night, we saw a 3-D <a href="http://www.kraftwerk.com/" target="_blank">Kraftwerk</a> show at the <a href="http://www.cosmopolitanlasvegas.com/index/meet/thechelsea.aspx" target="_blank">Chelsea Theater in the Cosmopolitan Hotel</a>. I guarantee you that 80% of the people visiting Las Vegas do not know who Kraftwerk is (sigh). That's okay - all the more space for us to enjoy one of the best bands to ever exist. It was one of the best concerts I've ever been to. Punto. I have pictures but they don't do it justice - all the graphics were leaping out over the band members in full 3-D glory. What Vincent and I really loved was the lyrics that questioned our ties to machines, our ability to be fully human, our ability to have individual thought (in Vegas!!), and the damage we do with our technological knowledge. Super anti-Vegas!</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmzi8tQGvC2wxoR_5ifGM0OK-d6_q4clHmEwz1uVFazpmBsPrnVFMAMRPgiUxNeME2Ox12fvm3Nc4XGq0uOEtwk5TpEp7r7uNIbRvLmVIpJwy0yLqjCnZOSXROl_fTPnE-FDK3Q/s1600/DSC04070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSmzi8tQGvC2wxoR_5ifGM0OK-d6_q4clHmEwz1uVFazpmBsPrnVFMAMRPgiUxNeME2Ox12fvm3Nc4XGq0uOEtwk5TpEp7r7uNIbRvLmVIpJwy0yLqjCnZOSXROl_fTPnE-FDK3Q/s1600/DSC04070.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They also had graphics that questioned technology's role in the bombings<br />
at Fukushima, Hiroshima, and many other places.</td></tr>
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Can you believe we did something else after this? Yep. We went to <a href="http://www.doubledownsaloon.com/" target="_blank">The Double Down Saloon</a>, which is Vegas' punk bar. There is never any cover and they have bands playing many nights of the week. The people here are definitely locals and they were some of the nicest people we encountered on the weekend. While it was horrific entering and exiting the strip for the concert on the weekend because of the countless drunken jerks, this off-the-strip bar was totally welcoming. We stayed for a couple of bands and bopped our heads to the ear-fizzing music, and the bouncer was even kind enough to take our picture, despite being corny tourists. These guys did NOT confuse us for locals. They knew we were visitors, but treated us well, just the same.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sHSunl7coFF6P5fPc5kD13LclM7a3lyIOQxk1ds4xfDWqg7dOdk0_uDof5Rcgm4iBGLzRaC9h_vIQ0oWeZpNAbjEgPYxtaFhFxs9rialwgHW2t6LrQr52LxvuuFaQiv5QRKDrg/s1600/DSC04093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0sHSunl7coFF6P5fPc5kD13LclM7a3lyIOQxk1ds4xfDWqg7dOdk0_uDof5Rcgm4iBGLzRaC9h_vIQ0oWeZpNAbjEgPYxtaFhFxs9rialwgHW2t6LrQr52LxvuuFaQiv5QRKDrg/s1600/DSC04093.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Double Down Saloon's motto.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5_USG59wNnWBjCNOyFCCYnVleRNkCIJImURTHZUgQbt1Eauw0LI5eoFDCqZQk8Wn2wWX3b0xvYxTj_npTy76Qd5PseP9EY96XoOwPJURH7MWaNe6M9WUIrckPtoDd6V6Uj18GQ/s1600/DSC04094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5_USG59wNnWBjCNOyFCCYnVleRNkCIJImURTHZUgQbt1Eauw0LI5eoFDCqZQk8Wn2wWX3b0xvYxTj_npTy76Qd5PseP9EY96XoOwPJURH7MWaNe6M9WUIrckPtoDd6V6Uj18GQ/s1600/DSC04094.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you tell Vincent was tired?</td></tr>
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No, the night is not over - we met Vincent's parents and discussed our adventures at the hotel. I don't think we got to bed until 4 a.m. this night, which is typical for Vegas, but somehow we managed to vary it a bit on our trip. Not every night was a rager for us, which is just fine in my book. Not raging every night in Vegas and staying healthy in the process - yeah, that's as anti-Vegas as it gets.</div>
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Day Seven: </div>
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I think it's safe to say that we are superhuman because we are still able to walk and speak coherently after a week in Vegas. Yeah! What's next? <a href="http://themobmuseum.org/" target="_blank">The Mob Museum</a>, which is overpriced but astoundingly thorough. You get three floors of well-researched and displayed history that covers not just the Vegas mob, but the entire history of the mafia in the United States. It is a funny, informative, and terrifying collection of information. We were simply unable, in our exhaustion, to read every bit of information, but we were there for a good two to three hours. I strongly recommend this high-quality museum. You won't be disappointed.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Gh4pl9IZdZzmyas0W7jZNadSuwN9qrhsgeQELPzHtAQSeT7BKkT57W460WIC8WrMnXdlgrTu-6KweYcdQZW35fwYQMT73bsV2wOJtBRBU6G9bGtzSuWmZjJG_RVS51H3S900Jw/s1600/DSC04099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Gh4pl9IZdZzmyas0W7jZNadSuwN9qrhsgeQELPzHtAQSeT7BKkT57W460WIC8WrMnXdlgrTu-6KweYcdQZW35fwYQMT73bsV2wOJtBRBU6G9bGtzSuWmZjJG_RVS51H3S900Jw/s1600/DSC04099.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a map of the Chicago territories in the early 20th century.</td></tr>
