Zapmon, 57

Black and Indigenous liberation and sovereignty is very important to me. i am mixed with a bit of many things, but until society changes entirely, I am Black, and I am good with that. I feel that our societies om the Global South have always been communal and "socialist", and in tune with nature. While the modern versions of socialism have been imperfect, they have still always been a tool for Black liberation. My modern political hero is Thomas Sankara, a great Socialist, but also a feminist, an environmentalist, a musician, and a leader who led with humility. I feel like he embodied the best of the old world and the new, which is why they had to kill him. I also admire the Zapatista movement in Mexico, and the Anarchist type of vibe, which I feel like is also a strain that has always existed in our culture. I have always leaned towards Anarchism for a variety of reasons.

I believe that the path is to build the future now and then prepare to defend it. We know how terrible this society is, but until we can truly envision and enact our own ways, we will be stuck with the crap they serve us. My life work is in the area of building the new by returning to the ways we have always done things, communal. in right relationship with nature, and creative. This work has brought me back to the mountains and the forest. Beauty abounds, and abundance surrounds me, and yet there is still room for an epic romance, space for both our personal self-care and edification, and our shared passions. The power of a beautiful union that creates a positive energetic force that can bloom like the wildflowers and bear sweet fruit that tastes like wild mountain honey (shout out to the Steve Miller band).

And I think that Black folks deserve all the beauty, all the connection, all the justice, all the tress and rivers, all the love, all the good times, all the healing. And I believe that as we accept and dive into abundance, we will be guides and beacons of libera