May 2019- Home is where the Soul Beams

May 2019

Home is where the Soul beams 

Those who know me know that everything feels complete when I am home. My Panamanian spirit is always present. I move with that light, I think with that light, I love with that light. To go home and share the adult that I am today, the poet, the activist, the storyteller, the woman I am made for some soul tapping moments. 

I was invited to be a part of the Etnia Negra, Africa en America events. My poetry book, Nubian Butterfly: The Transformation of a Soulful Heart was released. My book is dedicated to my dad and although he could not make the events, he was with me every step of the way. All my soul kept saying was, they see me at home! 

Another high and grounding moment was my alone time in Portobelo. This space lifts it all. To share with my Portobelo family grounds me in a love that is difficult to describe. This has become a must when I am home. This is my #SacredSpace 

I don’t think I can find the words to describe what it felt like to share with students at the university, to share space with those who I admire and who inspire. In a short space of time, I shared the Unapologetic Black woman I have become with the love and guidance and those in Boston and those around the country with those who feed and inspire my every move. The journey and all the sacrifices that came with it, felt complete. 

Here are a few of my journal entries throughout the trip.

May 30th- The official day at home. I closed out this special time at home walking in the streets of my home town, the city that shaped, the city that taught me Black resiliency. To do holding the Rastafari flag with the Rastafari community was extra, extra special. 

May 28th - Sharing my #poetry with students, listening to their poems and spending time with the future generations of #poets and #activist was a highlight during this special trip. The future is in good hands. 🙂

May 26- My love affair with these streets, these beautiful #Africans, #BlackLoving people, runs deep. Every moment about today is why I will continue raising its name up high. It’s not the visual that makes it, it’s the heartbeat of an unbreakable soul. Thank you to Tío Nini, Sistren Fyah Love and the Rastafarian community for making this day extra special. Proud to walk with you. 

I will return to Boston with a reminder of what keeps me Rising Up above it all and the deep love that I come from. I am and will continue to be because they Are. One Love 

#AfricansInColon

May 21st- On the eve of the release of this project of #love and #transformation, I give thanks to those whose shoulders I stand on. Thanks to my father, sister and brother for their ongoing support. Gracias, to Sr. Luis for believing in my words and putting this together. Marlon, for the beautiful cover. Gracias to Gustavo for the back cover. To my mentor, the man who fought for Black History Month, Gracias Sr. Claral Richards. To Mr. Winston, thank you for believing in me. To Usha Mayani and David Cabrera, this could not have finished without your support. To my friends and supportive circle, thank you. 

My soulful heartbeat  is in these pages. I look forward to sharing more about this journey tomorrow. I can’t find the word that best describes what it means to have it released at home. #love #light #transformation

MAY 21st - Her support and patience made this possible. This is our first in person meeting. She is everything she has been throughout this process, a true genuinely kind spirit. Gracias Zinnia! The book is beautiful! #journey #transformation #poetry #poesia #expression

On my return on May 28th I wrote this - On my way back to Boston. I will do my best to hold on to the loving and uplifting energy of my family, this sisterhood that feeds the spirit while leaning on the supportive energy of those who join me on this journey. Corazón contento! #MiTierra #heartbeat

Miren esta belleza! #Panama- Memoria: Festival Africa en America. Felicidades Alexandra Schjelderup por los cuatro años del festival y por esta bella memoria. Gracias por incluirme, no solo en el libro,  pero también mi voz como activista y poeta Panameña. Link para ver el libro completo.
https://issuu.com/jehanshanel/docs/maea_ff__interactive_

March and April 2019

March 2019

This was an uplifting month. Hanging out in Harlem with two of my favorite people in the world was priceless. Paola, Lidice and I walked around and took it all the black love in the space. We spent time at the Schoomburg Library and had a delicious southern meal for lunch. We were in NY for the 63^rd Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women and Girls.

