who here learned early on that New Mexico was a tri cultural state while I
Mexico was a tri cultural state while I
Mexico was a tri cultural state while I like many of you did but today I’m gonna
like many of you did but today I’m gonna
like many of you did but today I’m gonna challenge you all to think about this
challenge you all to think about this
challenge you all to think about this try cultural concept a little
try cultural concept a little
try cultural concept a little differently now earlier this year Time
differently now earlier this year Time
differently now earlier this year Time magazine interviewed governor susana
magazine interviewed governor susana
magazine interviewed governor susana Martinez about comments made by none
Martinez about comments made by none
Martinez about comments made by none other than mr. Donald Trump her response
other than mr. Donald Trump her response
other than mr. Donald Trump her response to those comments I listen to the people
to those comments I listen to the people
to those comments I listen to the people of New Mexico
of New Mexico
of New Mexico I represent New Mexico first and
I represent New Mexico first and
I represent New Mexico first and foremost I listen to the Hispanics the
foremost I listen to the Hispanics the
foremost I listen to the Hispanics the Native Americans and the Anglos now I am
Native Americans and the Anglos now I am
Native Americans and the Anglos now I am a black woman born and raised right here
a black woman born and raised right here
a black woman born and raised right here in New Mexico and this oblivious
in New Mexico and this oblivious
in New Mexico and this oblivious attitude by many can make black people
attitude by many can make black people
attitude by many can make black people like myself feel left out and invisible
like myself feel left out and invisible
like myself feel left out and invisible I think it’s about time we change this
I think it’s about time we change this
I think it’s about time we change this because I believe that New Mexico has an
because I believe that New Mexico has an
because I believe that New Mexico has an obligation to honor and respect all of
obligation to honor and respect all of
obligation to honor and respect all of her people
now growing up in New Mexico there were
now growing up in New Mexico there were some things that I learned to do in love
some things that I learned to do in love
some things that I learned to do in love I quickly learned to pick out red green
I quickly learned to pick out red green
I quickly learned to pick out red green or Christmas for almost all my meals let
or Christmas for almost all my meals let
or Christmas for almost all my meals let me be clear it’s always green for me and
me be clear it’s always green for me and
me be clear it’s always green for me and fall in New Mexico means walking around
fall in New Mexico means walking around
fall in New Mexico means walking around town and smelling that roast and chili
town and smelling that roast and chili
town and smelling that roast and chili and those sunsets that are filled with
and those sunsets that are filled with
and those sunsets that are filled with the most beautiful Reds pinks and
the most beautiful Reds pinks and
the most beautiful Reds pinks and purples you have ever seen and the
purples you have ever seen and the
purples you have ever seen and the Balloon Fiesta now I am a black woman
Balloon Fiesta now I am a black woman
Balloon Fiesta now I am a black woman and I am a Mexican woman with a black
and I am a Mexican woman with a black
and I am a Mexican woman with a black father and a Mexican mother I quickly
father and a Mexican mother I quickly
father and a Mexican mother I quickly learned that New Mexico carries with her
learned that New Mexico carries with her
learned that New Mexico carries with her like many places a history of prejudice
like many places a history of prejudice
like many places a history of prejudice and racism see it was impressed upon my
and racism see it was impressed upon my
and racism see it was impressed upon my brothers and I early that this blackness
brothers and I early that this blackness
brothers and I early that this blackness this is something that you should love
this is something that you should love
this is something that you should love you should be proud of and what we were
you should be proud of and what we were
you should be proud of and what we were taught to honor and respect both of our
taught to honor and respect both of our
taught to honor and respect both of our culture’s the reality is this is America
culture’s the reality is this is America
culture’s the reality is this is America and woven within the fabric of this
and woven within the fabric of this
and woven within the fabric of this nation is racism see black people in
nation is racism see black people in
nation is racism see black people in this country have been legally
this country have been legally
this country have been legally discriminated against for longer than
discriminated against for longer than
discriminated against for longer than America has been an actual country now
America has been an actual country now
America has been an actual country now it didn’t take long for me to realize
it didn’t take long for me to realize
it didn’t take long for me to realize that there were some from this other
that there were some from this other
that there were some from this other oppressed group that would take and
oppressed group that would take and
oppressed group that would take and internalize these behaviors because of
internalize these behaviors because of
internalize these behaviors because of physical features that my brothers and I
physical features that my brothers and I
physical features that my brothers and I carry lean closer to our black side
carry lean closer to our black side
carry lean closer to our black side that’s exactly how the world will come
that’s exactly how the world will come
that’s exactly how the world will come to see us and I recall that my being
to see us and I recall that my being
to see us and I recall that my being half wasn’t going to stop Mexican people
