In This Issue:
Featured Feminists
Victoria Camey
Ayla Decaire
Nico Parducho
Mini TV Review by Ray
This week, Feminist Curious set out to uplift the voices in our community. These three incredible feminists have taken their months of quarantine and channelled their feelings into art and action. Enjoy taking a tiny look into their creative worlds. If you want to see more, it's just a short trip to your nearest social media platform to find it.
Victoria Camey
Working Twice As Hard
Tengo regalos que no uso Talents I withhold
Y me aguanto el gusto And joys I’ve unsold
Aunque para mi sea el mundo; Though, it is my world;
Porque traer comida a mi casa Food on the table,
Pues eso sera mi uso Well that’ll be my role
- CAMEY I. SPANISH TRANSLATION - CAMEY I. ENGLISH TRANSLATION
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I used to believe that if you worked hard enough, your dreams would come true. It’s what my parents taught me when they crossed the border to give our family a better life. It’s what Disney taught me through their resilient Princesses when I stayed at home wondering why my parents had to work so much. It’s what K-12 Education taught me when I was told to conform to their dress code. It’s what society teaches me when I have to carry pepper spray at all times.
The audacity of white supremacy in not being transparent about their historical and current systemic oppression is astronomical, but I am not surprised. Those in power will always do whatever it takes to remain in power.
My parents, Film, Media, California K-12 Education, and Society have always told me that Education is important. And you know what? I’ll give them that one. If I’ve learned anything these past months, it’s that Ignorance will never be bliss; rather, our Knowledge is the true Power. BIPOC Knowledge will forever be a threat.
Sadly, with that, comes unjust consequences. Quote from Disclosure: Trans Lives on Screen (2020, dir. Sam Feder)
“The more confident we become
The more positive representation we’re in
The more danger we’re in.”
The life expectancy of a Black Trans woman is thirty-five years. Now this quote was in regards to the danger Trans women face every fucking day. So let’s acknowledge that before I move on with my next statement. We need to be better allies. Please watch Disclosure. Contact me for further questions or resources. @transgenderdistrict on Instagram is one of many places to begin.
Disclosure’s quote rings truth for all those oppressed by White Supremacy. The more the world sees us, the more we grow stronger and the more of a threat we are to them. Especially Black folk. Black Folk simply existing are seen as a threat. For more than 400 fucking years.
I no longer expect non-BIPOC to help us. I really don’t. Would it be helpful? Of course. Will they ever truly understand? No. Non-BIPOC are no longer at the forefront of my art for this very reason. I am exhausted from imploring white audiences to listen to BIPOC folk. BIPOC folk need all the support they can get and they will damn sure be receiving it from me.
Let me also address something that I feel is not talked about as much in the Latines Community. The deep-rooted misogyny and homophobia in our culture? Is disgusting. The weight of being a First-Generation latines? Overwhelming. This brings me back to my poems at the beginning. Fall Junior Year at Long Beach State, I was working various productions, maintaining my coursework, involved in student-organizations and still working my part-time job.
Mind you, I sleep in the living room of my home while my brother: who has no job and contributes little to nothing, lives lavishly within his own room. Just the other day, I am cleaning the fridge and he walks by observantly. He stops. Looks at me and goes “Good. I like what you’re doing”. Later in the day I ask him to clean something and he yells “You do it. So you can LEARN how to clean”. I look back at my mom and ask her to listen. She goes, “Don’t talk to her like that,” and exits the room.
Whenever I hint to my mother that I love all genders she completely shuts me down. I say all this, because I know that I am not alone. I know there are many Latines who have to endure the same if not relatively the same thing.
There is racism, homophobia and misogyny throughout the world, not just in the United States. I haven’t even begun to surface these issues and more in Southwest Asia, Central America or for Natives. There is much to do. So much.
We as BIPOC folk, are that much more resilient. Because we have to work twice as hard. The “duty” to work twice as hard has been taught and passed down onto me but I am choosing today to not let it break my spirit. Today and forever because it is my ancestors who have given me the true resilience I need. And I write this all not to overwhelm anyone. But to offer some sense of hope and encouragement. So I leave you with a quote from a podcast: Unlocking Us with Brene Brown and Laverne Cox.
