Fuck Yeah Jot@s

detribalizedaztec:

~~Map of the Colonized mind~~

Based off of my poem Heart in Tenochtitlán, this piece maps out the scars inflicted on the mind by the violent process of colonialism and subsequently, neocolonialism. The latter, neocolonialism, expressed in our current times through ‘fashion’ trends, institutionalized xenophobia, and state-sanctioned racism.

The map also has an element of self-portraiture:

English is my only language, and this was not my family’s choice or mine personally.
I don’t know Spanish because this society subordinates all those who are perceived as different. Further, I do not know how to speak my indigenous language, Nahuatl, because in order to escape genocide brought on by the Spanish conquest, my family had to learn the alien tongue, Español, and convert.

The loss of language goes hand in hand with the loss of tradition. Therefore, I am unable to communicate with some of my closest family members, much less my fellow Mexicanos/Latinos.

I made this illustration as a reminder as to why this country exists the way it does. To point out that it’s NOT “just the way things are.” I made this illustration because maps, like the chains cast by colonialism, are ephemeral and because I have a profound faith that Humanity is good and can do better… So that this doesn’t happen next time.

Heart in Tenochtitlán can be read here, on my tumblr.