“We didn’t cross the border, the border crossed us”, was quoted by my Mexican American studies professor during my undergrad at The University of Texas at Austin. Learning about my culture in this way sparked a remembering of stories and perspectives for me about my own people. Not the story of how we migrated here but the story of how we’ve always been here. This was an “AHA” moment for me that the connection of my family history my mother would tell me vs what I learned in public school were very contradicting. A surprise? No. A new perspective of my ancestral roots? Yes. The United States was built on a peoples who were ignored and abused. As well as immigrants who migrated over like Europeans, Africans and other peoples. This is the other side of the American Dream. When you hear the word immigrant, what do you think? Prior to what I know now, I was naïve and used to think immigrants were a person of color who came to America for a better life. Crazy, right? Now, I know this is the systemic racism and colonization that our society perpetuates. I’m grateful to my Mexican American studies professor who re-awoke the curiosity of the question, who am I? What do you feel? Who are you? I am American, and I get to be so much more. I believe we choose who we are and to understand our present we must accept our past and with an open heart embrace our futures.
I am Chicana, I am American, I am the oppressed and the oppressor AND I am Love. Growing up I would hear my parents say, what about us? Even in school in the 90’s & 00’s there was a lot of education on racism between Anglos and African people, this was very clear. However, there was not much education on Mexican, Native American, Hawaiian, and other Indigenous peoples. And what I did learn, the overall message was that Mexicans were villians in some shape or form, fighting against the United States. Growing up, I would rarely see someone that looked like me in mainstream film, television, or positions of power, the people of color I often saw held positions of hospitality, janitorial services, criminals, individuals that worked in landscape, and in the background in general. It’s only now in our present day where its more common to see people of color as not only the co-star but the main star. And this is HUGE and needs CELEBRATION.
People who come to the United States bring their culture with them and continue to honor their homeland roots. People whose homeland is here are our ancestors and their stories are within us. They are not the history forced upon us. Here in South Texas, Native Americans were blended with Europeans, Indians, and Africans. Most of us privileged to live in the United States presently are also disconnected to our ancestral roots. We all have souls and it needs to be included in the conversation.
In my journey thus far to know myself, know my ancestral roots, and know my community; yoga was a major catalyst in my life. And it continues as yoga is a lifelong practice. I love the universal qualities yoga brings to all people. Yoga is a few thousand years old and has its roots in India, it is truly a practice of union of the body, mind and soul. As I research and reeducate myself with United States, Mexico, and my family history I have so many questions and perspectives that make me hungry for more. Today it feels like the past is starting to repeat itself, however I feel that we have an awareness for togetherness now that we didn’t have before. The power of creativity and the rising of the Divine Feminine within us all.
I am an American, a Chicana, a Woman, a Human, and together let’s keep the faith.
All my love,
Kaeli Iolani