Compañero. The word means “companion”, and is from the Latin, meaning “the one I share bread with.”
A compañero, then, is someone with whom you share the bread of life—be it the bread of the day's hopes and dreams, struggles and disappointments, or blessings and bounding happiness, which, experienced alone, remain incomplete. Sharing this with another—well, that makes for a whole loaf.
Compañeros are those that give the fabric of our lives its tension and its beauty. They save us from aloneness.
Last Tuesday, in a small town outside of McAllen, Texas, several compañeros were killed in a traffic accident, as the driver tried to escape the Border Patrol. According to news' reports, a fifteen year old was driving a van when the Border Patrol pulled the vehicle over in a traffic check. As the van braked to a stop, a couple of men in the vehicle leaped out and ran away. The agents chased after them, and the fifteen year old, seeing the opportunity to get away, did what most fifteen years would do—he tried to get
away.
He was driving an old van with nineteen very frightened people in it. I am sure that the boy heard nineteen different, screamed orders, “Stop!” “Drive!” “Let me out!” “Hit it—go go go.”
He did go, racing away on a frontage road. He soon lost control of the van, and, as he ran off the road, he flipped the van.
Nine people died in that wreck that night, and although no one knew any of them personally, the local community was sickened by the sadness of it all. Overnight, a shrine was created at the site of the crash. Nine crosses were laid out with lime, as is the custom. Flowers and candles were arranged. There were two small teddy bears laid there as well, for the word was that one of the victims was pregnant.
On Friday, sixty people took time off from work and showed up in prayer for these people with whom we never had the opportunity to share bread with. A circle was formed. A few people offered some comments; a few others some prayers.
A leader cried out, “¡Compañero número uno!,” and we all responded, and onward, mentioning each of the nine companions who had died while on the road.
We became quiet. The bitterness of this particular bread was awful; the sadness somehow deeper now that it been shared. A song was lifted up, “Cordero de Dios, que quita el pecado del mundo, ten piedad de nosotros” (Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy on us). We sung the verse three times, under a leaden sky.
In the meantime, a young woman knelt and vainly tried to relight the candles at the shrine. The wind was relentless; the candles remained dark.
Outspoken Brooklyn, NY based band Outernational kick off their new tour, titled after their brand new album Todos Somos Ilegales: We are All Illegal - an outspoken concept album about the US-Mexico border - in the border town of Brownsville Texas at Galeria 409. The band addresses the issues and meanings of the border, the policies of the US government, and it directly questions a system that they see as criminalizing those who create the wealth it rests upon.
Officially invited artists at SXSW 2012, Outernational is embarking on the 'Todos Somos Ilegales' tour this April/May. From Texas border towns through Dine Navajo reservations and Arizona State University, all over California including Los Angles at The Echo, the tour will end in Austin, TX at Pachanga Fest with Calle 13 in May.
The energetic quintet is comprised by lead vocalist Miles Solay, drummer Nate Hassan, Jesse Williams on bass, Leo Mintek on guitar, and the multi-talented Dr. Blum on piano/accordion/trumpet. Todos Somos Ilegales is released as a name-your-price download, the record features collaborations with Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine, Audioslave, The Nightwatchman), Calle 13 (nine time 2011 Latin Grammy Winner) Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Tijuana songstress Ceci Bastida, and transglobal tropical club DJ Uproot Andy.
Who is Outernational? A quick Google search reveals Tom Morello has taken a special interest in them including that of producer. Todos Somos Ilegales was funded completely through donations via the crowd sourcing website Kickstarter. Organizations like Voto Latino or Cuentame stick to the same formula, re-posting formula some variation of a press release that doesn't often resonate with the people they are targeting, especially those living in Texas.
Audiences no longer want to be informed, they want to be involved. They are not just looking for information about a band; they are looking for a deeper understanding of what it is like to experience the music. Audiences want to connect to the music, not just read about it. When it comes to this issue or any political issue, they do a disservice to both the musician and there potential fans. Sandra Treviño of ExtraNews comes close.
Their Chicago concert at MultiKulti highlighted the band’s stance on the nation’s current state of events, boldly defying anything and anyone that stands in the way of freedom. They induced the audience to move, to shout, to pump a fist in the air as the front man’s bilingual lyrics, suggested to you with sexy and in-your-face moves, took us back and forth on a musical journey reliving images of Mick Jagger, The Clash and even The Pogues. It was a tremendous feat, gratefully received by a variety of Chicago music enthusiasts who now eagerly await the band’s next visit.
