June and July 2019 Celebrating Afro Latinas

 

 

 

June and July

 

I was still on my Nubian Butterfly high in June. It was a regrouping time yet holding on to that light that showers me when I am home.

 

July 25th is the anniversary of my mother´s transition. It is also the Afro Latin American Diaspora Women’s Day. A day to celebrate women of African descent that came about in 1992 at the first gathering of the Red de Mujeres Afrolatinoamericanas, Afrocaribeñas y de la Diaspora of which I am the Diaspora Coordinator.

 

The day is always with emotion. I feel my mothers presence in the most loving way on this day. It’s like she intentionally shows up for us to celebrate her with funny stories and wonderful memories. It’s funny that my sister, brother I rarely share the same story.

 

Celebrating women of African descent feels right on this day because I start with the one that birthed me.

For the 4th time in Boston we celebrated the day with a Boston City Council resolution. It is a day of acknowledgement, truth and love. The first one was done by Chuck. The second one was led by then City Councilor Tito Jackson with full Council support. The third was led by Councilor Janey and this year was Council President Andrea Campbell. Every year keeps getting better and better. Wilnelia Rivera was our keynote this year. Hermana nailed it!

 

The day started in Boston years back when no one knew the term or what it meant. I was showing up everywhere speaking on it. I was ignored, dismissed, isolated on many ways for speaking this truth then and still to some extent today.
 

This year one of our speakers was now elected City Councilor at Large Julia Mejia who is the first Latina, Afro Latina on the council. How far we have come! Now the term is known, feared and less and seen more. It has become fashionable to many and those of us who don’t have the option to come in and out, it is our daily affirmation.

 

It is deeply appropriate that my Loc anniversary lands on this same day.

Check out my reflection, My Antenna: Loc journey. It has been a journey of grounding self, spirit, thought and movement. It speaks to me, guides and me and even disrupts my own missteps.