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Then, an excellent sushi dinner with the family, more laughs, and we had nice late evening with Vincent's father at<a href="http://www.parislasvegas.com/things-to-do/napoleons-dueling-piano-lounge.html#.U7XBefldUQ0" target="_blank"> Napoleon's Lounge</a>, where we heard the ultimate Vegas lounge act, The Dueling Pianos. We were expecting jazz, a la anti-Vegas, but it turned out to be more of an updated version of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peulXm2c0Mg" target="_blank">Bill Murray's lounge act on Saturday Night Live</a>. It was not anti-Vegas, but it was funny. We heard them play Metallica's "Enter Sandman" and Sir Mix-A-Lot's "Baby's Got Back" on the pianos. Other than that, it was a lot of Jimmy Buffet (ugh). Still, it was great to sit and joke with Vinny and his dad. It was a nice way to end the trip.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7JFcAdufrzDV_pq3iFaJ_Hb9nJHr0By8-xFXlu1huwJQ7WTg2xKv-9PxVJNOfxY4eOIUu1etEvIZ3_5blzMx1hlwH8Fx9cGBFxBGpAd8yjZDCwLySKxKExat-Qw9K3JF0Wai-w/s1600/DSC04111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT7JFcAdufrzDV_pq3iFaJ_Hb9nJHr0By8-xFXlu1huwJQ7WTg2xKv-9PxVJNOfxY4eOIUu1etEvIZ3_5blzMx1hlwH8Fx9cGBFxBGpAd8yjZDCwLySKxKExat-Qw9K3JF0Wai-w/s1600/DSC04111.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dark wood of the lounge and the leather seating was very comfy!</td></tr>
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Day Eight:<br />
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We are leaving!! And we are ready to leave! Just get us out of this hectic town! It has been like being in Times Square for a week! Enough! </div>
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While waiting for our flight time to arrive, we visited <a href="http://www.vdara.com/" target="_blank">Vdara</a>, which has the tagline, "Do Vegas Differently." It is the only hotel we stepped in that does not have a casino. It was a peaceful haven with calming decor - aaaahhhh.... Then, a quick lunch at <a href="http://lacomidalv.com/" target="_blank">La Comida</a> before we were off to the airport. It has good Mexican food and a wide range of tequilas and margaritas - the staff is convivial, too.</div>
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But where was I? I WANT TO LEAVE THIS PLACE! Home, home, home! Can't wait to finally leave Vegas? Well, that's the most anti-Vegas thing of all! </div>
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May you have your own wonderful anti-Vegas trip and if you do, please share what you did in the comments section...not that we ever plan to return. ;)</div>
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Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-9873656875857234052013-11-07T11:30:00.001-05:002013-11-07T11:30:49.261-05:00New Yorkers Vote to Cede Public Lands to Private Owners<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5A5XTVJ1Mk6tOB_7ZiRY8rTQZl8VAqMnbUMK5h3auJJ-4VrxOqpC_eXYPoyFvD-o2N-hmJT_ip3waf5AUhJCHqqj49b52QutDFm1plKHKiPa1R-2dC0yWbVfbtzH_ixunZ2p9Q/s1600/adirondacks_fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5A5XTVJ1Mk6tOB_7ZiRY8rTQZl8VAqMnbUMK5h3auJJ-4VrxOqpC_eXYPoyFvD-o2N-hmJT_ip3waf5AUhJCHqqj49b52QutDFm1plKHKiPa1R-2dC0yWbVfbtzH_ixunZ2p9Q/s320/adirondacks_fall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Everyone has been looking forward to a new era in New York City leadership with Bill De Blasio's mayoral win on Tuesday, November 5th, but there has been very little hype about the ballot measures that passed. Everyone knows we voted to have statewide gambling - as if it weren't here already - but there are other ballot measures I believe we should be more concerned with. The two I speak of, <a href="http://www.policymic.com/articles/71777/nyc-elections-2013-6-ballot-proposals-you-need-to-know-about" target="_blank">Proposals 4 and 5</a>, were voted in with<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/projects/elections/2013/general/ballot-measures/results.html" target="_blank"> roughly 72% and 53%</a> approval, respectively. These approved proposals now allow Adirondack lands, which are supposed to be "forever wild," to be placed into private ownership.<br />
