“Well, Which one is it?”
“Are you traditional or are you the ‘Bernie Sanders type’?”
“You’re confused.”
“You gotta choose.”
Fine, I will.
Profits over people?
Never.
Denying my Indigenous ancestry?
That neither.
Ignoring women’s value to society?
Tampoco.
Place into a box all who receive social services?
Deny single mothers of food stamps?
People with disabilities healthcare?
Because you would take advantage of it if you could?
So, assume that they do?
Nah.
Placing patriarchal expectations on my daughter? My son? My marriage?
No.
Ignore the science?
Disrespect my earth?
The resources it gives us to live? Breathe? Flourish?
Can’t.
Choosing religion over my babies?
Their well-being?
Their mental, physical health?
Their feelings, dreams, & freedom?
NO.
Following the law, following the rules, following the policy, blindly?
Watching my people burn under them?
Watching children snatched?
Children starved?
Women beaten?
Black people killed?
Negative.
Accepting that work & capitalism should reign in my home?
Denying my children of time with me?
Denying my children a childhood for money?
Denying myself time to breathe, relax, be present?
…
Be submissive to people, anyone to my detriment just because I’m:
woman,
brown,
loud,
a citizen,
“supposed to”?
Nope.
Normalize the fear of men.
Bear or man?
Bear always.
Normal? No.
Speaking of normal.
Believe that my son’s differences make him less than?
Not provide him with medical care in public because you’re uncomfortable?
You’re scared?
It’s not… normal?
Not encourage he use his sign language.
Use his speaking device.
Because… you’re uncomfortable?
You feel bad?
You feel pity?
No, thanks.
Be afraid to speak Spanish to my mom at the store?
In a country that never had an official language?
That said, “bring me your poor & your hungry”?
Come at me.
Stop protesting?
Voting?
Speaking up?
Exercising my rights?
No.
Answer to you?
Explain to you?
Defend my humanity?
My son’s?
My daughter’s?
My mother’s?
My peoples’?
To you?
Never.