half wasn’t going to stop Mexican people
half wasn’t going to stop Mexican people from showcasing their racism towards us
from showcasing their racism towards us
from showcasing their racism towards us I vividly remember a time my mother
I vividly remember a time my mother
I vividly remember a time my mother father and I we pulled into a gas
father and I we pulled into a gas
father and I we pulled into a gas station my father stepped inside and a
station my father stepped inside and a
station my father stepped inside and a man jumped out and started banging the
man jumped out and started banging the
man jumped out and started banging the hood of our car with a crowbar you
hood of our car with a crowbar you
hood of our car with a crowbar you nigger lover you betrayed us these were
nigger lover you betrayed us these were
nigger lover you betrayed us these were some of the things that he said to my
some of the things that he said to my
some of the things that he said to my mother I recall another time my mother
mother I recall another time my mother
mother I recall another time my mother and I we went shopping
and I we went shopping
and I we went shopping we headed into the mall department store
we headed into the mall department store
we headed into the mall department store and I headed straight for the shiny
and I headed straight for the shiny
and I headed straight for the shiny jewelry section I saw a piece I liked
jewelry section I saw a piece I liked
jewelry section I saw a piece I liked and I asked to see it the lady at the
and I asked to see it the lady at the
and I asked to see it the lady at the counter told me ma’am this is out of
counter told me ma’am this is out of
counter told me ma’am this is out of your price range now I was young and so
your price range now I was young and so
your price range now I was young and so an argument ensued and about that time
an argument ensued and about that time
an argument ensued and about that time and she called over her supervisor and
and she called over her supervisor and
and she called over her supervisor and it was about that time my mom walked up
it was about that time my mom walked up
it was about that time my mom walked up and asked what was going on and the lady
and asked what was going on and the lady
and asked what was going on and the lady said ma’am don’t worry we have this
said ma’am don’t worry we have this
said ma’am don’t worry we have this situation under control
situation under control
situation under control well it was also about that time that
well it was also about that time that
well it was also about that time that they were informed that this situation
they were informed that this situation
they were informed that this situation was in fact her daughter now I’ve had
was in fact her daughter now I’ve had
was in fact her daughter now I’ve had many many experiences similar to these
many many experiences similar to these
many many experiences similar to these growing up here in New Mexico in
growing up here in New Mexico in
growing up here in New Mexico in elementary school I vividly recall black
elementary school I vividly recall black
elementary school I vividly recall black history being given to me in the most
history being given to me in the most
history being given to me in the most basic and shallow format see I remember
basic and shallow format see I remember
basic and shallow format see I remember Harriet Tubman she freed the slaves and
Harriet Tubman she freed the slaves and
Harriet Tubman she freed the slaves and Rosa Parks refused to sit at the back of
Rosa Parks refused to sit at the back of
Rosa Parks refused to sit at the back of the bus and dr. Martin Luther King jr.
the bus and dr. Martin Luther King jr.
the bus and dr. Martin Luther King jr. he had a dream now while all of these
he had a dream now while all of these
he had a dream now while all of these contributions are vitally important I
contributions are vitally important I
contributions are vitally important I just knew that there was more out there
just knew that there was more out there
just knew that there was more out there now New Mexico it’s where I grew it’s
now New Mexico it’s where I grew it’s
now New Mexico it’s where I grew it’s where I learned it’s where I made
where I learned it’s where I made
where I learned it’s where I made mistakes but it is here that I learned
mistakes but it is here that I learned
mistakes but it is here that I learned to love my blackness so I attended the
to love my blackness so I attended the
to love my blackness so I attended the University of New Mexico I studied
University of New Mexico I studied
University of New Mexico I studied history psychology and Africana Studies
history psychology and Africana Studies
history psychology and Africana Studies and it was here that I gained a cultural
and it was here that I gained a cultural
and it was here that I gained a cultural context of my blackness
context of my blackness
context of my blackness let me ask has anybody here heard of
let me ask has anybody here heard of
let me ask has anybody here heard of George McJunkin well he was a black man
George McJunkin well he was a black man
George McJunkin well he was a black man and in 1922 he led scientists to the
and in 1922 he led scientists to the
and in 1922 he led scientists to the discovery of bison bones right here in
discovery of bison bones right here in
discovery of bison bones right here in New Mexico and these bones turned out to
New Mexico and these bones turned out to
New Mexico and these bones turned out to be over 10,000 years old and it proved
be over 10,000 years old and it proved
be over 10,000 years old and it proved that people had been on this side of the
that people had been on this side of the
that people had been on this side of the country for much longer than originally
country for much longer than originally
country for much longer than originally expected and what about William caffee
expected and what about William caffee
expected and what about William caffee anybody know that name
anybody know that name
anybody know that name well her birth name is actually Kathy
well her birth name is actually Kathy
