Page 12 - Vo Vo | FIX MY HEAD #10: COMPLEXITY

1. Tell us about yourself, what identity means to you, and also how you identify.
I am a 27 years young Afro-Latinx non binary femme. I come from a long line of strong women of color who were musicians, singers, and artists. I guess this is the reason why I make art and music as often as I can. Aside from that, I am a poet with 2 chapbooks under my belt, a novice roller skater, and an obsessively avid knitter. I like the balance of the slow and fast life.
2. The origin of Brat Collective and who it involves.
Brat Collective started out as a name for my etsy shop for my poetry books and zines that I’ve made but turned into an umbrella brand to promote DIY art, music, and community building through social media and video footage of the happenings in community. A lot of folx ask me why I named this outlet Brat Collective. It is simply a cheeky reminder that way back when I was a young and loud child my auntie would call me a brat every time I protested her authority when she baby sat me.
3. We would love to hear about your experience of being black and queer in your local context, if you have energy for it
Being Black and queer in Eugene, Oregon is the most wild experience of my life. I have not encountered more white fuckery and invalidation of my anger than in this town. There”s a lot of performative allyship here and a lot of tokeniza- tion. Being a person who works downtown,is a very loud and active person in the activist community here as well as a prominent musician in this town has gotten me a little coverage in the local paper and a pretty good amount of social capital. Part of that is because Eugene is so small and is easily shaken up. I get recognized everywhere I go, a lot of peo- ple comment on my appearance when I’m on the street or at work. I’ve even been touched or grabbed by white entitled hands without my consent. I think the biggest thing that has helped my survival here in this town is embodying the in your face unapologetic way of moving through this world and this town. I say what I mean, mean what I say, and try to be that person that 13 year old me would look up to if i needed a black role model in a white as fuck town. Its inspired
a lot of other POC to do the same around here and knowing that other people see me as an inspiration is super hum- bling. I’m just trying my best to live my best life here and make sure other marginalized folx have the space to do that as well.
4. Please tell us about your critiques or encounters with ‘White feminism’ and some of the ways it plays out to the detri- ment of POC and/or black folk.
White feminism doesnt hold space for any other experience other than whiteness and cis women. It invalidates the voices of black folx and poc. It erases the very real dangers that trans folx face on a daily basis. It kills people. I know it