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Proposal 4 was a bit complicated because it involved a township that is situated on the public lands. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/01/nyregion/century-old-adirondack-land-dispute-is-on-statewide-ballot.html" target="_blank">This</a> New York Times article recalls a news item from 1903 that called the residents "squatters." The proposal finally gave the long-time residents ownership of the land they've lived on for decades, even though it was technically situated on public land. One can imagine how such a precedent might play out in the future. Can anyone build a house on public land now, stay there for a long time, and then finally get ownership of the land? Should folks be allowed that power? How might that complicate the idea of land preservation? I don't think there is a clear right or wrong side to this issue, especially when we think of the generations of people who have lived in the township who only now will have added rights and benefits because they legally own the land they live on. How many years did they not receive certain services because they were not legal land owners? As the NYT article shows, the issue was not an easy one to resolve and it literally took over one hundred years to finally reach an agreement. Nonetheless, it sets a precedent for private owners to claim public lands.<br />
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Proposal 5 is not complicated at all. Even though the vote was tighter, the majority of New Yorkers voted to allow NYCO Minerals to expand their mine into public lands. In a truly bizarre twist, the Adirondack Mountain Club and the Adirondack Council - two groups that are advocates for the preservation of the area - actually supported the bill. It may be because NYCO Minerals, as part of the deal, has to give land of a larger value to the public, but that doesn't change the fact that the mine will go deeper into the preserve and that weakens the entire area around the mine (I learned that in my Populations and Communities class in college). Therefore, the mining company isn't just affecting the lot they are taking; they are also affecting the rest of the land around that lot - and all the vegetation and wildlife that lives there. <a href="http://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2013/09/bill-ingersoll-nyco-amendment-value-forest-preserve.html" target="_blank">This article</a>, by Bill Ingersoll, describes the reasons why Proposal 5 was a bad idea. I wish more people had been aware of the issues he describes, especially in terms of the precedent that has now been set. We have decided that it's okay to cede public land to a private entity even though there is no public benefit from that transaction. I shudder when I think of what can happen as a result of this vote. This blasts the door wide open for other environment-destroying companies to make deals with our government and to ruin our land, water, and skies. Yes, I know it has been happening for centuries, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to stop it every time we have the opportunity to vote on it. I mean, we actually get to vote on these things - how important is that? It's exciting and amazing. Yet some of us don't realize how taking that time makes a huge difference not only in our lives, but on our physical environment.<br />
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The real issue is that these ballot proposals are rarely covered in a compelling way or in a way that draws the interest of large numbers of people. There are few who search for information about the proposals in order to be able to vote in an informed way. I can find the articles and share them with you because that is what I do, but I know most of the voters out there didn't have much information about the proposals. If I had been wiser and less work-addled, I would have written about this issue sooner - before voting day - and shared the information I had with my friends and students. Today, I feel bad that I didn't.<br />
<br />Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15626592.post-32180937777546076432013-10-05T12:55:00.000-04:002013-10-06T00:42:41.326-04:00Be a Savior: Rising Above Twerkish Conversations<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfbXSeklt0sQ_1EqQP5nEf9HO95A2LDmNUiadqa7_tTzbmMgMHsJDsvoLH-TK4wUpgQ72TUltt2co3fhmYCz8u1R6W5Zr8c8M9hZcoaefVNkIVZNcNQzSpl42XVf4E7tQ29I_ow/s1600/media_confusion_digital_design_by_jstoltz-d37cj76.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfbXSeklt0sQ_1EqQP5nEf9HO95A2LDmNUiadqa7_tTzbmMgMHsJDsvoLH-TK4wUpgQ72TUltt2co3fhmYCz8u1R6W5Zr8c8M9hZcoaefVNkIVZNcNQzSpl42XVf4E7tQ29I_ow/s320/media_confusion_digital_design_by_jstoltz-d37cj76.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">media_confusion_digital_design_by_jstoltz</td></tr>