A review marks a unique moment in time, the moment when the artist meets the audience. Inspiration transfers from musician to writer and a new world is created. This world would not exist without the musician but it has transcended the original idea and morphed into something beyond its original intent. When the writer simply describes, it short-changes the audience of the revelatory power of the music.
One is left wondering if they are activists with instruments, or musicians fighting for a cause worth dying?
Who is this group.
Knowledge is power, but it’s more powerful when it’s shared, the reason behind creating this website. I see this moment as a great opportunity to write a few words about Outernational and what they stand for.
I met Leo Mintek during SXSW outside the Swan Dive during "Occupy SXSW," and which Tom Morello organized in conjunction with Occupy Austin. At first glance they looked like any typical rock band, but there is more to this band than most people realize.
My initial attraction to the band was to the sound of the music; they have a broad point of reference that makes them identifiable and memorable. Outernational is spreading an informed view of America – at least a piece of the current story of America.
Over the course of 11 songs and 8 film-scored interludes, Todos Somos Ilegales weaves together a story about the hard times so many Latinos/as (native and foreign born) have traveled in these intervening years (and before that for many among us). The album puts a clear focus about people’s lives, where they find themselves, and how they fit into an increasingly and rapidly changing world. As I listened, I could feel the Somos Tejanos mission come to life through Outernational’s lyrics, melodies, and the sense of grounding that permeated the night.
Just piecing together some of their lyrics gives you a sense of the story we continue to see unfolding in the nation. In many respects, it is one of hardship: “They've been swimming in a sea with out a shore or a choice.” It is one of continuity and grittiness, unless we are willing to do something now: “There comes a time.... To get up and out. That time is now!”
Somos Tejanos was present as Outernational kicked off their Todos Somos Ilegales/ We are all Illegals tour in Brownsville, TX. Outernational's unique fusion of music and the selection of topics for their songs is making them an outernational sensation. We had an opportunity to speak to Leo after their performance at Galeria 409. He shared the band's reason for using their art as a medium to bring immigration to light and what we can do to help. This band's passion and talent will definitely ensure that we will hear a lot more from them.
Special thanks to Eduardo Robles for live streaming the press conference and Norma Limon for interviewing Leo Mintek of Outernational.
On a chilly Saturday morning in the late south Texas spring, a couple of hundred members of La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) gathered in their union meeting hall. A group of old timers were churning out conjunto music, with the accordion player getting peoples’ feet tapping; this despite a woeful bass player who kept hiding behind the speakers, even as he pulled and plucked one wrong note after another.
Fresh-baked Mexican rolls were passed out along with coffee, and then people were bid to stand, and we were asked to join in reciting Cesar Chavez’s Farmworkers’ Prayer.
We were all present at LUPE’s colonias’ cumbre (a colonia is type of Texas border shanty town-- more than 300,000 people in Hidalgo and Cameron counties live in colonias; a cumbre is a summit meeting). This gathering of border neighborhood leaders who were Union members, was being asked to decide the priorities for the next two years’ of work. It was quite a serious group of people. They were being asked to give up a precious Saturday morning. A free morning for an hourly-wage earner is as rare as a raise.
It was a mixed crowd, as well, with men and women, and older and younger people equally represented. The leadership reflected that mix, with the veteran Juanita Valdez Cox sharing time with rookie Daniel Diaz, and the seasoned Martha Sanchez trading off with a young Yvette Sanchez.
After the introductions, and some laughter, and some applause, the group got down to work. The spirit of Cesar Chavez, a man who had visited this room during past cumbres, seemed to settle down upon us all. Chavez, a deeply spiritual man, was, in the end, an entirely practical person as well. The concerns put before the group were, therefore, seemingly mundane: we need some form of state-recognized identification for everyone, we need streetlights, we need parks, we need English-language classes.
The practical aspect, though, was only one part of the exercise. Hardworking people who, at the end of a week have very little change to count, understand very well the connection of daily bread and justice. The wording of the resolutions perhaps speaks best to that. For example, a resolution calling on the group to work towards bringing more parks to the colonias begins with the statement, “Considering that our neighborhoods are filled with children from whom the closest park is five miles or further away; and that most of our neighborhoods have no sidewalks upon which children could walk or play…” a practical concern, and an important one at that, but the resolution finishes noting that, “We are human beings and have the same rights as those who live in cities to have safe places for our children to play. . .”
Vest-pocket parks as a human right—at first glance, this may seem a bit of a stretch, if not an outright exaggeration, but the conversations around the issue made the connections quite neatly. “Health care is a human right, but nobody can afford to see a doctor, so we have to do the best we can not to get sick. Around here, everybody has diabetes, everybody’s kids are fat (“gorditos están todos”). They need a place to run. That’s right—we have a right to exercise!” exclaimed Doña María, one of the oldtimers.