well her birth name is actually Kathy Williams and she was the first woman to
Williams and she was the first woman to
Williams and she was the first woman to enlist in the US Army and this black
enlist in the US Army and this black
enlist in the US Army and this black woman before she was discovered
woman before she was discovered
woman before she was discovered but most of her service time here in New
but most of her service time here in New
but most of her service time here in New Mexico and speaking of service I know
Mexico and speaking of service I know
Mexico and speaking of service I know many of us have heard about the
many of us have heard about the
many of us have heard about the wonderful amazing history of the Buffalo
wonderful amazing history of the Buffalo
wonderful amazing history of the Buffalo Soldiers but did you know that some of
Soldiers but did you know that some of
Soldiers but did you know that some of the oldest black settlements in the
the oldest black settlements in the
the oldest black settlements in the country were actually towns right here
country were actually towns right here
country were actually towns right here in New Mexico that’s right
in New Mexico that’s right
in New Mexico that’s right we have Dora which was established in
we have Dora which was established in
we have Dora which was established in the 1870s blackton which was established
the 1870s blackton which was established
the 1870s blackton which was established in 1903 I mean look where we are at the
in 1903 I mean look where we are at the
in 1903 I mean look where we are at the African American Performing Arts Center
African American Performing Arts Center
African American Performing Arts Center that’s history but black people are
that’s history but black people are
that’s history but black people are rarely if ever mentioned in these
rarely if ever mentioned in these
rarely if ever mentioned in these historical conversations about New
historical conversations about New
historical conversations about New Mexico now I have since unapologetically
Mexico now I have since unapologetically
Mexico now I have since unapologetically shaped my life around activism and
shaped my life around activism and
shaped my life around activism and advocacy for the black community
advocacy for the black community
advocacy for the black community throughout the Diaspora and in my
throughout the Diaspora and in my
throughout the Diaspora and in my learning one thing has become very clear
learning one thing has become very clear
learning one thing has become very clear to me and it’s actually rooted in an old
to me and it’s actually rooted in an old
to me and it’s actually rooted in an old but necessary counseling cliche it says
but necessary counseling cliche it says
but necessary counseling cliche it says you cannot learn to love anyone else
you cannot learn to love anyone else
you cannot learn to love anyone else until you learn to love yourself now
until you learn to love yourself now
until you learn to love yourself now when I say that on an individual level
when I say that on an individual level
when I say that on an individual level it resonates with people but if I speak
it resonates with people but if I speak
it resonates with people but if I speak that same concept on a communal scale
that same concept on a communal scale
that same concept on a communal scale people don’t seem to get it see black
people don’t seem to get it see black
people don’t seem to get it see black people have been oppressed through
people have been oppressed through
people have been oppressed through colonization racism sexism and
colonization racism sexism and
colonization racism sexism and capitalism but the reality is that many
capitalism but the reality is that many
capitalism but the reality is that many times cultural pride is mistaken for
times cultural pride is mistaken for
times cultural pride is mistaken for hate when in fact cultural pride has
hate when in fact cultural pride has
hate when in fact cultural pride has been the antithesis to hate here in
been the antithesis to hate here in
been the antithesis to hate here in America now nowhere is this more
America now nowhere is this more
America now nowhere is this more important than in education now I know
important than in education now I know
important than in education now I know you’re probably asking yourself in
you’re probably asking yourself in
you’re probably asking yourself in telling yourself not Christina black
telling yourself not Christina black
telling yourself not Christina black people aren’t the only people to
people aren’t the only people to
people aren’t the only people to experience racism or pain no we aren’t
experience racism or pain no we aren’t
experience racism or pain no we aren’t but now isn’t the time to play
but now isn’t the time to play
but now isn’t the time to play oppression Olympics
see see this is about representation in
see see this is about representation in 2012 the University of Pittsburgh and
2012 the University of Pittsburgh and
2012 the University of Pittsburgh and Harvard University did a study and they
Harvard University did a study and they
Harvard University did a study and they combined found that when
combined found that when
combined found that when african-american parents instill an
african-american parents instill an
african-american parents instill an informed and sober perspective of race
informed and sober perspective of race
informed and sober perspective of race in their sons and daughters these same
in their sons and daughters these same
in their sons and daughters these same children grow up to experience increased
children grow up to experience increased
children grow up to experience increased academic success this is because
academic success this is because
academic success this is because representation not only provides a
representation not only provides a
representation not only provides a historical content and an understanding
historical content and an understanding
historical content and an understanding and a space for healing for these
and a space for healing for these
and a space for healing for these children it also prepares children for
