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“I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me.” – Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man (1952)
This is the history of why I am committed to empowering New Mexico’s Black youth.
My early years in New Mexico
I moved to New Mexico in 1984. At that time, I was a young woman with high hopes for what I wanted to do with my life and career. I was an artist, an activist and a young Black woman with a strong desire to find my place in the world. When I arrived here 14,461 days ago, I planned to stay for two years (730 days) and then go on to New York City to take my place on a Broadway stage—acting and singing my way into fame and fortune. While that dream is never far away in my psyche, my life and career have become focused on finding ways to ensure that New Mexico’s Black/African American communities are recognized and celebrated.
As a young Black woman here and feeling left out myself, I began by focusing on belonging. “Everyone Belongs” has become my mantra in every conversation and every situation. As adults, we have a certain agency afforded to us—even in the face of relative invisibility and amid the prevalence of the “tricultural myth” here. Our state’s tricultural myth—which oversimplifies its cultural narrative to harmonious coexistence among Indigenous, Latina/o/x and White communities—often leaves Black folks entirely out of the equation. It erases us from the political, social and cultural landscape. This oversight undermines the diversity and richness of New Mexico’s cultural tapestry, perpetuating a lack of representation and inclusion. I, and others like me, understand in a very real way that our work is primarily to support those in our communities who are most vulnerable and who need our guidance and support to be seen and heard despite the refusals of the dominant culture.
Who’s looking out for Black youth?
Inclusion and visibility are crucial for the healthy development of young people. When youth see themselves reflected in all areas of community life, it enhances their sense of belonging and validation. For youth of color, especially those from Black/African American communities, visibility is critical.
In 1984, I noticed there were very few community spaces here that focused on the arts for Black students. Kids who looked like me were curiously absent within public schools and the dominant culture community arts spaces I found my way into. Shoutout to Juba Ometse Clayton, a University of New Mexico staffer and community activist who ran an arts program for Black youth, and to Debra Johns, Mary Juzang (Excel) and Roberta Ingram (Hands On Minds On) who had science and math programs in the greater Albuquerque metropolitan area. Every single one of the visionaries listed here invested their personal time, talent and treasure to ensure that Black youth had the opportunity to succeed here. What these organizations lacked in money, they made up for with devoted time and attention to the needs of Black youth in New Mexico.
The Roots Summer Leadership Academy – One approach
“And my roots are deep to keep me strong. I stand proud and I know I belong. Everybody, hear me when I say that I am Somebody. I am Somebody.” – excerpt from the Roots Academy camp song
Fast forward to 2013: The New Mexico Black History Organizing Committee (now New Mexico Black Leadership Council) started the Roots Summer Leadership Academy, an out-of-school time program for students ages eight to 16 that focused on using the arts and STEM education as tools to teach self-esteem and leadership. Many of those young people have gone on to excel in the arts and STEM fields and are showing up as leaders equipped to speak powerfully for themselves in every setting. Other programs like the National Society of Black Engineers Jr. program were also going strong. However, many of these programs have had to host bake sales and rely on donations to continue their good work. Funding remains an issue, but we remain committed to ensuring that our youth have a solid foundation and platform to be seen and to launch their careers. If we can help our youth to understand their history, origin and culture and to believe they belong—to be able to proudly say, “I am somebody”—our work is done. They will do the rest.
True New Mexico and Sawubona – I see you seeing me (Zulu culture)
More than a decade ago, the State of New Mexico Tourism Department started a campaign called New Mexico True. In large part, this campaign depicted images that perpetuated the exclusionary narrative of the triculture.
It is now 2024, and that campaign continues perpetuating the adverse, divisive effects of marketing the tricultural myth. After more than 14,461 days in the trenches—with more days behind me than in front of me—I wonder what more needs to be done to effect real, lasting change. We’ve learned over time that programs are not enough by themselves. We have to give young people the mic and finally hand over the reins of changemaking for true inclusion to manifest.
During the height of the pandemic in 2020, Sachi Watase—the brilliant young director of the New Mexico Asian Family Center—and I created a program to center the voices of Black/African American, Asian American, Pacific Islander and Native Hawaiian youth. We flipped the phrase New Mexico True and TrueNM was born. The 2024 cohort chose the theme “Sawubona,” a Zulu term that means “I see you seeing me.” These young artists understand what demanding to be seen does for them and have their own ideas about how they will use their voices to dismantle the tricultural myth in our state.
For me, this is a full-circle moment. I harken back to the first day I stepped foot on New Mexico soil, wanting to find my place in the world. While the journey to be seen continues, with the support and participation of these brilliant young people, I can see a New Mexico that’s getting closer to the embodiment of “Everyone Belongs.” And that’s good for everyone.