The representatives from the colonias El Jay, Azul, Mi Sueño and Los Amigos offered perhaps the most interesting—and challenging--resolution. These representatives noted that life without a drivers’ license (or some other form of official identification) in modern-day Texas is a nightmare. Without such an i.d., one cannot open a bank account or cash a check. Auto insurance is much more expensive if you don’t have a drivers’ license. Worse, in south Texas, where there is as yet no viable public transportation system, it is impossible to work without a car—yet undocumented citizens are forced by circumstances—again—into breaking a law that they would happily obey, if they could.
Why should the State of Texas offer a drivers’ license to an undocumented person? Juan Lopez, a younger fellow, told me quite earnestly, “The police WANT us to have an identification. They want to know who we are—and that is fair. My daughter WANTS me to have identification, because she knows that if I get stopped by the police, for any reason at all, then I could get deported, and she would be without her daddy. And that is just wrong.” His daughter had her arms wrapped around his leg as he spoke to me. She seemed to me to be too young to understand any of these distinctions. As she smiled up at her quite serious father, her eyes glowed with the only resolution, the only commitment that matters in any of this—her love for her dad.
Despite the chill and the misty rain, it was a good morning for a town hall meeting, for a cumbre, for a gathering of neighbors, and for politics. The delegates filed out of the auditorium, heading for their colonias and their homes, for the hard work that is living out a dream. One little girl held her father’s hand as they made their way to their car. Cesar Chavez, from up on high, offered the dad his quiet smile of assurance. It will be all right, he seemed to say, it will be all right.
Editor's Note: We are often blinded by our love for technology integration, yet, we lose sight of the do not have Internet access. Digital Divide is the gap between those people who have computers with Internet access and those who do not. While the author lives in the Rio Grande Valley, the divide affects families of all income level. Those who live outside the large metropolitan cities also face this problem. At Somos Tejanos, we will some be announcing a new project to help this gap. Stay tuned.
Both my wife and I live very social lives online. Aside from Facebook and such, we participate in forums and blogs. We interact with people living thousands of miles away and whom we never met before. But aside from that fact my wife and I sometimes feel that we know those people better than some of our closest offline friends and vice a versa.
Most of us have been in this situation at least once and it’s becoming more common. Technology has become a integral part in the way we socialize both on and off-line. Yet we have to deal with the digital divide. The digital divide is simply a concept that arose to explain some of those key dividing factors that prevent people from participating in or having access to the Internet. For example my wife and I do not have any type of wired Internet connection at home but we do have smart-phones. We do all of our online socializing through our phones.
When both of us were in college we used the campus computers and WiFi. After we graduated we immediately felt the impact of not having access to high-speed Internet. It was a watershed moment for both of us, we missed that connectivity. Trying to do all of our online socializing was a challenge from our smart-phone. This was our digital divide, a small one but nonetheless a real one.
The Rio Grande Valley is not a technologically backwards place. We struggle to get as many people connected to the Internet as any other place in the U.S. The problem are the limited options people have to access to the Internet. One possible way to access the Internet is through the local public libraries. While it may seem odd, public libraries are increasingly becoming a popular way connecting people to the digital world.
As public libraries play a vital role in the Rio Grande Valley, there are limitations - the number of computers and the libraries operating hours. As technology constantly evolves and the promise of Internet access is granted, Digital Divide may become a thing of the past. However, Digital Inequality is here to stay!
The claim that broadband will solve the universal service problem however, it ignores the fact that broadband connection costs more than basic telephone service, itself.
There are people who simply cannot afford to have a good Internet connection at home. Considering that the Valley is home to some of the worst poverty in the nation this is a real problem. I do not think the Internet is the ultimate savior from poverty but it can be a vital tool in a modern world. Public libraries are the perfect solution for this problem because they provide a service that anyone can access.
As I sit in my local library surfing the Internet I see people of all ages using the computers. It makes me happy that the library offers these service to the community. As my wife and I leave the library she tell a how some of her online friends helped her with an upcoming telephone interview. With a big smile on her face she says “see this is why I love the Internet, cause people from all over the world can help you out!” I smile and say “that’s absolutely right!”
While SXSW will be going strong in Austin, Tejano Music has a festival of its own coming up in the Tejano Music Capital of Texas–San Antonio. March 16 thru 18, Market Square will be filled with Tejano bands, Tejano music lovers, and a lot of fun–the Tejano Music Awards Fan Fair.
