marginalia no. 14

High as a kite on Benito Bowl

I wish I had print marginalia for you this week, but I am still high on Benito Bowl, all glitter and gold and sky blue Puerto Rican flags. Instead, enjoy this collection of material saved from around the multilingual internet (mostly IG).

Bad Bunny flies the once upon a time banned sky blue Puerto Rican flag during Verano Boricua (#RickyRenuncia). Read about that summer here. in 2019, mass protests in Puerto Rico ousted corrupt, racist/sexist Governor Ricardo Rossello from office. Yes, that’s the skull and bones, mantle of pirates, on a flag pole behind him. No, Boricuas, have NO chill. None.

We deserve to feel joy, to feel seen and to speak every language we have in our arsenal. And I am proud as hell to be Black Puerto Rican, Black African American, Black city born and Black city raised, but also the grandchild of Black Alabama and Black jibaro migrants who were moved and forced north and many times (but not that many) ggggreat grand child of enslaved Black and African women who survived long enough to birth my mothers, long enough to keep my mothers alive.

Cotton fields, cane fields, tobacco fields, coffee hills and rice swamps—”it is our duty to fight for our freedom, it is our duty to win.”

Me gusta la chocha de Puerto Rico