“If you don’t own the story, You can’t write the ending.
And if you don’t own a story,
The story writes you.
And right now the story of systemic White Supremacy and racism owns us.
It owns us a country. All of us.
(But)...when you own the story,
You can write a brave new ending.”
To hear more about Victoria's personal, political, and professional endeavors, follow her on Instagram @thevictoriouslife
Ayla Decaire
As the Black Lives Matter Movement began to gain momentum through protests and demonstrations, Decaire decided to contribute in her own way by beginning a series of illustrations depicting those who have lost their lives at the hands of racially motivated police brutality. These stunning visual depictions of the colorful lights that have left the world too soon help to remind Decaire's followers why they are fighting for change. These are just a few examples of her work. However, if you visit her Instagram page, the sight is a gorgeous wall of faces full of Black pride and joy that was taken away. Do yourself a favor and check out her breathtaking collection which, unfortunately, continues to grow.
To see more of Ayla's Black Lives Matter series as well as her catalogue of previous work, follower her on Instagram @warriorprincessayla
Nico Parducho
Since Ellen Degeneres' reputation for good, clean fun has taken a hit in recent months, you may find yourself wishing for a program that feeds the need for positivity and purity. Well, look no further. "Like Ellen, But Nico" is a weekly interview series on Instagram Live hosted by Parducho who truly lives up to the title of her show. Her mission statement is this:
"LIKE Ellen, BUT Nico is a personal project that showcases good, genuine people and their passions."
Be sure to check out her page for new videos and posts.
To stay updated on new episodes of "Like Ellen But Nico" follow @likeellen_butnico on Instagram and bask in the delight.
Ray's Review Corner:
Hot take on Love, Victor
By Rachel Post
If I had to choose the most successful theme of the 2020 Hulu original series, Love, Victor, I would say it is community. While many of the others themes the series aimed to explore unfortunately seemed to fall short of their intended effect, the one thing the series captures perfectly is the importance of the LGBTQ+ community to questioning queer youth. In its eighth episode, the show’s titular character takes a trip to see Simon, the titular character of Love, Simon, the 2018 film set in the same world, with whom Victor has been messaging for support in his coming out journey. When he arrives he discovers that Simon has told all of his queer friends about Victor’s predicament. Victor is initially offended that his private information has been exposed to virtual strangers before Simon explains to him that his friends’ lived experiences have been crucial in Simon’s ability to be helpful to Victor. In this episode, Love, Victor does what I have seen no other piece of mainstream queer media do: it represents the invaluable effect the presence of a greater community has on the developing individual.
While the series makes a few attempts at being political, diverse, and/or groundbreaking, none of these attempts really has the gravity needed to make Love, Victor revolutionary. However, I can appreciate the fact that, rather than making a piece of incredibly obvious propaganda, the story instead focuses on the day-to-day lives of young people struggling with identity, sexuality, and family. It also seems to step up its game in racial diversity, something Simon’s story lacked, with the very accepting parents and the privileges he enjoys as a white gay. Some critics say that the series fails to make good on the promise made at the beginning of the series to tell a different kind of story than that of Love, Simon and instead, sensationalizes the white gay experience through Victor’s relationship with Simon. While this may be somewhat true, the eighth episode shines a positive light on the situation, once again reinforcing the dramatic importance of queer community to queer stories.
If you read my last article, “How Film and TV Have Shaped My Queer Identity” you will know that this concept is one I fight to see. Perhaps, if all of the episodes of Love, Victor were more like its eighth, it would not have received the criticisms it did. That being said, if one simply set out to enjoy the story as a modern high school drama, they would most likely be satisfied. However, if one watched the series with the expectation that it be a groundbreaking piece of political art, they may be disappointed. Of course, everyone wants something different from the stories they ingest. In my case, Love, Victor satisfied the craving for a slightly cheesy queer romcom in the same way that Love, Simon did and its place in the canon of queer TV is well-earned.
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