I, Too, Am Wellesley

"We, the Concerned Asian, Black, Latin@, Native, Differently-Abled, First-Generation and LGBTQ-identified students at Wellesley College “seek to eradicate systems of oppression as they affect marginalized communities on this campus. These systems--which include racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, and ableism--are deployed at [Wellesley] and beyond as forms of institutional violence. We demand that [Wellesley] challenge these systems by redistributing power and resources in a way that is radically equitable. Dialogue and resistance are both legitimate and necessary ways of disturbing the status quo and forcing parties to deal with the roots of the issues.” The institutional violence that exists at Wellesley is manifested via the lack of academic equality, the lack of resources and support for students and faculty of color, and the lack of academic disciplines that speak about the histories of marginalized and oppressed groups in our society. Institutionalized oppression exists at Wellesley and is manifested by the inadequate financial and institutional resources and support for students, particularly students of color and other marginalized communities." -preamble to WAAM-SLAMII: Demands for Transformative Justice and Education at Wellesley College

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"Do you speak Dominican?"

No, sorry. Dominican is NOT a language.

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I AM

Black and Latina.

Mexican and Guyanese.

I AM NOT

Confused.

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The way I speak does not dictate the authenticity of my BLACKNESS

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Feeling UNCOMFORTABLE discussing race?

GOOD.

I mean, this is an intellectual setting.

It's not taboo.

It's starts with YOU and ME,

But discrimination ends with US!

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I am not your token Latina. Don't just use me to advertise diversity. Where are the support systems we deserve? #waamslam2

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1. I am not GHETTO because I raise my voice when I am passionate about what I am saying.

2. GHETTO is not an adjective!

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☑ Bangladeshi

☑ American

☑ Muslim

☑ Indian classical dancer

☑ Sister

☑ Friend

HUMAN

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Mayan-Guatemalan & American.

I have never & will never fit in,

I will forever be alienated by both sides,

and I recently came to terms with this.

I wasn't meant to fit in, and

I DON'T WANT TO.

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"You only got in because you're Mexican"

Don't demean my achievements.

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My heritage is NOT your fashion statement.

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My hair texture doesn't make me less black.

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"Where are you from?"

Los Angeles

Xiamen

Shanghai

Korla

If you actually want to know where I'm from, then actually listen.

#TCK #it'scomplicated

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Person: "Girl, you are so sassy! All the black girls I know are sassy."

Me: "Uhm actually...I just have opinions that I am not afraid to express."

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My name is Rocio.

Yes, you have to roll the rrr's!

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My role in academia is NOT to be a statistic or case-study.

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My 3 dimensions are NOT black-by-black-by-black.

There are OTHER characters to me.

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"If we do this for you, we'll have to do it for all marginalized groups."

#WAAMSLAMII

Yes, because we stand in SOLIDARITY.