• Archive of "swirl" Category

    Latina? Who, me?

    January 8, 2010 // No Comments »

    I was recently invited to speak at at a conference to discuss the ways in which I live and “navigate multiple, sometimes conflicting identities” – as queer, femme, mixed race, transnational, and how said identities influence how I see “life on the margins.”  The interesting part….I was invited as the “Latina” on the panel. I needed that part repeated. Me, as the resident Latina.

    Growing up I thought that I was half German half African American. The Latin aspect only emerged recently when I found my birth father and began talking with his older brother and my half brother. I can’t say that I even have a Latina-consciousness or that I have even really contemplated what that means to me.

    I comprehend my gender identity – femme – so much better than my ethnic/cultural identity. I understand it and feel it in every fiber of my being. Being femme is just….its me, my center. I feel profoundly liberated by my femme-ness, precisely because it feels natural and innate without needing to be juxtaposed against something else – butch comes to mind or anything else along the spectrum for that matter. Now, the butch/femme community and the greater LGBT community…that is a bigger can of worms. Nevertheless on a micro level I make complete sense to myself, and really, that’s all that matters. Now, I should back up and qualify that – I didn’t always feel that way. There was a time when I didn’t posses the vocabulary or understanding that described me - ok I am going to leave that train of thought for another day. I digress. Point is I make sense of some of my various identities – femme – and others not so much.

    Culturally, I understand and can process being mixed. The individual components rarely ever make sense though. And, honestly…I rarely ever force them to. I know where I belong in the mixed experience. In many ways “home” is far less complicated within the mixed community than any of the other communities that I am a part of.

    So, what does it mean for me to be Latina?

    Half the time I think that I know very little about what it means to be African American. I do understand the mixed experience – the hybridity. Since ethnic identities are societal/social constructs, can I really claim to be something that I know nothing about? Can culture really be reduced to cuisine, music, and cultural and artistic traditions mixed with a little geographic positioning? If that’s the case, anyone can learn to be any ethnicity of their choosing.  I think not! I do think that ethnicity is something that begins as a communal experience that finds expression in individual identity.  Hmm….I think I just figured out what I am going to talk about…..

    I still have a bit of time to consider since the conference is in November. Nevertheless, I should probably get back to the program committee by mid-February since paper/panel submissions are due March 3rd.

    Posted in Conferences, Diversity, swirl

    Check out ‘Blended Nation’ – Support Swirl!

    October 30, 2009 // No Comments »

    Please save the date and come to the November 12th event in NYC! Swirl’s founder and executive director, Jen Chau, is featured in the book (Blended Nation) and she will be on a panel with the authors for a talk and book signing.

    ALSO FYI – no matter where you are, between November 10th and 12th, we are having a “Swirl Bookfair” with Barnes and Noble. This means that on those days, if you log onto www.barnesandnoble.com/mybookfair, buy books and use a code (10043867), part of the proceeds go to Swirl!

    Hope to see you at the NYC event if you are in town!

    New York City
    Thursday, November 12
    Barnes & Noble Booksellers (TriBeCa)
    97 Warren St (b/w Greenwich & West St)
    7:00pm
    (Talk and signing)

    Unfortunately I will be unable to make it, but I AM purchasing a copy of the book! Please do the same! Your support enables Swirl to continue to offer special events and advocacy for diversity in American society.

    Posted in ChangeBloggers, Diversity, swirl