“The Wounded Healers Collective and 13thVillage present the short film “Brown Queen: Our Voz Our Arte”. Organizing brought to you by fierce women of color(s) artistas in the state of Texas, the shift in energies and feminine movement brought to you by the universe.”-Erica GDLR
Our Cinco de Mayo Latina Artist showcase was also the release of Muchacha Fanzine’s “Brown Queen” issue which you can purchase here.
Sneak Peek of my interview with Cristy C Road! To read the full thing and to check out the 50 pg edition purchase Muchacha’s brand new issue “Brown Queen: Latina Voices of the 21st Century” HERE!
DS- I want to begin with asking you some questions, including a few about your recent graphic novel Spit and Passion.
DS- In Spit and Passion you write: “Green day explained a life I wanted to create for myself- an underworld where people like me could exist in” (55). In what ways do you see music influencing marginalized youth (queer, poc, etc) in the modern day compared to the early-mid 1990’s? How do you think this process has changed or remained the same?
CR- I think the concept of gathering inspiration from angry radical musicians who have a powerful voice remains the same; but Its difficult to identify what cultural icons kids access these days because of what the mainstream media is embracing. Theres a lot of intense reality Television out there and there isnt the kinds of music programming that there used to be that focused on artists (120 Minutes, Yo! MTV Raps, Alternative Nation, MTV Jams, etc.) —— I think that if television/mainstream pop culture is what kids primarily have access to, the really radical icons come so few and far between. I was really inspired by Nicky Minaj when she came out on TV and I think kids got a lot from her; kids really loved Lady Gaga and that was a really cute of era; but I really think there is a lack of “alternative” voices in mainstream pop culture. The weird thing nowadays is, however, that kids have THE INTERNET. And theres things like YOUTUBE and TUMBLR and I dont even know how to make my way around those things, in regards to discovering new art. My discovery of the “underground” through a band that was on television is a timeless experience, though. I think that although underground politically charged subcultures are exposed on TV; the core of them still exist in the underground, and its still a journey (for youth) to discover it.
DS- An important theme in your book seemed to center around the different ways that “coming out” may look like depending on one’s race or culture. I think that this is an issue that goes unaddressed and people who stay in the closet are often judged as cowardly, etc. Do you think that Spit and Passion can serve as a guide for other young queer Latinas or POC to reconcile the fears of cultural exile as a result of coming out and feeling a loss of identity as a result of not coming out?
CR- I wouldnt go as far as calling it a “guide”, since its my experience and we all have individual experiences; but I do hope that it can be some kind of beacon of light, or message saying that their timeline (as far as discovering gender, sexuality, and identity) is completely up to them and their individual process. And if they choose to compromise with their family/culture in order to dismiss whiteness as part of their coming out; then more power to them!!!! But its SO HARD to see that, or even feel safe doing that, when you are young and alone as a queer. I certainly ended up feeling alone and lost in PUNK a lot of the time, until I found my queer and POC punks to share a life with.
DS- I appreciated how you incorporated Catholicism into your story. Specifically, I was intrigued when you write about La Virgen De La Caridad and how we will never know exactly who she was because “her history has already been destroyed by patriarchy” (35). As a Latina woman who has also reappropriated Catholic religious figures, such as La Virgin de Guadalupe, I found this idea fascinating. In what ways can religious symbolism be a source of empowerment for Latin@s and other POC?
CR- I feel so intense about reclaiming spirituality, because that connection to nature/the earth/the universe/the “goddess”/dieties was taken away from us as queers who were raised Catholic. We were told that our identities were frowed upon by the spiritual powers that be. I felt like I embraced a really atheist mindset, but I was secretly obsessed with spirituality. And I always wondered how an interest in social and environmental justice could even exist without a connection to the universe. I eventually developed my connections to the universe—- I got into reading tarot, and I got into my own spirits and saints. I connect a lot more with Santeria; and Ive learned to see La Virgen De La Caridad as a female image of power that represents my past and my family’s past. Santeria was always frowned upon (feared by) Catholics, and as Ive grown connected to the universe through my experiences as an artist; Ive felt really powerful and cleansed by (mentally) destroying that war between Cuban saints—- Its kind of what I had to do in oder to further destroy the homophobic agenda of Catholicism in the first place.
Tank Girl in Muchacha Fanzine’s “Funny Female” Edition. Get your copy here!
