#Xicanx

[artofsanctity]

I'm just coasting.

[yourdailyqueer]

Michael Paramo

Gender: Non binary - Xicanx (he/they)

Sexuality: Queer, Asexual and aromantic

DOB: Born 1993

Ethnicity: Mexican

Nationality: American

Occupation: Writer, academic, artist

[arnoldogarcia]

Luna-perra | series | acrylic on ragged edge paper 11”x17” | 2024

[rojo-todd]

I've been so beat up lately

[de-la-soul94]

(:

[chronicallylatetotheparty]

A Xicana fronteriza's intoductory thoughts on Xicanx/Latinx experiences and US mass media

[speaknahuatl]

Chicano/a/x & Xicano/a/x: A Linguistic View

This is SOLELY from a linguistic view.

There's a misconception going around that this identity term comes directly from a Nahuatl command.

From a Nahuatl language view, xicana is an order, a command and is not connected to the Chicano/a/x or Xicano/a/x identity. Puebla Norte variant: _ana means to take or to steal Ex. 1 as a command: xic ana tomi / take the money Ex. 2 as a statement: tic anasquen tomi ipan tlapextli / we are going to take the money from the table Source: Ex. 2 taken from the "Macehualtlahtolli" app on Google Play Store.

From a Mexican Spanish language view, Chicano came from Mexicano. This is so because during the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, the /x/ was pronounced as /sh/ like when you're telling someone to be quiet "shhh 🤫." This means that Mexicano was pronounced Meshicano which was reduced to Chicano. It was not reduced to shicano because according to how the language works, Spanish words don't start with /sh/ sounds. The closest sound to that is the /ch/ which is a sharper sound like in the words chicharrón and chico. However, languages are ALWAYS changing so it can also be written and pronounced as /sh/ like in Xicana, Xicano or Xicanx.

[xikanawa]

Introduction

¡Piyali mochitin! (Greetings to all!)

The name i use in the land of hypertext is Jacio, and i am 1st-generation usamerican-born Mexican diaspora. My father was born in Guanajuato, my mother was born in Michoacan. Most other generational knowledge which one should normally be imbued with has been lost in my case, due to colonialism and cultural genocide. I extend solidarity to fellow Xicanas who are in similar positions.

From my perspective, it has become evident that a post-modern, post-european philosophy - when developed without consideration towards global indigenous viewpoints - has been leading the world toward ruin. Therefore, i have started the personal process of de-colonizing the information present in my mind. I've begun this process over the past few years by studying the different kinds of indigenous knowledge belonging to the cultures of Mesoamerica (Anawak), North America (Turtle Island), and South America (Abya Yala), and internalizing them to conceive of an "alter-modern" worldview [1]. I've primarily focused my attention on the knowledge of Anawakah societies, due to my ancestry.

I want to use this blog to become more educated through the community which already exists here, to share some of my newfound knowledge with others, and to post random musings that i hope will be as fascinating to others as they are to me~ c:

{ If you, dear reader, see anything in my blog that you disagree with or want clarification on: my askbox is open! I'm willing to admit when i'm wrong, and also willing to admit when i haven't phrased things clearly enough! I want to foster a sense of community learning and open communication with all who are genuinely curious~<3 }

[1. I personally consider an "Alter-modern Philosophy" to be a framework which accepts the empirically-derived body-of-knowledge which has resulted from the time periods of European "Scientific Revolution"/"Enlightenment"/"Modernity", but which rejects the current reality of neocolonialism-through-capitalism as some kind of 'natural endpoint' for (post-)modernity.  I believe that syncretism of modernity with both pre-contact and contemporary indigenous worldviews is essential to the creation of alter-modern futures and philosophies which would allow life to flourish upon land that has been ravaged by capitalism's post-modern irreverence. The scientific methods which existed in indigenous cultures have long been misunderstood within colonist-imposed structures. Such methods must supersede the influence of the post-modern sciences which hold nothing in this world as sacred.  This footnote is way too long lmao. TL;DR: Historical Materialism == Good]

[octorafy]

…i wear my pre-engagement ring during pisces season only, and tonight this season wraps up, until next year… #PiscesSeason #Amethyst #Love1984

[creepykuroneko]

We went to see the Prayers play last night in San Antonio. There were a few technical difficulties, a couple of drunk people spilled their beers on me, and someone hit the back of my head before the show even started 😡 but overall we had a fun time. We had some fun conversations with a butch lesbian and her girlfriend, the band played almost every single one of our favorite songs, and I got a autographed copy of one of their albums 😻

[arnoldogarcia]

Rascuachis everywhere

CHICANO ART MOVEMENT visits: “Rasquachismo” 2024

On Saturday 05/11/24, we visited Huntington Beach Art Center to view “Rasquachismo” in the city of Huntington Beach, California.