This year’s lineup includes more than 130 bands on multiple stages and full performance schedules that run from noon to night. An estimated 85,000 fans will travel from Texas and beyond for the Fan Fair experience that includes autograph sessions and access to the artists. Like the fans, many performers hail from around the country, too, including Arizona, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Colorado and Illinois. In addition to music, the family-friendly Fan Fair offers an array of food and beverage booths and the historic Market Square’s shops and restaurants.
A few years ago, I was making a presentation to a group of students in downtown San Antonio and fell upon the Fan Fair (after the speech, of course) and had a blast. Nonstop entertainment!
And it looks like the entertainment is something special:
TMA Fan Fair performers represent the present and future of Tejano music and here are some acts to catch:
· Familiar favorites: Raulito Navaira, Michael Salgado, Shelly Lares, Stefani Montiel, Patsy Torres, Gary Hobbs, Hometown Boys, Grupo Siggno and Los Texmaniacs, David Olivarez, Grupo Rodeo, Avizzo, Jimmy Gonzalez y Super Grupo Mazz, Grupo Carlos y Los Cachorros, Los Garcia Brothers, Da Krazy Pimpz
· Promising Newcomers: Vocalists Ricky Valenz of Michigan and Audi y Zentimiento of Colorado, Jessica Baeza of Cailfornia, Kristi Lee of Washington , LariZa from San Antonio
· Soloists with New Sounds: Marqell, former lead vocalist for David Lee Garza y Los Musicales, and Cacy Savala, who sang with Jimmy Gonzalez y Grupo Mazz, embark as solo acts
· The Next Generation: While they’re young, these performers have years of experience and include Veronica y Avance, Juaquin Cura, K1, Tania Marie, Marisa and Jenne Celine Madrid, Ilyssa Saenz, Monica Castro, Las Fenix, DVA Kidz, Natajja, AT Boyz, La Fuerza
I also hear my Facebook camarada, the legendary Johnny Hernandez will be there, but he will also be here in Houston on the 16th at Doneraki’s performing with L-Jazz. I’m hoping to get an interview out of him, too.
During this time when Tejano Music continues to go through challenges, it is good to see that these festivals continue. Many of these bands record under Indie labels, manage themselves, and struggle, so we must support them.
All of this is a celebration and precursor to the Tejano Music Awards which will be held in San Antonio later this fall. So, put this big weekend on your calendars. It’s going to be huge!
Somos Tejanos will be hosting their first South by Southwest (SXSW) showcase at Jovita's (1619 South First Austin TX, 78704) during the SXSW Interactive festival on March 10. Somos Tejanos is a multi-issue, statewide Latino non-profit that seeks to increase Latino/a civic participation throughout Texas uniting online organizing with traditional on-the-ground organizing.
While other social media and news outlets attempt to write about the Tejano experience, Somos Tejanos Executive Director Amaury Nora states that "more must be done than point out the obvious to inspire new ideas." In less than one year, Somos Tejanos has become the premier civic engagement and information tool for Hispanics in Texas. "There is no better source for inspiring the Latino community to improve their lives!" proclaims Emiliano C. Diaz de Leon, Men's Engagement Specialist for the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault (TAASA).
With an understanding that music moves hearts and minds, it also serves as a vehicle for the disenfranchised--a voice.
"Somos Tejanos have been great working partners in helping spread information to our gente and supporting nuestra cultura throughout Texas," said Roberto "El Robotico" Livar of Bombasta, one of the hottest bands hailing from San Antonio, Texas. “Amaury Nora and the Somos Tejanos crew have greatly supported Bombasta's efforts in both Austin and San Antonio. Gracias Somos Tejanos." Somos Tejanos has gone beyond simply writing about music, among other issues, they have also brought the music to the people through live-streaming events on their website, SomosTejanos.org.
Billing their showcase, Dos Centavos, Somos Tejanos aims to send a strong message. It is important for people to realize how hard it is to "make it" in the music industry. "Now that the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (NARAS) eliminated 31 categories of music from the GRAMMY Awards, people must realize that 70% of those abolished categories affected ethnic- and color-based genres, including Tejano music," said Nora. "This is an opportunity for Tejanos to state their dos centavos (two cents) to NARAS and others who attempt to minimize our music and culture, while supporting the very musicians who add to Texas' cultural palette."
This year's event will feature the best talent in Austin, and from across Texas. "It is our profound pleasure to be involved with the passionate individuals at Somos Tejanos; their sincere efforts toward cultural and racial equality in Texas is an inspiration to all," said Danielle LaBove of Houston’s Only Beast.
