It is so inspiring, amazing, and super energetic to attend a poetry slam with people from your neighborhood. You get to see, listen, and feel all sorts of different things. The Girl Steering Committee for Girls For A Change had our first connection event at MACLA, the well-known place for poetry slammin’! I was so inspired and energetic by the time the event was over. I even felt like taking poetry workshops; which MACLA offered for free for about three weeks. Anyway, the slam had a variety of poets/poems, from simple everyday things, to personal and deep feelings, and definitely culture expression!
During the slam, I listened to someone express their feelings and thoughts about something as simple as coffee. Something people drink for energy, but usually never stop to make a poem about. I also got to listen and feel the thoughts about peer pressure not just from school but from home and parents as well. But, the most inspiring poem was about my culture and things I’ve had to deal with, yes: Machismo. This brilliant young man, gave us the definition, the things men and women do when their lives are ruled by this negativity, and the consequences that we refuse to see before our eyes. We are so blinded that we don’t stop to change this ugly mentality.
This poetry slam was a place where I met young adults who are opening their minds, becoming “un-blinded” and take steps for a positive change. To see people expressing themselves and speaking their minds made me feel so proud. I said to myself, “Look at us, how many people have the ability to express themselves in poems and speeches? We are so not the stereotypical lazy Mexicans”
This is so empowering to me because many of us (Mexicans) or any other Minorities (Cultures) don’t have the opportunity to even realize, that they have all this incredible potential inside themselves for anything they are passionate about. So, when I see someone on stage from my culture, being so powerful and expressing themselves in front of the public, it is like seeing family on stage! And, to see family on stage, makes me feel very proud of who I am and where I come from.
As a young Mexican, this is very important to me, because I see my culture taking baby steps to a positive change! No matter how big or how small the steps are. Did you know that California had the largest Hispanic population in July 2004 (12.4 million) and the largest numerical increase (351,000) since July 2003. If there are so many of us, then why are this statistics the way they are:
Of the 81 women serving in the 109th Congress, 7 are Latina
Of the 81 women serving in statewide elective executive offices, 3 are Latina
Of the 1,666 women State Legislators serving nationwide, 69 are Latina.
But even little statistics can be empowering…
I am now part of those who take baby steps for change, because of GFC, and because of the inspirational people I meet. From big names like Bertice Berry, to common young adults like me at the poetry slams. Imagine what it would be like to see more members of Congress and the U.S. Senate who are of our cultures, imagine the big change: who really gets represented in the “big house” I’m not saying go into politics, I’m just saying “Anyone has potential, who gets to see it and practice is a few people” So, find your inner potential and use it, because it is a great tool, the key to many doors! - Alicia
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