(“Beyond Timeless” by Justin Favela, 2022)

We learned from the mission statement that: “‘Rasquachismo,’ [is] a multi-media exhibition celebrating the aesthetics and transformative power of Lowriders. Featuring work by William Camargo with Alkaid Ramirez, Justin Favela, Stephanie Mercado, Arturo Meza Il, Aaron Moctezuma, Jose Manuel Flores Nava, Alicia Villegas-Rolon, and Cora J. Quiroz.”

(“Anaheim in Flux” by William Camargo with Alkaid Ramirez, 2024)

“Emerging from the barrios of Southern California, lowriding brought forth a long resistance against the American Dream and dominant idealist norms that attempted to anglicize the young Chicanx individual. Forces of the Anglo-American culture did all it could to disrupt and omit the lowrider. From individual traffic stops to passing county-wide laws, all were attempts to take the lowrider off the streets. Low and slow, their metallic bodies transfigured in response. Now, unapologetically visible, lowriders glisten in candy-colored paint and dance with the aid of hydraulics. The power of lowriding extends beyond the car's aesthetics, however. It has become a rasquachismo expression of Mexican-American, and, eventually, Chicanx identity.”

(“Highland Park” by Stephanie Mercado, 2023)

A favorite of Robert’s at the “Rasquachismo” exhibit was Stephanie Mercado’s “Highland Park.” Through a little research, we learned that “‘Highland Park’ honors the cultural richness of the area including its history, diversity, and its valuable contributions to the broader arts and culture sector of Los Angeles. Utilizing imagery and icons sourced from the neighborhood, this piece celebrates the enduring local landmarks and showcases the architectural diversity that defines the area. Simultaneously, it pays homage to the artists and art spaces that have played a vital role in making Highland Park a vibrant and lively neighborhood for generations.” 

(Detailed view of “We Can Dream” by Cora J. Quiroz, 2022)

From the museum ephemera, we learned that this painting entitled “We Can Dream” by Cora J. Quiroz is part of a series called “Not Your Typical Rosie.” 

The artist states: “I paint women in a way that removes them from being acquiescent muses in typical artworks. From action, body language, and clothing, to expression, I ensure the women I paint have active roles of inspiration, movement, and storytelling. Raised by my mother, I learned about my family’s history through oral tradition. Rather than beng inspred by male-dominated stories in media, I became inspired by the Indigenous and Mexican women of my family, taking spaces where they were not expected.

The simplest acts typical for a man to perform, can often be taboo for women, such as working in the car industry. Despite this, for many years there have been women who have gone against the grain to become whoever they pleased to be, going beyond the WWII icon associated with strong women. These are the stories that inspire my work.” 

(“El Cuento de los Panes: A Community Installation Inspired by Dr. Tomás Ybarra-Frausto” organized by the Exhibition Design students at Laguna College of Art and Design, 2024) 

The exhibition statement shares that the term rasquachismo was “coined by Chicano scholar and art critic Tomás Ybarra-Frausto to describe ‘an underdog perspective, a view from los de abajo’ (from below) in working class Chicanx communities which uses elements of ‘hybridization, juxtaposition, and integration’ as a means of empowerment and resistance.”

The Huntington Beach Art Center presents “Rasquachismo” curated by Laura Black until June 1st, 2024 with their last programming event of an artist discussion is set for Saturday May 25th, 2024 from 1pm to 2:30pm.

[artofsanctity]

Don't look at me like that, papi.

[amicide]

Khadija Mbowe said in a recent video that what many leftists are missing out rn is spirituality, or something to that affect, and I've been thinking about (my lack of, but desire for) spirituality a lot lately. i'm a major skeptic for many things involving the spiritual and otherworldly, but at the same time i feel a fascination and connection to it. I would scoff at my mom's beliefs in evil spirits causing depression, but I used to indulge in consulting the stars and moon as a teen. i have been immersing myself in much Chicana/Xicanx perspectives as well, where spirituality is a common subject. Perhaps I have given away too much into Western atheism in an act of defense against/defiance for Christian racism, homophobia, sexism etc. However, I'm realizing there's a balance that I can achieve. I can preserve myself while connecting with spirituality that doesn't have to be institutionalized

[arnoldogarcia]

Danzante con plantas en la mano derecha y el viento en la izquierda (mixed media 4.5”x9” \ 2024)

[fiercynn]

queer short film: "amigas with benefits"

queer short cuts is a biweekly newsletter where i share queer & trans short film recommendations. i'm featuring some of my favorite films on tumblr because why not

united states | 2017 | 11 minutes | narrative short audio in english & spanish; auto-generated english captions available

amigas with benefits, written and directed by adelina anthony, is a charming and sweet film about two elder latinx lesbians, lupita (yuny parada) and ramona (sandra matrecitos), who are set to marry at the senior residence they both live in. only one problem: lupita’s daughter virginia (karla legaspy) storms in to halt the wedding, invoking her power as lupita’s legal guardian to keep the two apart. but ramona and lupita won’t let anything get in the way of their love. - deepa's full review, including content notes at the end

watch on vimeo on demand, and see more queer & two-spirit xicanx films by aderisa, the production company run by director adelina anthony!

[keynlock]