Come out and enjoy an afternoon of fabulous local artists at Jovitas for the first Somos Tejanos SXSW showcase. All Ages. $8 at the door. Tickets can be bought online at Eventbrite
Mike Z: 12:00 PM
RADIO VALLEY is original music written by Mike Zuniga of South Texas. The musical style is indie/alternative/rock with revolutionary style lyrics.
Shand Walton & The All Amigos Club: 3:00 PM
Shand Walton and the All Amigos Club play edgy Americana music, uniquely blending rock, folk, country, mariachi and blues. The group includes Shand Walton on guitar and vocals and various amigos on violin, accordion, and other instruments. The fall of 2008 brought acclaim for the band as they were warmly welcomed during their tour of Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium. In April 2008, the group released the EP album, Rancho Motel Sessions, on the Toil & Trouble record label in Austin, Texas. In the spring of 2010, Shand Walton recorded and produced a full-length album with RPM Challenge.
Steven Baranowski: 4:00 PM
Steve Baranowski is not your typical singer-songwriter. As a guitarist his unusual mixture of rock, pop, jazz, folk and classical is miles away from (and above) the typical three-chord strummer. As a writer, the memorable songs range from absurd to sublime, populated with madmen, superheroes, mystics, zombies and cats. No whiskey and trains to be found. A unique addition to the Austin scene.
Gina Chavez: 5:00 PM
Gina Chavez is an ear-catching Latin folk-rock combo where percussive fingerstyle guitar meets powerful vocals and energetic live performance. Her sound has been described as a cross between Sheryl Crow and Selena (spandex not included).
Son De Rey: 6:00 PM
Son de Rey is one of Austin's premiere Latin groups and has been cultivating a style that combines Cumbia and Salsa with Tejano roots creating a contemporary and powerful original sound. Son de Rey attracts diverse audiences with their modern arrangements and blend of musical styles. Their high energy performances are filled with memorable melodies & danceable grooves driven by jammin' percussion breakdowns.
Cilantro Boombox: 7:00 PM
Cilantro Boombox's dance and Afro-Latin based sound organically integrates elements of hip-hop, funk, electronica and traditional Venezuelan music. Danceable percussive beats, infectious bass lines and vibrant horns and synths are some of the hallmarks of Cilantro Boombox's distinctive fusion of styles.
The panel of federal judges in San Antonio released their latest (and probably last) edition of interim maps for the 2012 elections earlier this week. And today, that same panel issued an order that Party Primaries be held on May 29, 2012, as well as approval of the election schedule. That said, it looks like we are finally going to get to vote! That's if you are a political party primary voter--and that's a discussion for another post.
The GOP stands poised to hardly lose any power under the latest Texas congressional and state House maps delivered this week by a San Antonio federal court, which confronted how the state's political boundaries should be changed with more than 3 million new Hispanic residents.
Minority rights groups who sued the state over the original maps — drawn by the Republican-controlled Legislature last summer — received from the court Tuesday what will likely be the maps used this election year. They slammed those maps as a disaster, but with the twice-delayed Texas primaries on track for May 29, they also now face long odds of getting the lines redrawn yet again.
And the maps do seem to shortchange Latinos in various parts of the state. One example is in Congressional District 7 in Houston, in which a big Latino swath was removed from a Democratic district and added to a Republican district. The CD-7 incumbent is known for taking anti-Latino slants on various issues, so a truly progressive candidate in the race has an opportunity to work this new area and think outside the box when it comes to campaigning. And thus, that may be the case in other areas of Texas. Bottom line: If one doesn't like the districts as drawn by the other party, and the other party is in charge of the courts, the only resort left is the ballot box.
Candidates who already filed can drop out, stand pat or switch to other races. Candidates who didn't sign up during a filing period last year can sign up now. The parties have to deliver a completed list of their candidates to the Texas Secretary of State by Monday, March 12.
The three federal judges unveiled maps for legislative and congressional elections earlier this week. Those maps won't necessarily last for the decade, but barring a successful (and fast) appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court, they're the maps that will be used for the 2012 elections.\
Legislative candidates don't have to live in the districts where they file, but they have to establish residency by April 9 and remain there through the general election in November (congressional candidates aren't legally required to live in the districts they represent).
And run-offs will be held on July 31, if needed.
So, let's get out there and campaign! We have around 90 days until the big day, and around two months to get more folks registered to vote in the primary.
Editor's note:The author of this post asked to remain anonymous. I know there will be some who may question the use of the word vagina. It is important we look past certain words that make us uncomfortable. Having worked in two Latino/a serving non-profits, I have seen the effects when the topic of sex is still considered taboo. Therefore, it is not surprising Texas is ranked fourth in teen pregnancies, and third in teen birth rates. If we remain silent, then the people for whom we claim to advocate will continue to suffer. This is something we at Somos Tejanos cannot accept.
