“The nationalism I seek is one that decolonizes the brown and female body as it decolonizes the brown and female earth.” —Cherrie Moraga
Womyn and allies took to the streets in droves on the morning of Jan. 21, 2017 in what was positioned to be a collective effort to champion womyn’s rights, and protest our daily struggles and lived experiences. In a country that continues to make it perilous to be female in far too many spaces, womyn and men and even children from all walks raised their fists and picket signs in the name of equality, protection and liberty, making the rally the largest inaugural protest recorded in U.S. history.
Fast forward months later, and womyn of color are still reeling from the reality that hit us like a ton of bricks in cities throughout our nation: however powerful a moment of resistance against the misogynistic regime, the Women’s March – in many respects – proved to be the antithesis of intersectionality, perpetuating the historical disallowance of black, brown, indigenous (et cetera, et cetera) voices and their varied forms of oppression.
VIBE Viva solicited a number of articles from womyn of color who responded to our call asking about their lived experiences as non-white womyn in the Unites States today. Some issued full-length essays, while others described their narratives in the form of short prose or poetry. Some were painfully honest, and others more nuanced with their respective truths. Some vehemently threw down the gauntlet at patriarchy, and others simply took up the challenge for themselves. In their own words, these are their stories…
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