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For the first time in about 20 years of teaching, the majority of my students said they read on a regular basis, when I asked about their educational habits at the beginning of the fall semester. I was a bit surprised, but then I realized that a number of <a href="http://www.breakingdawn-themovie.com/" target="_blank">recent films</a> have promoted <a href="http://store.scholastic.com/landing-page/landingpage/series/harry-potter?psch=SSO%2Fps%2F20100101%2Fgoogle%2Ftxtl%2FBooks%2Fnone%2FHarry+Potter%2FSeries-+Harry+Potter%2Fharry_potter_book_collection%2Fnonbrand&creative=24118920159&device=c&network=g&matchtype=b" target="_blank">youth novels</a> and that the Internet has done a great job encouraging young people to read news items on a regular basis. The quality of what they had been reading, however, became clear once the diagnostic exams came in. Again, after their reading revelations, I was a bit surprised, but then I quickly understood why. It is the classic difference between a bookstore like Barnes and Noble and the <a href="http://www.stmarksbookshop.com/" target="_blank">St. Mark's Bookstore</a>. The former gives you a boatload of horse dung and a few items of gold within the feces, and the latter selects only quality books, ensuring that your purchase will be awesome. The St. Mark's Bookstore exhibits media savvy, and the word savvy has its root in the word "savior." It is not easy to be a media savior, guiding ourselves and others to the right places. The majority of us, like my students, have experienced a media blitz of Barnes and Noble-like information for the past 10 years that has not allowed us to understand what <a href="http://www.policymic.com/articles/26436/3-things-just-one-ridiculous-segment-on-fox-news-can-teach-us" target="_blank">conversations we should actually be having</a>. And, the truth is, in some circles, diversionary media has been a standard for much longer than a decade.<br />
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For example, my husband Vincent and I went to the <a href="http://www.guggenheim.org/" target="_blank">Guggenheim</a>, in September, to see what was <a href="http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/james-turrell" target="_blank">touted in many respectable publications</a> as the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/16/magazine/how-james-turrell-knocked-the-art-world-off-its-feet.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0" target="_blank">most amazing light exhibit known to man</a>. Anyone who knows my artist background, or my tendency to decorate my living spaces with light, knows how much I love light as an art form. I was incredibly excited to see the <a href="http://www.npr.org/2013/09/07/219367766/james-turrell-experiments-with-the-thingness-of-light-itself" target="_blank">James Turrell exhibit</a>. After waiting for nearly an hour, Vincent and I entered a dark room, with several other patrons and looked at an empty room with two dim yellow bulbs. After about 60 seconds we all began to laugh...at the artist, yes, but mainly at ourselves for having been so silly for following the hype. We believed the conversation that was thrown at us in the media. This kind of diversionary media has been a norm in the art world for centuries. We have decided that certain art forms are valuable and we have conversations about them, and any art that takes place outside of exclusionary, elite museum walls is rarely included in the conversation. It is for this very reason - let me be clear - it is because of bullshit artists like James Turrell that the majority of the population doesn't understand art and has no interest in it. We might fund our art programs in a better way if we had conversations about artists like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Viajero718" target="_blank">Adrian Viajero Román</a>, who combines family history, issues of race and gender, and rarely seen skill into works that take your breath away. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMCsR2xkIV8cese8SThqQ3YHoM33nlaTjbDfLCzMAncpASP1ChoRmqRQZnQ2VM2oDQdq0Ld-lq4zuK4NmtLUC2JilKNCNIPlcwfOo5ShRVe0v2ic3mBVfo_aOLOZuAuI5fWfRYw/s1600/adrian+viajero+roman+art+image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMCsR2xkIV8cese8SThqQ3YHoM33nlaTjbDfLCzMAncpASP1ChoRmqRQZnQ2VM2oDQdq0Ld-lq4zuK4NmtLUC2JilKNCNIPlcwfOo5ShRVe0v2ic3mBVfo_aOLOZuAuI5fWfRYw/s320/adrian+viajero+roman+art+image.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: center;">This work is a charcoal drawing of Viajero Román's grandmother;<br />