I have heard women screaming before. In fact, I am pretty used to women being loud, rambunctious, and unstoppable. You see, I come from Mexico. My mom has three sisters, and I have a ton of primas (cousins). We tend to talk at the same time, we jump from one conversation to another, we have strong opinions, we laugh and we yell at each other freely. We used to go to my abuela’s for lunch every Saturday. We would be in the kitchen getting everything ready, and we would talk and talk. It was loud, so loud; the men would have to crank up the TV to be able to hear the soccer game.
We would share all type of stories, but I never heard anyone talk about “down there”. Perhaps I was too young, but I never heard them share any information regarding sex. We would talk about everything else: sickness, money, relationships, God, affairs, children, TV gossip, recipes, even politics….but no one I ever heard talked about their vaginas. You went to the doctor for that, if you had a problem, but you did not chit chat about what it looked liked, how it felt, or what you did with “it”. That was private.
I went to a Catholic school; we didn’t talk about vaginas there either. It was an only-girls school, but even among friends, even at sleepovers, we would talk about guys, crushes, even boobs and kissing…but no Vagina.
I was 18 and I had never seen another woman naked. Not really fully naked. I was 25 and I had never seen another vagina. I had no idea they were all different! I had no idea they had different colors. I had never spoken about this with my mom, with my aunts, or with my friends. I would have never even thought about asking. You just don’t talk about that. That was the message I got.
THAT is yours. And you take care of it, and nobody touches it until you are married. That was the only message I got. No questions, no discussion. “That, there, your thingy”… I knew it was delicate, it was important, and probably it was even dangerous. But I had no idea how it was supposed to look.
Boys don’t have this problem. They talk about their penis, they compare, they play, they brag. Look here’s my penis, no big deal. We all know how to flip a finger right? We know how it looks from a very early age.
My first time talking about the intricacies of the vagina was with a man. Not with my doctor, no, with my fiancé (now husband). His roommate had left a porno magazine in the living room. I picked it up by mistake…and there! Wow! I had no idea. Look at that, they are all so different! They come in all colors, and shapes. What a surprise! He was shocked: “you really had never seen one before?” No, no way. “But, you girls don’t get dressed together? “ Yes, but we all turn somewhere else, we all face the wall. No, we don’t compare. Isn’t this ridiculous?
So now I am almost 40. And I realize I am a loud Mexican, but I find it very hard to talk about vaginas. I have two daughters now, and I know I have to talk to them about their bodies. I have to learn a new language, so I can share with them the importance of loving their bodies, of respecting and knowing their own private parts. I want them to know their own vaginas because I want them to fully understand their sexuality, the power of their womanhood, the marvels of being a mother, the joys of fully appreciating their bodies. I don’t want them to be silenced by taboos. I want them to feel no shame about asking questions, I want them to view their bodies with respect. Because, I know that the best weapon against abuse is for them to know and love themselves.
I have joined the cast of the Vagina Monologues, and I am now yelling VAGINA in front of 200 people every night. I am taking the risk of discovering all the prejudices, myths, and misconceptions about women and their vaginas because I want other girls, women, sisters, aunts, mothers, to have a voice, to feel free to talk about it in the kitchen, in the car, while doing the laundry or making the Xerox copies. I want us to be able to ask all the questions, share all the stories, to not feel embarrassed, and even to laugh and look at each other and be able to scream: yeah, my vagina is bigger than yours!
Please join us in the fun, V-day Austin presents Eve Ensler’s acclaimed play in Spanish and English.
Proceeds from Los Monologos de la Vagina will go to Latinitas, a non-profit organization that enables young Latinas to achieve personal and academic success through media and technology outreach thereby addressing the critical state of Latina girls today.
29th Street Ballroom (By Spider House)
2906 Fruth St.
Austin, TX 78705
March 2, 9, and 10, 2012 at 7:00 PM
For info: 512.699.1792
V-Day is a global movement to end violence against women and girls that raises funds and awareness through benefit productions of Playwright/Founder Eve Ensler’s award winning play The Vagina Monologues. In 2011, more than 5,800 V-Day events took place in the U.S. and around the world. In eleven years, the V-Day movement has raised over $85 million and educated millions about the issue of violence against women and girls. A V-Day Campaign is a catalyst for mobilizing women and men to heighten awareness about violence against women and girls. By creating this global community, V-Day strives to empower women to find their collective voices and demand an end to the violence that affects one in three women in the US and around the world.
