My life is a political statement
When all your life you are seen as the ‘other’ you realize that you better get loud, get angry and you don’t let people forget that you exist.
As we countdown to the last day of the election cycle, I wanted to share some thoughts on my own personal journey with politics, identity, and the current season I am with creating art.
I remember sitting down for my side-hustlers boot camp with my wonderful coach Scotty Russell. That day’s lesson was about giving your content more substance and what to talk about when you’re pouting new work out into the world.
One thing that sticks in my mind was “ don’t get political”. When I first heard that I got upset internally. There was a physical reaction I had to those words “Dont get political”.
For Scotty, a white cis-gendered man, it was important for his own audience that he didn’t get political in an effort to keep as many folks in his audience. To be fair that’s true for him and that’s ok to an extent. Nothing against Scotty by the way, he is one of my biggest supporters and a true ally to me and all of his students.
For me a Queer, Undocumented, Latinx immigrant I can’t help but get political.
MY ENTIRE LIFE IS A POLITICAL STATEMENT.
When all your life you are seen as the ‘other’ you realize that you better get loud, get angry and you don’t let people forget that you exist.
THIS IS AN OPEN LETTER TO THE OPPRESSED.
I acknowledge that I am not the most oppressed identity out there. There is lots more work that needs ot be done in the trans community, the disabled community and of course women. As a cis man that doesn’t outwardly look as feminine as other men, I have lots of privileges. That’s exactly why I take the chance to express my anger through art as much as possible.
This expression looks different for everyone AND you are not a bad person for not speaking up as much as you would like. We are all in different positions places and levels of knowing what we want to say.
When I was the president of undocumented united at Colorado State University I knew that there were lots of undoc. Students who did not want to be part of the org because they were scared and weren’t at the same level I was of being open with my status. That was who I was fighting for, that is who I was shouting for and that was who pushed me to make the policy changes at CSU.
You are valid no matter how loud or quiet you are.
EXISTENCE, JOY AND COMMUNITY
You being yourself is the most basic form of resistance for our community. Not only existing but having as much joy as you can and being your true self. Those who are angry at us will be even more upset by our thriving and joy. Let that guide the work you do the messages you put out there and who you are.
The messages that I have been able to put out in the world have changed as my life changes. In college, I was a rallier and an organizer. That time burned me out and left a bad taste in my mouth. Now I use my talent and skills as an artist to put those messages out in the world. Maybe in the future, I will find a combination of how those two can come together.
How does that show up for you? Another way to advance our love for our identities is by creating community and surrounding ourselves with folks that want to share the same message. Organizing to thrive is a way to resist.
Remember that our very existence is resistance.
Short and to the point today. Thank you and remember to get loud and get angry.
Brayan AKA YAMZ
