Vignettes

Milagro		 Because our women before us had the fortitude to survive genocide, we are here. Those who were healers, warriors, peace makers. We are them. The scent of their memories define our struggle. The color of their skin sculpted their histories and challenge and celebrate ours. Without their victories, without their scars, without their God we'd have no feet, no voice, no light.

Esperanza		 I promise to close my eyes and with hungry arms and thirsty heart invite into my skin covered soul only beautiful militant men of color. This luminous man will get hard when listening to me speak of a history told through the eyes of the prey instead of the hunter. Like Jesus, a fuckin' revolutionary who threw down the word something fierce against the oppressors that be, he will love big, trust thick and forgive always

Maria		 My parents, my husbands, my professors, my child molester uncle, rabbis, boys I kissed, intrusive men who see only my breasts or thighs have all held their fingers to their mouths and squeezed a SSSHHH through their teeth. They all told me to swallow my tongue so my words would cook in my belly instead of take flight from my lips. But you have reminded me that I am my voice.

Step		 I was a baby and remember stepping into my first cathedral. Like magic.I spun on my toes, opened my mouth, stuck out my tongue trying to catch the chards of light that filtered through the stained glass. I looked up and I saw the Virgin Mary surrounded by light and just knew...

My husband's been missing in action in Iraq for two years. I've been trying to burst into light ever since.

Leon		 When my eyes shut still for the last time, bury them quick while warm in their skull. Enter in one piece my meat in its skin deep enough into the mud to keep out the ghosts and the rats. Let me have this one thing I know I don't deserve.

Shabaaz		 I think I haven't done my job or nurtured these young sisters to where they can hear me. It should make us rise up to be better black men.

Victor		 You know all Latinos cheat on their women and Asian men expect to be catered to and aren't good in bed and black men, maybe they're well endowed but please none of them know how to respect women.

Carlos		 Whaddya get when you put a Muslim, a Jew, and an immigration attorney in charge of raising the political consciousness of their community?