Editor's Note: Please to welcome guest blogger Norma Castillo of Brownsville, Texas. Norma took part and help organize the recent Occupy the Courts in Brownsville. We at Somos Tejanos believe free speech is one of the most important rights we have in this country. After the protest, we asked Norma if she would be willing to write about her experience and reason for organizing this rally.
Defined as people by our Supreme Court, obtaining major tax breaks while making astronomical profits, buying the democratic process through their monetary contributions, I had seen enough of corporations. As I read more from non mainstream media outlets, my disbelief of what our country had become grew. One night as I browsed through social media, I came across a local man, who commented on this specific topic and casually asked if anyone would be interested in joining the rest of the nation in Occupying the Federal Courts protesting corporate personhood on the National Day of Protest. I replied to Stan Raines’ comment and said that I would like to participate.
What had I done? I’ve never protested before. I didn’t know how to do this. Doubts, fear, and questions filled my head but the feeling of doing nothing rang louder inside of me than any doubts or fears I had. I had read about the Occupy movement and was proud that people had reached a level of such displeasure with our government that they were willing to take to the streets in large numbers and carry signs displaying their disapproval. I had seen the pictures and heard their stories. But that was happening elsewhere in other parts of the nation where people were organizing such events. Stan and I live in Brownsville Texas.
Brownsville is not necessarily the hub of protests or liberals. With about 50% of the residents of Brownsville living at or under the federal poverty level and 55% of its residents being considered illiterate, many Brownsville residents receive some sort of government aid. Protesting against the one that feeds you isn’t necessarily popular in this neck of the woods. I decided that I was going to do this anyway. I knew that gathering a large group of people to stand in front of the local federal courthouse to protest corporate personhood in Brownsville Texas was going to be a nearly impossible task.
Through speaking to people and through posting on Facebook, I found there were two major groups of people in Brownsville when it came to this topic. There was the group that had done some reading and was very well aware of the Supreme Court’s decision Citizens United. Most of those people agreed with me and thought that corporations should not be given human rights. The other group was just not aware of what was happening to our democratic process because of corporate personhood. They made comments like “If this is true, why have I not seen anything about it on the news?” I tried informing them that mainstream media was part of the problem but they still didn’t seem to understand, or care. The group that I did not see represented in Brownsville was the group of people who were aware, did not agree, and were taking action. I decided to be part of that group even if it meant creating it.
The date and venue were set. Through Facebook, we started to inform and invite people to our protest. Stan and I sort of made a Facebook promise to each other that even if no one else showed up, we would still carry this out. I posted our planned protest on different social media sites that support ideas like this. Through one of those sites, Somos Tejanos, I met Amaury Nora. Compared to me, Amaury is an expert in this field. He has been mobilizing people all over Texas to take action and has participated in protests in his city, Austin Texas. Amaury gave me advice, words of wisdom, but most of all he gave me courage to carry out the protest. As the date approached the feelings of fear and doubt got louder. Some of the questions that ran through my head were: What if I’m the only one standing there? What if they ask me to leave? Will people laugh at me for doing this? Does everyone think I’m crazy? It’s easy for other people to do this kind of thing because they live in parts of the country where they are able to gather a large group of people who share their ideals. For a second, I even thought about backing out. Stan would understand right? Maybe I could lie and say that I wasn’t able to get the day off from work. I just could NOT do that. I would become part of the group of people who bitch and complain about things but never do anything about it. I’ve never respected people like that so why was I considering becoming one of them?
I went to the local dollar store, bought some poster board and markers, made some signs, and asked for a personal day off at work. It was on. The night before the scheduled protest, I was so scared and nervous that I couldn’t sleep. That morning I felt a bit better as I talked myself through this. I arrived at Linear Park across from the federal courthouse and was immediately relieved to see a man that resembled Stan’s profile picture. He sat in his car and ate his breakfast. Sure enough, it WAS Stan. I was so relieved that at least one other person would be doing this with me.
There we were, Stan and I, in front of the federal courthouse in Brownsville, Texas on a sunny Friday morning holding signs that read: Corporations are NOT people, Money is not Speech, Honk if you believe in Democracy. My nerves had been replaced with exhilaration. While there were only two of us there, I felt like I was doing something important to restore the values that this country was built on. The country that I loved and that had promised me many opportunities if I just worked hard had not kept their end of the promise. I had worked hard. I had obtained an education and even have a pretty decent job. I was not there to ask for a government handout nor was I an unemployed hippie with nothing else to do with my time. I was making this a priority in my life. I was doing this in hopes of making our nation, our city, our world a better place, a true democratic place.