Muchacha Issue #5, Spring 13’
“Brown Queen: Latina Voices of the 21st Century”Publisher: Daisy Salinas, Riotgrrrl56@yahoo.com, Etsy, Tumblr, Wemakezines
“Brown Queen” was created to honor, celebrate and promote the artistic visions of Latinas. This 50 pg edition features beautiful poetry, heartfelt short stories, powerful essays, awe-aspiring artwork, unique photography and a breathtaking performance piece from 24 diverse self-identified Latinas, Chicanas, Hispanics and Afro-Latinas. This issue also spotlights a 5-page interview with artist Cristy C. Road about her most recent graphic novel Spit and Passion, zine subcultures in the 90’s & today, spirituality and how she has learned to navigate her identity as a queer punk woman of color.
By providing a medium in where Latinas can share their unique voices, this issue, along with its Cinco de Mayo zine-release concert of the same name, has helped build a community of like-minded sisters of color. By sharing our stories and knowledge, “Brown Queen” challenges institutions, such as the mass media and education systems, which often exclude or misrepresent us. The continuation of our stories, knowledge and social-justice visions have the power to live on. “Brown Queen” is apart of the social justice continuum as it serves as time capsule to preserve our knowledge for future generations of women of color.Purchase your copy here for only $2!
Forgot to mention, I also have a Latina Musical Artist Spotlight section with info on Jessy Bulbo, Ana Tijoux, Jenni Rivera, Lila Downs, Alice Bag, Teri Gender Bender and Kumbia Queers!
Three months in creation, I proudly present you Muchacha Fanzine’s fifth issue “Brown Queen: Latina Voices of the 21st Century”. Intended to honor, celebrate and promote the artistic visions of Latinas, this 50 pg edition features beautiful poetry, heartfelt short stories, powerful essays, awe-aspiring artwork, unique photography and a breathtaking performance piece from 24 diverse self-identified Latinas, Chicanas, Hispanics and Afro-Latinas. This issue also spotlights a 5-page interview with artist Cristy C. Road about her most recent graphic novel Spit and Passion, zine subcultures between the 90’s and now, spirituality and how she has learned to navigate her identity as a queer punk woman of color.
Get your copy here!
Día de Acción Nacional Pro-Reforma Migratoria en el Día Internacional de los Trabajadores. Seattle, WA. Photo by Laila Suidan
While we are bombarded with kickstarter pages for indie bands, filmmakers and activists, we all make choices on where we donate money. For five years I donated $20 every weekend to a radical homeless rights org called “The Sandwich Fairies” in where we would feed the hungry folks and street musicians of downtown Nashville. My friend who began an amazing project in Fort Worth called WoCA Projects has received immense support in her creation of an artistic space for women of color. It’s a circle because we help each other when we need it.
As I am organizing a multicultural zine release Cinco de Mayo show “Brown Queen: Our Voz Our Arte” in Denton, TX, I am feeling overwhelmed by all of the costs (production fees, food costs, band and artist fees, etc.) I feel so grateful for all of the support we have received so far. Read our mission in creating this event for underrepresented Latina and women of color artists if you haven’t already and give if it calls to you. Thank you so much to the community for being involved in the conservation and creation of culture. We appreciate all of the support we have received thus far.
(Brown Queen performer Rain Flowa, a Xicana native drummer)
Anonymous
Thank you so much for your question. This is something that is an important topic. I feel that the experiences of people that are mixed often go ignored within academia and communities in general. There has been a lot of writing done centered on living multidimensional racial identities. What comes to mind first is Gloria Anzaldua’s thoughts on ambiguity. She says that being both Mexican and American allowed her to develop “a tolerance for contradictions… to be an Indian in Mexican culture, to be Mexican from an Anglo point of view… learns to juggle cultures” (379). Anzaldua’s negotiation of her multicultural identity speaks on behalf of other Latina women who may not necessarily fit into one finite category. Although she is not mixed, I do think that this idea can apply to your identity. I think that you can ambiguously be both Mexican and white, or Chicana. As long as you are aware of your light skinned privilege and/or part-white privilege and are in the fight to share power and end racial oppression, then I do not think that you are appropriating culture. I think your mixed identity could allow you to create your own culture based on what is relevant to you. I hope this helps at all and if you want to talk about it further you can email me any time at Riotgrrrl56@yahoo.com! <3
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