This would be another collaborating year with Sistren Imani who always includes the voice of black women from Latin America and the Caribbean. Our panel was called, Reckoning: The Visible Invisibility of Global African Women.

This year we had our new RMAAD General Coordinator my dear hermana Paola, our Central American coordinator, my dear hermana Lidice and our fearless Brazilian coordinator who on the main floor the day before called out the Brazilian government for having a role in the murder of Marielle Franco. It was powerful! We shared our truth which left folks in awe of a truth they did not know of.

March also placed in my space that always confirms the importance of our work. For the past few years I do an ‘Unmasking identity’ training with the young women of the CHICA project. We always laugh, cry and leave grounded in the freedom to embrace our full identity. It keeps getting better! Looking forward to next year.

April 2019 

April 2019 

April 2019

April was a month of balance. The first event of the month was about love and arts. Bunker Hill Community College had an event celebrating my poetic mentor, Baba Askia Toure.

I have been blessed to follow Baba Askia around, sit with him and learn about his scholar activist and poetic journey. He has shaped the way I approach poetry. I was honored to share this out loud with others as we celebrated him. It was truly a treat to read to him and to share the impact he has had on me that goes beyond poetry.

Thank you Baba Askia for all that you do and for taking the time to share your wisdom with me.

The month ended with what I am calling, ‘Renaming the Narrative’ moment. I was invited to be the Keynote speaker at Harvard University’s Afro Dominican Association Inaugural event, “Afro-Latinidad: Exploring African Heritage in Latinx Cultures.”

For the first time with great intention I spoke publicly or distancing myself from using the term, Afro-Latina. I have arrived at this place after many years wanting to be seen in a space that would never see me because it leans on whiteness and highlights white supremacy. I know why I will use it politically and when I will use it but it is not the term that best describes my journey or who I am as an individual. I posed it as a question and a challenge to other speakers, How many of you can say, Black, Negro, African and not hyphenate it? Many had to pause and reflect on the question. By posing the question and thinking about it, then you can move closer to answering the question, what table am I working to be invited to and why?

It was wonderful to share the space with many of the younger voices of the movement. I left grounded in my ‘unapologetically black’ light and hopeful for the future of the movement.

Here is a wonderful piece written by one of the presenters at the conference and one of the reasons I am very hopeful that our truth will be told. Gracias Janel! Much admiration!

https://remezcla.com/features/culture/when-it-comes-to-latinidad-who-is-included-and-who-isnt/

  

January and February 2019

January 2019

The year started with me jumping up and down on the stage at the Boston Women’s March.  Chioma, Vanessa and Rocio joined me on stage to say, ‘We are here’ Presente!

I walked on to the stage and spirit took over. We were jumping up and down. It was great!

We disrupted with truth and used every minute we had to speak on behalf of Black women, Black immigrant women, women of African descent and all the Guerreras and Cimarronas, whose shoulders we stand on.

After receiving the first ‘Every Woman Activist Award’ from March Forward Boston, this was an opportunity to share out loud why the conversation on women’s rights is not complete if Black women are not part or included in the conversation. We will create building our own spaces but know that when you invite us to the table we are not coming alone.

I give thanks for the recognition but the message became more important.

This unapologetic light was grounded in the knowledge that my Blackness is my center. It is where I find strength, clarity and peace. What a year it has been grounding in this truthful light.

Thank you to Janet Santos and the #Boston Women’s Fund for inviting me to speak at the Women’s March Breakfast. Here is to new beginnings!

#unity #inclusion #2019BostonWomensMarch

https://www.wcvb.com/article/womens-march-held-in-boston-common-but-tone-different-from-years-past/25963645

Boston Women’s March Speech 1/19/19

Me gritaron Negra
Y yo respondí
Si, orgullosamente Negra
Alaafia!