it is on a box that you can step up into and inside are all her personal<br />
items and there are recordings of her favorite songs playing.</td></tr>
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Wow, we can understand it and it inspires us - what a concept! A woman is at the center of the art and she isn't passively reclined, how refreshing!<br />
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Speaking of reclined ladies, we often have a lot of diversionary media shaping our conversations about women, too. Everyone, for some reason, has found it incredibly important to talk about the Mickey Mouse chicks over and over, as if we still don't understand that the expected trajectory is cutesy all-American girl turns into raging whore. We act shocked as if we hadn't seen it <a href="http://glitzandgrammar.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/brit-young-britney-spears-4249550-534-540.jpeg" target="_blank">from</a> <a href="http://www.hollywoodtoday.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/madonna_britney_spears.jpg" target="_blank">Britney</a>, <a href="http://www.blog-city.info/en/img4/4062_aguileraa" target="_blank">Christina</a> (<a href="http://diaryofahollywoodstreetking.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/christina_aguilera_divorce.jpg" target="_blank">Xtina</a>), Vanessa (I refuse to link to the nude pics she has online, but you can easily find them), and <a href="http://www.highsnobiety.com/files/2013/01/spring-breakers-Vanessa-Hudgens-Selena-Gomez-Ashley-Benson-Rachel-Korine-2.jpg" target="_blank">Selena</a>. Many of us end up in the same old conversation that basically claims, "Wow, she's being a whore, she should cover up, she's only making White men money." True, <a href="http://vanyaland.com/2013/10/02/dont-care-u-read-sinead-oconnors-open-letter-miley-cyrus/" target="_blank">Sinead</a>, true, but isn't it too late for that conversation? I mean, these women made their own money, too - have you seen<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/17/christina-aguilera-house-photos_n_3101029.html" target="_blank"> Xtina's pad</a>?<br />
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Here's what the conversation SHOULD be about:<br />
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1. Women should not be made into slaves. That's what we are until we get paid the same amount as our male counterparts. The Mickey Mouse girls, the Victoria's Secret girls, pretty much any very famous Hollywood actress, have all made their money by showing us their lady parts. They're whores and they know it and they probably feel that there aren't many options that are better, and they are right. Do you know how hard I've had to work to get a living wage out of this world? It's much harder than <a href="http://www.thewrap.com/images/2013/09/miley-wrecking-ball1-618x400.jpg" target="_blank">licking a wrecking ball</a>, that's for sure. If women weren't made into slaves, I'm sure less (wrecking) ball licking would happen.<br />
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2. We shouldn't insult women for being sexual. I once saw <a href="http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/ZBfazYTaDFU/hqdefault.jpg" target="_blank">Billy Idol hump a boxing ring</a> on an awards show. I've seen <a href="http://media.gaysports.co.uk/gals_famous/famous_actors/m/matthew_mcconaughey/pic1_matthew_mcconaughey_naked_002.jpg" target="_blank">Matthew McConaughey's naked bod</a> more times than I can count. I've seen Viggo <a href="http://a123.g.akamai.net/f/123/12465/1d/media.canada.com/gallery/malenudes/viggo25.jpg" target="_blank">Mortensen's penis in A LOT of movies</a>. None of these men get talked about the way women who flaunt their sexuality do. Why? Oh right, it's because we respect men. If we can still respect men if they flaunt it, why can't we do the same for women? It's time we grow up and stop acting crazy every time some young twerk is around.<br />
