Elections 2020: Somos Más

“The Latinx demographic in the United States is changing. Facts. I think the Trumpistas and rabid protectors of the white ethnostate know we are in a somos más moment and that poets might play a key role in that moment… Poets, voluntarily or not, consciously or not are engaged in a moment of resistance to definitions, monolithic stereotypes, and outmoded ways of looking at the Latinx experience. 

No one has the upper hand or singular authority on being Latinx, queer, trans, biracial, Black, fluent, or claims to the best pasteles, mofongo, or horchata. The mezcla, or the remezcla, is where we are going to find our strength, our vision, our power, and it’s in these pages where you’ll find the blueprint, which is simultaneously frightening, magical, and real.”  - Willie Perdomo, Introduction,

“The Breakbeat Poets Vol. 4: LatiNext”

These words, penned by Puerto Rican author and poet Willie Perdomo, are an invitation, a call to action, and a reminder – of the blueprint that our ancestors left for us, in their cuentos, poetry, consejos, corridos y todo – that highlight not only their challenges, but their incredible advocacy for la causa. 

In this moment, I invite you to mediate on our history, examine the present and dream about what is next – and to remember that we are because of the fight of our ancestors and we have the tools, the blueprint to continue fighting and sigue adelante.

As we prepare for election day, and for all the days that follow, we must not only look to our elders, but also, we must look & listen to our youth – we are stronger when we work in solidarity across differences toward fighting for the world that our ancestors dreamed of and that we continue to construct through blueprints they have provided.  

At a recent workshop we hosted to celebrate International Day of the Girl – that also served as a reunion for our escritoras from all summer workshops (2016-2020), we started our work as chicas y mujeres mediating on these words – and we asked each other:

Through your voice, how can you show que Somos más?

Tomorrow and everyday, we, all the escritoras invite you to do the same. We see you. And, somos más juntos. 

In solidarity.