I rise up in the spirit of Harriet Tubman, Maya Angelou, my mother, Audre Lorde, Victoria Santa Cruz of Peru. Sonia Pierre of Santo Domingo, Berta Cáceres of Honduras and Mireille Franco of Brazil.
I stand here in the spirit of Black women, African American women, low income women, black women activist and gentle warriors who are at the center of this movement who wear their crown fearlessly.
I Give light to our African sisters and mothers who have died fighting for liberation.
I stand her in the spirit with my young women of the HER Project.
Digo Presente con la luz de mujeres negras, mujeres afro, afro latinas de latino America y el Caribe.
I stand here with the light of all the soulful men, black men, brothers, hermanos who join us on this call.
I stand here in the spirit of my sisters, hermanas who are here to disrupt for real change to happen.
I stand here unapologetically Black

Queens
Mi reinas!
Stand strong in your space
Know your worth and dance in it
Shine in it
Break down walls in it

I’m a black woman in this world

black latina immigrant Presente!

I will not bow my head for you
The crown they gave me is heavy and filled with pride
Unity
Hear me
Hear my truth
If you play any part of oppressing those who are me
Then we cannot sit at the same table

It is Time to disrupt with love clarity and purpose
If we are not at the table then you are not having the real conversation

It is time
It is time for us to figure this out
Racism has been a part of this movement
It is time to be intentional so that it doesn’t repeat itself
It is time to listen
We can speak for ourselves for we are at the front line of this struggle
We have always led the way
We are here to stay

We are at a crucial crossroad, women, all women, women of color, allies to sit at the table and hear each other and build together
build together while making sure that no one is left behind
No one is above anyone
No one is seen less than
And specifically that black women, African women, black latinas are seen in their human light, in the righteous light, in their magical light.

I believe that those that look like me that come from that same fabric, that same root should have the best of the best wherever we are standing and whatever language we speak.
We will continue to fight for that and speak truth to that because that is love, that is what love looks like.

Asi es!
No voy a parar de hablar nuestra verdad
Porque esto es amor
Esto es vida
Esto es Negrura

I love this skin, I love the story that comes with this root, my tree has been shaken hard but not broken
We are Under attack and still rising with love, pain and resiliency

To heal is to speak this truth
To grow is to speak this truth

May we meet at the crossroad and build an inclusive agenda
May we rise fearlessly
May we continue speaking a truth that changes these harsh times
May we stand in light and love

Me gritaron negra
Y yo respondí
Si orgullosamente negra
Nacida y criada en Colon, Panama
Ashe!

February 2019

For 10 years I worked closely with Toshion the film, ‘Cimarronaje en Panama.’

A family and a bond was built out of this genuine loving energy. I will forever be thankful to Toshi for brining me along with him and for introducing me to the people I now call familia in Portobelo. This space, these people, have become my grounded, regrouping space. I love them so much.

Going to the San Diego Black Film Festival on behalf of the film was truly an honor.

The unforgettable moment on this stop was at the award ceremony. I was sitting at the table where Best Short Film won and Best LGBTQ story film won. As they began announcing the nominees for Best Diaspora Film, my heart was beating a mile a minute. Those that saw the film loved it and made it a point to come up and share their joy with me. I kept hearing, ‘every Black person, African should see this film. This is about all of us.’

When the announced Cimarronaje en Panama as a winner, I jumped up with the spirit of that 15 year old athlete. I was so happy for Toshi, for the film, the people of Portobelo, all those who took the time to be a part of this historic project

It was a labor of love for Toshi. It deepened my love for my #African #identity and made me fall in love with #Panama all over again. Every trip, sun burn, all of it, for 10 years was absolutely worth it.

It was truly an over the top joyous moment to hear the nomination and to hear that we won. I wrote this on Facebook that day. ‘OMG WE WON! Best Foreign/Diaspora Film at the #SDBFF. Congratulations Toshi! Thank you for inviting me to join you on this life changing journey. Much love!’

This will be the one of the highlights of 2019 but it will also be one of the highlights and great teaching moments on this journey.

2019 - Unapologetically Black