translated by Chief Llabbe
This interview is part three of a translated series: also check out part 1 and part 2.
What brings the Nahuatl people together?
My Social Justice Warrior (SJW) teacher was talking about how patriarchy was the same in colonized nations as in colonizer nations. Her argument was that colonialism was birthed from patriarchy, to which my reply was no for several reasons. The western idea of patriarchy was introduced to Colonized people through colonialism. Both gender and sexuality are colonial constructs as well.
Like… no. Colonized revolutionaries know that patriarchy is a symptom of colonialism, and in order to overturn it, we must take down white power colonial-capitalism.
Third-wave feminists like to talk about the flowery idealist junk. SJW’s like my professor, create so much importance around intersectionality and the oppression of women as an identity. Ultimately, whether or not you’re a woman in a patriarchal society, the main thing is if you are colonized or not. Colonialism is the root of all problems that poor working class colonized people (of all genders) face.
Homophobia and transphobia are colonial contradictions too. For example, Oaxaca has a third gender which is outside of the colonial binary! And so, for colonizers to make up non-binary peoples’ gender is the first iteration of binary genders. Matronizing mujeres blanca talk down to bi non-binary indigenous people, using degrees to attack colonized gender/sexuality non-conforming (GSN) people, to split the colonized people from each other, and to miseducate.
What cultural items from your nation connects you back to your nation?
The Nahuatl people established themselves in Colima where there is this huge volcano. There we were able to be free from the Aztec Empire.
Part of the origin of our people is that we would see an eagle with a snake in its claws on top of a Cactus. This flag represents our connection with the plants and animals on our land.
Before my Grandma came here to Amerikkka, she made Tamales, our traditional food. Food is what keeps me connected to my culture. Nopalesl, corn, squash and beans, tomatoes and chiles… this is all the Indigenous culture of Turtle Island. You colonizer bitches are my sons! Pizza – that is my son! Zucchini, tomatoes, tortillas! We did that shit!
The nixtamal masa of Tamales is from indigenous culture. In the Caribbean areas, the banana leaves are that. Coconut, iguanas, and opossums connect me to the culture. Iguanas would be hunted to make caldo de iguana. People may have hunted possums for poverty or for traditional practice. Tamarind, mangoes, coconut, Guava is all my culture. This brings me back to the culture and life of my people.
Mortar and pestles are my culture. The Molcajete.
What is to be done!?
In the Black Hammer Western region and in my chapter, in particular, we are working to solve these contradictions with our plans of action (POAs). We are doing outreach to the Mixteca people who are at risk because of colonial jobs and lack of education.
The colonized parents and children in my area struggle with colonialism every day and so it is imperative they get organized in Black Hammer to overturn these contradictions.
We also have a lot of contradictions around housing which we want to overturn by building a Hammer City where the colonized people can work for themselves and their community and not be forced into these colonial farms with dangerous chemicals.
The Thomas fire affected the segregated areas where colonized people lived and left many homeless and reliant on the amerikkkan government which wants to assimilate or genocide them.
Please donate to $BuildHammerCity (CashApp or GoFundMe) to support these projects and join!