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It's easy to make jokes about that kind of diversionary media, but while some insensitive types might not understand the very serious and grave mechanics behind shaping a shallow conversation around gender roles, even those folks will have to acknowledge how our democracy is at risk when important rallies for our rights are diverted. Today, there are <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/04/immigration-activists-rally_n_4046128.html?utm_hp_ref=politics" target="_blank">rallies all over the country in support of immigration reform</a>. One of those <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/2013/10/4/as_congress_stalls_on_immigration_deal" target="_blank">rallies was supposed to take place in Washington, D.C.</a>, in the same exact area where someone decided to <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/man-sets-fire-national-mall-report-article-1.1476755" target="_blank">light himself on fire</a>, supposedly for no reason. As a result, the rally will be moved to another area in the city. You can take the conspiracy theory approach on the matter and wonder if the person who chose to light himself on fire diverted attention from a nationwide rally on purpose, but most of us won't go there. However, it is certain that most folks who decide to Google "Washington, D.C." today or sometime next week will get information on the person who lit himself on fire, or information on a <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/police-shoot-kill-driver-capitol-hill-chase-20467023" target="_blank">mentally ill woman who drove her car into an off-limits area of the Mall</a>, or the much-hyped Federal Government shutdown. Regardless of whether these things just happened to coincide or not, the rally will not be the first piece of information that comes up during a search because the other ones seem more important and grave to us. I hadn't even heard of the rally until yesterday and a Google search would not have likely brought it up easily. Again, an important event - which marks TWO MILLION people being deported under the Obama administration (more than under any other administration) - has been buried under Barnes and Noble-like diversionary media.<br />
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That is a one time event that has been buried, but what happens if entire concepts get buried? What if we are buried under inane conversations so many times that we stop having certain conversations and ideas altogether? For decades we have been reading articles that portray teachers as <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/18/ethel-anderson-teacher-sex-sexual-therapy_n_3947162.html" target="_blank">molesting idiots</a> and we have constantly been hearing how our schools are terrible and that we have to conduct major reforms. These major reforms often involve<a href="http://www.policymic.com/articles/53485/privatize-schools-why-it-s-crony-capitalism-at-its-worst" target="_blank"> corporate firms either creating charter schools </a>or creating curricula that is imposed on a wide number of schools and not adjusted for particular populations of students. We have stopped stating the obvious answers because of the diversionary media that narrows our conversation to nonsense. Here is how we can fix schools immediately (but for some reason our Federal and State Governments never choose to hear these solutions):<br />
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1. Hire more teachers. <a href="http://www.nyssba.org/index.php?src=news&refno=1701&category=Press%20Releases" target="_blank">We've been cutting the number of teachers</a> even though for the past 20 years we've gone on and on about how we don't have enough teachers.<br />
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2. Create smaller classrooms. <a href="http://neatoday.org/2012/07/09/politicians-ignore-research-say-smaller-class-size-makes-no-difference/" target="_blank">Every teacher I know says that the best classrooms have 12-15 students</a>. The link backs the claim up with research - that politicians choose to ignore. Most of us have 30 or more students in our classrooms. If we have a troubled kid in a class of 12, her friends will help her because the class develops a unity and a desire to learn. If we have five troubled kids in a class of 33, the class will have significant problems.<br />
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3. Vary teaching methods. Lecture all the time - no. Lecture sometimes - yes! If you <a href="http://whatteachersmakeblog.com/2013/06/17/the-value-of-lecture-in-the-21st-century-classroom/" target="_blank">create interesting lectures</a>, it teaches students the art of speech-making and it allows students to practice concentrating on a subject for a longer period of time. Memorization all the time - no. <a href="http://www.edutopia.org/rote-learning-benefits" target="_blank">Memorization sometimes - yes</a>! It's how we learn basic math and language elements. Science and experimentation is impossible without memorization. Everyone knows that! <a href="http://www.heinemann.com/shared/onlineresources/08894/08894f2.html" target="_blank">Phonics instruction for all students is vital</a>. They stopped that in some places for a while and it was a huge mistake. Some places allow "creative spelling." That doesn't work. I see the damage it does at the college level. Make kids memorize word parts; that, in conjunction with phonics, will make them amazing spellers.<br />