children it also prepares children for
children it also prepares children for the very real monster that is racism I’m
the very real monster that is racism I’m
the very real monster that is racism I’m gonna tell you all a real quick story
gonna tell you all a real quick story
gonna tell you all a real quick story when my son was five years old in
when my son was five years old in
when my son was five years old in kindergarten I picked him up from school
kindergarten I picked him up from school
kindergarten I picked him up from school tears filled his eyes and he looked at
tears filled his eyes and he looked at
tears filled his eyes and he looked at me and said mama I hate my skin I want
me and said mama I hate my skin I want
me and said mama I hate my skin I want to take it off the white kids at school
to take it off the white kids at school
to take it off the white kids at school told me that my skin was dirty and I
told me that my skin was dirty and I
told me that my skin was dirty and I want to look like them now me being his
want to look like them now me being his
want to look like them now me being his mama what I really wanted to do was go
mama what I really wanted to do was go
mama what I really wanted to do was go find their parents and those kids and we
find their parents and those kids and we
find their parents and those kids and we were gonna have maybe some type of
were gonna have maybe some type of
were gonna have maybe some type of conversation but what I realized I had
conversation but what I realized I had
conversation but what I realized I had to do was I had to step it up I had to
to do was I had to step it up I had to
to do was I had to step it up I had to make sure that every time he looked in
make sure that every time he looked in
make sure that every time he looked in the mirror pain was not what he saw I
the mirror pain was not what he saw I
the mirror pain was not what he saw I had to make it my full-time job on top
had to make it my full-time job on top
had to make it my full-time job on top of raising him to assure that the images
of raising him to assure that the images
of raising him to assure that the images that he receives about himself and
that he receives about himself and
that he receives about himself and therefore his people were positive in
therefore his people were positive in
therefore his people were positive in 2015 the black population in New Mexico
2015 the black population in New Mexico
2015 the black population in New Mexico was 2.6 percent however the dropout rate
was 2.6 percent however the dropout rate
was 2.6 percent however the dropout rate for black students was recorded at sixty
for black students was recorded at sixty
for black students was recorded at sixty four point three percent that is the
four point three percent that is the
four point three percent that is the second highest in the state now knowing
second highest in the state now knowing
second highest in the state now knowing that adding a little bit of history is
that adding a little bit of history is
that adding a little bit of history is not a cure for a long-standing battle
not a cure for a long-standing battle
not a cure for a long-standing battle with systemic racism what this does is
with systemic racism what this does is
with systemic racism what this does is tell us that it is about time that
tell us that it is about time that
tell us that it is about time that those of us who are in these communities
those of us who are in these communities
those of us who are in these communities take the lead and take charge and find
take the lead and take charge and find
take the lead and take charge and find ways to begin this healing process now
ways to begin this healing process now
ways to begin this healing process now personally you you can’t change the way
personally you you can’t change the way
personally you you can’t change the way people are viewed in New Mexico and you
people are viewed in New Mexico and you
people are viewed in New Mexico and you really can’t even change an entire
really can’t even change an entire
really can’t even change an entire school system by yourself
school system by yourself
school system by yourself but this cry for representation by black
but this cry for representation by black
but this cry for representation by black people is not new and it is about time
people is not new and it is about time
people is not new and it is about time that all of us stop and recognize our
that all of us stop and recognize our
that all of us stop and recognize our own individual roles within these
own individual roles within these
own individual roles within these problems so by recognizing that New
problems so by recognizing that New
problems so by recognizing that New Mexico is not simply a tri cultural
Mexico is not simply a tri cultural
Mexico is not simply a tri cultural state but is in fact a multicultural
state but is in fact a multicultural
state but is in fact a multicultural state full of a vivacious history that
state full of a vivacious history that
state full of a vivacious history that very much includes black people is a
very much includes black people is a
very much includes black people is a necessary step in the process and some
necessary step in the process and some
necessary step in the process and some of you all have the privilege to enact
of you all have the privilege to enact
of you all have the privilege to enact change faster than others now
now I wanna star just stop for a moment
now I wanna star just stop for a moment considering everything we’ve talked
considering everything we’ve talked
considering everything we’ve talked about today I want you to imagine what
about today I want you to imagine what
about today I want you to imagine what other amazing black contributions lay
other amazing black contributions lay
other amazing black contributions lay unearthed out there that you don’t know
unearthed out there that you don’t know
unearthed out there that you don’t know about far beyond the Sandia’s thank you
about far beyond the Sandia’s thank you
about far beyond the Sandia’s thank you [Applause]
”
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