As September 2016 rolled around I found myself breaking free from many longtime friendships and family ties all because of my involvement with the political revolution. Going against the norm has always been a way of life for me so to find those I thought knew me were disappointed I wasn't falling in line with the status quo was surprising, though not shocking. The experience forced me to see how my energy had been focused on making change for the masses while neglecting my own personal growth. It had occurred to me how cultural assimilation in America has taken a toll on many in my community and social circle casting them further off course from OG Chicanismo. Instead of wallowing in anger and self-pity I began taking a deeper look into my own detachment from ancestral roots by being born into this cultural indoctrination nation. It dawned on me how throughout my years of public education (K-12) I never once learned of Aztec or Mayan gods yet was taught of Greek and Roman mythology. Something needed to be done so I turned to creating a series of Aztec glyphs made of felt, vintage and contemporary buttons, beads and notions. I had originally planned on making a set of 20 but life took a series of unnexpected twists and chingaderas in March of 2017 so I had to put the project on hold. I was only able to complete one additional piece during the recent pandemic bringing me closer to completing the series.
Miquiztli (death)
Ozomahtli (monkey)
Cipactli (caiman or aquatic monster)
Itzcuintli (dog)
Ocelotl (ocelot or jaguar)
Ehecatl (wind)
Cuauhtli (eagle)
Tochtli (rabbit)
Coatl (snake)
Cozcacuauhtli (vulture)
Cuetzpalin (lizard)
Mazatl (deer)
Some traditions need to be broken. You may disagree with me but Thanksgiving is one of them. At least in the sense of how and why the day is celebrated. I mean, do we really believe the Wampanoag people had a three day celebration of feasting on harvested crops while dancing with the English colonists in 1621, or have we been following the US narrative without questioning it? My earliest recollection of decolonizing the elementary school teachings of the first Thanksgiving is from the time my 6th grade class broke into a paper mache food fight on stage during our pageant. Half the class was made up as Pilgrims and the other as Indians . That was during the politcally incorrect 1960's. It also coincided with the birth of the Chicano movement where us children were becoming aware of the untruths we were being fed. We were part of the Reading, Writing and Assimilation generation and many of us were breaking free from the hyphonated identity of Mexican-American. In doing so we beg...