Another Long Overdue Reflection I Finally Had Time to Write

I have thought a lot about how or what I should do in the current place that we all find ourselves after the election. Honestly, I was very intentional about who I talked to and what I posted on social media on November 9th and the weeks following. I have given myself ample space and time to process everything that I felt and am currently feeling about the results of the election. I have made the mistake of not taking care of myself in the past and know how destructive that is. Given that I do not have control in some ways, I controlled what I knew I could: myself and my well-being. I went to bed on November 8th knowing that the next day would be filled with pain and anxiety for many of the students that I work with. I burned sage to cleanse my soul and clear my mind in order to prepare for the discussion that I would be leading the following day. I woke up and arrived to work with a heavy heart as the faces I saw no longer expressed hope, but dismay. I felt the anger, anxiety, and sadness, both around and within me. Ultimately over the next week, my feelings manifested into a painful infection in my throat. I was in so much pain that it hurt to swallow my saliva and I could not focus on my studies. During both my classes that week, I got chills all over my body and at times became lightheaded. I took time off to heal, but that was not enough. I slept, I stopped studying, I took medication, and I visited mi mama. Her love and the love of my family is what helped me make a speedy recovery physically and emotionally.
At this point, fear is still present and I think it was always there, it just wasn't real enough or serious enough. Yes, my family has been affected by federal policies of deportation in the past, and we overcame it. However, the fear that I and many of us have now is different. It's as if you're watching a huge, dangerous storm approach and even though you have done everything in your power to prepare for it, there is still no way to know if you will survive it. The uncertainty around this feeling of fear is... beyond fear, it's terrifying. I hold nationality privilege in this country because I am a U.S. citizen, but there are 11 million people in the U.S. that do not, including some of my family members. I hold religious privilege because I have never been persecuted for my beliefs in the way that the Muslim community has.
I'm not going to sit here and tell you all that it is going to be okay because I don't know that for certain. What I do know is that this is not the first time that we have been in this position as a country. Yes, it is unfortunate that we have taken a step back into the often romanticized times of the 1950's. Nonetheless, we have been in this position before. And in these times of uncertainty came many rays of hope in the forms of leaders and movements that made significant contributions to create a better tomorrow for us. Our duty now is to learn from past leaders and movements in order to also create and change the course of our tomorrow. We must pull from their great words and spirits in our moments of despair. Below you will find a video from an amazing and righteous womxn named Alicia Garza, a co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement. In this video she speaks on how she keeps fighting. Her words lifted my spirits and I hope that they lift yours as well. In her words, will you join me on this train of change and liberation? Regardless of if you accept my invitation or not, the train is moving. The decision is yours.



I will also leave you with a quote from a piece of art created by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh:

America is Black.
It is Native.
It wears a hijab.
It is a Spanish speaking tongue.
It is a migrant.
It is a womxn.
It is here.
Has been here.
AND IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.


Cuidate y cuidense, take care of yourself and take care of each other.
In Lak'ech.

In solidarity,
alex.