decolonizing is not a brand, it's a revolution 🔥

when did we trade liberation for likes?

tl;dr: while we're hashtagging about "decolonized" horoscopes, puerto rico remains an actual colony. it's time to put our energy where our tweets are.

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Photo by Shino Nakamura on Unsplash

hey mi gente! 👋🏽

so you're scrolling through instagram, double-tapping "decolonized" tarot spreads and "anti-colonial" skincare routines, when suddenly you realize – wait, isn't puerto rico still a colony?

just kidding - no one is doing that. and that’s why i fucking have to write this.

don't get me wrong. i'm the first to admit i've got crystals and my bedroom could sometimes double as a botanica. to be honest, i’m not even sure if i believe in crystals and the woo woo shit. all of the crystals i own were gifted to me, i hold them as signs that someone loves me and that’s why i keep them.

but somewhere between "decolonizing" yoga practices and sourdough starters (you fucking kidding me?), i had to ask: when did liberation become just another brand?

frantz fanon, the og decolonial thinker, wrote about the psychological impacts of colonialism in "black skin, white masks." somehow, i don't think he meant for us to apply that to whether mercury retrograde is messing with our chakras.

but here we are, in 2024, and #DecolonizeEverything is trending while actual colonies are fighting for their lives. the irony is thicker than my tía's arroz con gandules.

let's talk about puerto rico for a hot minute:

• 3.2 million american citizens

• no voting representation in congress

• can't vote for president

• $72 billion in debt (thanks, wall street vultures and irresponsible governments!)

• still recovering from hurricane maria (yes, the one from 2017)

but sure, tell me more about how reading your horoscope in spanglish is revolutionary. 🙄

deep dives with edgard: modern challenges & the path forward for puerto rico

now, i can already hear some of you typing furiously: "but edgard, reconnecting with our ancestral practices is important!" and you're right!

ngũgĩ wa thiong'o argued in "decolonising the mind" that reclaiming our languages and cultural practices is crucial. but he was talking about dismantling colonial education systems, not rebranding new age spirituality for your instagram aesthetic.

while we're busy "decolonizing" our skincare routines, puerto rico is grappling with:

• privatization of public services (including schools and power)

• displacement of communities for luxury resorts

• a political status that leaves us voiceless in our own destiny

• ongoing recovery from natural disasters exacerbated by colonial neglect

i still remember my abuelo's voice cracking as he told me about waiting in line for hours just to get clean water after maria.

that's the reality of colonialism, folks. it's not a hashtag or a brand. it's life and death.

now, i'm not here to shame anyone for their spiritual practices. if pulling tarot cards helps you navigate late-stage capitalism, more power to you. but can we please channel some of that energy into tangible decolonial work?

here are some ideas straight from the playbooks of actual decolonial thinkers:

1. educate yourself on puerto rico's status. start with aimé césaire's "discourse on colonialism" and then dive into work by puerto rican scholars like ramón grosfoguel and jorell melendez-badillo.

   1. i am putting together a guide for you on this specific subject, if you’re interested. dm me if you have feedback on how this piece could be helpful to folx like yourself.

2. support grassroots organizations fighting for puerto rican self-determination. groups like comedores sociales are doing crucial mutual aid work.

3. lobby your representatives for action on puerto rico's status. get them to take action, to cosponsor bills, and to meaningfully advance the cause and get real resolution.

4. challenge colonial narratives in your own communities. as sylvia wynter reminds us, decolonization involves reimagining what it means to be human outside of colonial frameworks.

or, you know, you could just tweet about how your "decolonized" star chart told you to smash the patriarchy today. your call.

deep dives with edgard: puerto rico's quest for political status

i know it’s easier to reblog a post about "anticolonial astrology" than it is to grapple with the messy realities of actual decolonization. trust me, i've been there.

if we're serious about liberation, we need to move beyond performative wokeness and dive into the hard work. that's the trap of commodified "decolonization." it makes us feel good without actually challenging the systems that keep colonialism alive. it's liberation lite™, now available with free two-day shipping and paid for via klarna.

but here's the truth: real decolonization isn't comfortable. it's not a brand or an aesthetic. as fanon said, "decolonization, which sets out to change the order of the world, is clearly an agenda for total disorder." it's messy, it's difficult, and it demands everything from us.

so the next time you're tempted to share that post about "decolonizing" your mercury retrograde, pause and ask yourself: am i contributing to liberation, or just soothing my own conscience?

my family lives where you vacation. care a little more about the places you go on vacation to. because puerto rico – and all colonized people – need more than good vibes and shared posts. they need action, solidarity, and a commitment to dismantling the systems that keep them oppressed.

some people have real problems. act like it.

what do you think? am i being too harsh on our crystal-loving, horoscope-reading selves? or is it time we redirect our energy to concrete decolonial work? drop your thoughts below.

and if you're feeling brave, share this with that friend who won't stop talking about their "decolonized skincare routine." sometimes, love means calling each other in. 😘

deep dives with edgard: puerto rico's economic exploitation and migration

hasta la próxima, mis amores! 💖

edgard✊🏽🌈

p.s. if this post has you side-eyeing your crystal collection, breathe easy! i don’t want to tell you that - keep your rose quartz! just consider balancing that purchase with a donation to a puerto rican mutual aid organization next time. small actions add up. 💁🏽

p.p.s. and a gentle reminder, courtesy of gloria anzaldúa: cultural identity is complex, nuanced, and not something you can buy or appropriate. so maybe reconsider calling yourself a "bruja" if your main connection to latinx culture is that one life-changing taco truck experience or a fucking burrito. gracias. 🙏🏽