2008 October 30 | VivirLatino

Archive for October 30th, 2008

Out of the Silence, We Come: A Litany

9:00 pm By Maegan La Mala · Justice| Women · Comments Off

30 Oct 2008

Individuals, organizations, and communities that are committed to acknowledging and resisting the violence visited on women of color every day are encouraged to read this statement at 8:00 p.m./Central time. Across the nation, women of color and allies will be reciting the litany at the same time creating one loud voice breaking the silence.

Out of the Silence, We Come: A Litany

Out of the silence, we come

In the name of nuestras abuelas,

In honor of our mamas

In the spirit of our petit fils,

In tribute to ourselves

We come crying out

Documenting the torture

We come wailing

Reporting the rape

We come singing

Testifying to the abuse

We come knowing

Knowing that the silence has not protected us from

the racism

the sexism

the homophobia

the physical pain

the emotional shame

the auction block

Once immobilized by silence

We come now, mobilized by collective voice

Dancing in harmonious move-ment to the thick drumbeat of la lucha, the struggle

We come indicting those who claim to love us, but violate us

We come prosecuting those who are paid to protect us, but harass us

We come sentencing those who say they represent us, but render

us invisible

Out of the Silence, we come

Naming ourselves

Telling our stories

Fighting for our lives

Refusing to accept that we were never meant to survive

Via / Document the Silence

Female Steralization in Puerto Rico

1:52 pm By Maegan La Mala · Puerto Rico| Women · 1 Comment

30 Oct 2008

pr%20flag.png In honor of the women of Puerto Rico and their daughters and grandaughters, mujeres like my abuela L.

Violence against women of color, especially Latina women, cannot be separated from a colonial context (despite what any Washington Post reporter may write). Specifically for Puerto Rican women, our bodies have been used as a battleground since the days the Spanish landed on Boriquen, to when the U.S. invaded in 1898, to today.

Pero today, in honor of Be Bold, Be Red, I want to specifically address the mass sterilization of women that took place in Puerto Rico.

Supporting mainstream, investing in third party

11:52 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · US Presidential Race 2008 · Comments Off

30 Oct 2008

The following text (which was sent to me in an email) reminds me of La Mala’s fiery words about how this election can not be the ‘end’ of political mobilization, even if the Obama/Biden ticket wins. It answers the question, how can you vote for a third party candidate while also supporting Obama?

It also deals with the constant pitfall so many organizers fall into–thinking that an election cycle represents the beginning and ending of a campaign. In other words, what would happen if those interested in third party candidates consider a ‘campaign’ to be 7 years, or 12 years, or 30 years long?

Support Obama, and Vote McKinney? Not a contradiction.
The women of color running for President & Vice President

By Amee Chew

October 2008

The Green Party Presidential ticket of Cynthia McKinney and Rosa Clemente brings something special and unprecedented to U.S. politics. Not only are they the first all women-of-color ticket for President and Vice President with ballot access in most states.[1] These women take racial justice seriously, and have made strides to put gender at the center of a progressive agenda. For these two, it’s more than skin deep.

They’re the Presidential ticket that talks about amnesty for undocumented workers, that opposes guest worker programs as riddled with abuses, because they believe a just immigration reform means addressing the trade and economic policies fueling poverty and migration. They’re the ticket that demands reparations in the form of federal investment in low-income families and communities of color, to end racial disparities in health, housing, education, and incarceration. They call for the right of return for Katrina survivors; an end to prisons for profit, to the War on Drugs. And they speak of reproductive justice – not just the right to abortion, but actual healthcare access; of freedom from coerced or uninformed medication and sterilization.

Nowhere do we see Nader, or white male Third-Party-politics-as-usual, bringing in these issues – this slice on life, or sensitivity. McKinney, for instance, points out that Social Security cuts will disproportionately harm women. The Green Party candidates offer to do us the public service of contesting Palin’s brand of “feminism.” Let’s take them up on it.

Latin@s on Obama’s Infomercial

11:13 am By Jennifer Woodard Maderazo · US Presidential Race 2008 · 2 Comments

30 Oct 2008

So, white folks, black folks and Latin@s all made it onto Obama’s infomerical last night. Overall, I thought it was interesting and I especially appreciated how in depth Obama was willing to go into the lives of people who are struggling with this messed up economy. I did have a small nitpick, however, with how The Latinos were represented or “dealt with.”

Here’s a clip:

Compare this to how the white families were treated or the black family. It sorta seems like the Latino family got schooled, huh? Like rather than a three point program on how Obama will help us negotiate these tough times, the solution for Latinos is to get our asses up at 4:30 in the morning with our kids and teach them what ‘real’ Americans are.

But perhaps this is simply my very cynical-wanting-the-election-to-be-over opinion. What did you think of the video?

Be Bold, Be Red : How Do You Keep a Social Movement Alive : Why We Can’t Wait

30 Oct 2008

Be Bold, Be Red : For Women of Color Dealing With and Fighting Against Violence

30 Oct 2008

It is more than a fashion statement. The decision to wear red today is to yes, to bring attention to the self, specifically to the struggles of women of color against violence.

Red is a powerful color in the negative and positive sense of the word. Last year, people all over the world wore the color red in what is now a campaign and a movement against violence against women of color. Red the color of of righteous anger, the color of blood that is spilled and blood that boils at what has become so commonplace for so many women is silenced.

This year, on the first anniversary of the Be Bold Be Red Campaign, we invite you to make your bold stance against the violence enacted on women and girls of color in our society visible. In D.C., Chicago, Durham, Atlanta and Detroit women of color will be gathering to renew our commitment to creating a world free from racialized and gendered violence, and this time, we’ll be using a new technology called CyberQuilting to connect all of these gatherings in real time. To learn more about CyberQuilting, which is a women of color led project to stitch movements together using new web technologies and old traditions of love and nurturing, visit www.cyberquilt.wordpress.com.

For more information visit Document the Silence.

Leah Lakshmi: Thank you, beautiful culo-kicker. I miss you. We miss you. xoxox [...]

Link Cariño | Hissip: [...] Who’s your mama? [...] [...]

la Macha: I agree totally with you bubbles. [...]

Bubbles: Re: "Many women have mental, emotional instabilities which cause them to end up in abusive relations [...]

la Macha: and whaaaa? women who have mental health issues are suddenly to blame for getting beaten? [...]

VivirLatino

Archive for October 30th, 2008

Out of the Silence, We Come: A Litany

Female Steralization in Puerto Rico

Supporting mainstream, investing in third party

Latin@s on Obama’s Infomercial

Be Bold, Be Red : How Do You Keep a Social Movement Alive : Why We Can’t Wait

Be Bold, Be Red : For Women of Color Dealing With and Fighting Against Violence

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