Passerby reaction ranged from confused looks to smiles and waves to everything else in between. Within an hour or so, my longtime friend Catherine Mendoza arrived. I wasn’t sure if she was more supporting me than the cause but that didn’t matter. I was just so happy that she was there to join us. Soon after, my husband arrived. I looked at him and thought to myself, “He is one of the people responsible for me being here today as he has taught me to see the world from a different perspective”. More people honked and waved and suddenly I didn’t feel scared at all. We were chatting and sharing our different reasons for being there. Stan was the most experienced of us all and he shared stories of life in the 60’s. I had the great opportunity to meet two other brave individuals that also come to join us, Azuzena Salinas and Grady Deaton. I suddenly realized that there WERE other people in Brownsville who shared common ideas. I no longer felt scared, had any doubts, fears, or questions. I was filled with joy and empowerment.
We decided to move to the corner of the street to get more visibility. As cars passed by, their positive feedback eliminated any remaining doubts. A police officer drove up and stopped his car in front of the small group and my heart stood still. He asked what we were protesting and we told him. His response, “Cool” and he drove off. I could not help but smile and feel wonderful.
Then, the media drove up. I’ve been very apprehensive of mainstream media and how they have portrayed Occupiers so this immediately made me feel anxious. I decided that they would not do to our group what they have done too many others, make us out to be a bunch of unemployed spoiled brats asking for government handouts. I looked at our small group and realized we were ALL employed and most of us had a college education. There was no reason to feel any anxiety. Daisy Martinez from KGBT news asked if she could ask me a few questions on camera. I had not planned to do this since I had never imagined that our small protest would get any media attention but I agreed. I explained our reasons for being there and why we felt such strong opposition about corporate personhood. I was less nervous than I thought I would be with a camera and a microphone in my face. Within an hour, our story was featured on their Facebook page and friends were commenting on the story. Besides the occasional troll and naysayer, most of the feedback was very positive. All of a sudden, low and behold, another media outlet arrived. This time it was the Mexican television station, Televisa. I asked the group if anyone else wanted to speak to them since I had already spoken to KGBT. Since Televisa’s audience are Spanish speakers, the group decided that I would be best suited to address them as well. I was impressed with the questions they asked and I was excited to share our thoughts with them. I was not feeling an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. Our small group had managed to gain the attention of two of our most seen local TV stations. Before the protest was over, yet another person swung by to report on our protest. Jim Barton, a local blogger and his wife, Nina, also asked us some questions, took video as I spoke about why we were there, and posted an article on his site.
Three different media outlets came out to report on our small protest. It made me realize what I have so often heard; a small group of people can have a very big impact. By the time our four hour protest was over, I was a different person. I could not believe I had been scared. I was only exercising the right to freedom of speech. A basic right this country had promised me and was slowly being taken away. The empowerment that I felt that day was like no other feeling I have ever had. In speaking to my husband, he shared that he felt the same way. He immediately asked “When are we doing this again?”
That day led me to learn so many things about myself. It also introduced me to people who I can have political conversations with without the risk of them thinking I’m too “out there”. It led me to have more ideas on how I would like to continue to make our country and our world a better place. It made me realize that some people just do not want to know what is happening in our country. I learned that stereotypes of protesters are difficult to change among people. Now, I’m more powerful than ever. Now, I have no fear in question. That simple protest, created a stronger, fearless, more confident person. I’ve only just begun.
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Nine people died in that wreck that night, and although no one knew any of them personally, the local community was sickened by the sadness of it all. Overnight, a shrine was created at the site of the crash. Nine crosses were laid out with lime, as is the custom. Flowers and candles were arranged. There were two small teddy bears laid there as well, for the word was that one of the victims was pregnant.
It was a mixed crowd, as well, with men and women, and older and younger people equally represented. The leadership reflected that mix, with the veteran Juanita Valdez Cox sharing time with rookie Daniel Diaz, and the seasoned Martha Sanchez trading off with a young Yvette Sanchez.
The representatives from the colonias El Jay, Azul, Mi Sueño and Los Amigos offered perhaps the most interesting—and challenging--resolution. These representatives noted that life without a drivers’ license (or some other form of official identification) in modern-day Texas is a nightmare. Without such an i.d., one cannot open a bank account or cash a check. Auto insurance is much more expensive if you don’t have a drivers’ license. Worse, in south Texas, where there is as yet no viable public transportation system, it is impossible to work without a car—yet undocumented citizens are forced by circumstances—again—into breaking a law that they would happily obey, if they could.