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4. Everyone gets a book. Even a shitty book. We can always supplement bad books with better material, but everyone needs a book. All school age kids should have their own book. All college age students should be able to afford their books. Punto.<br />
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That's it. It's as easy as that. Honestly. Even in urban areas. Stop diverting the conversation to the crap they feed you.<br />
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And speaking of crap they feed you, please remember that religious organizations, no matter how much you like or hate them, have been treated the worst under this scenario. We do not have ANY conversations in the media about the value of religion and that is because diversionary media only focuses on the corruption. There is corruption everywhere, not just in religious organizations. We can't get around that. In regards to religion, the conversation needs to get away from the rare extremists and instead propose the more inclusive idea of ethics. Religious books and organizations, regardless of their original purpose, can NOW be used to discuss the idea of ethics. When I say discuss, I mean it - we are not here to assume what any of these works mean or what these organizations represent. Heck, <a href="http://wonkette.com/529251/holy-nice-time-new-pope-has-crazy-ideas-that-church-should-not-be-obsessed-with-gays-bortions-and-slut-pills" target="_blank">our new Pope</a> has taught us that. We must debate, understand, and accept a variety of interpretations (something my minister father and Buddhist mother have always done - you read right, she's Buddhist AND Christian). All of our religious books are guides for how to live our lives and that is what we should focus on. All of the books have outdated ideas, and all of the books have great ideas that still hold. Let's have THAT discussion, please. How censored is this idea? Try doing a search on ethical conversations. The concept is usually relegated to adult professions. Ethics in education, for example. Young people are completely excluded. The concepts are limited to: "They believe this," and "This book says you can't," and "How crazy is it that" blah, blah, blah. Don't let the diversionary media pigeonhole you into that terrible corner of Barnes and Noble where all of the $1 bargain books and clearance self-help books are. <br />
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There's NOTHING there that is a bargain or that will help in any way.<br />
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Instead, find the specialized guide. The ghost of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/03/nyregion/03coliseum.html" target="_blank">Coliseum Books,</a> per se. Find people or places that allow you to think of the ideas in the world, or hidden from the world, in a fresh way or in a common sense way. If you find yourself commenting on what everyone is commenting on in the same limited ways, think of Stevie Wonder's line: "W<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: center;">hen you say you're in it but not of it/make sure y</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">ou're not helping to make this earth a place sometimes called Hell." Be open. Expand into new territory, or remember the path others have forgotten.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; text-align: center;">In the end, I'm happy that everyone is really into the shower of media we have out there - the participation is wonderful and necessary. My hope is that my students take this wonderful enthusiasm and use it to develop fresh perspectives and to uncover old ones that we should have never discarded. My hope is that they won't be diverted from their ultimate goal: to learn, create, and make the world a much better place than the one they were given. My hope is that they become media saviors.</span><br />
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<br />Griselhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18335613582709575850noreply@blogger.com0