the bad dominicana

skepticamongthefaithful:

Artist: Yolanda Lopez.

I don’t know about all of you, but to me, this speaks volumes. Yes, you’re probably offended by the artists use of the Virgin de Guadaloupe, but I just love how this basically says: The real miracles are performed by us, not Gods. I mean, I personally have this sort of parent, who through every shit card dealt to them, they managed to make it work for their children. I remember having that in common, with people I thought I wouldn’t be able to relate to back in school, about how we all had fathers, or mothers, if not grandparents or other relatives, who showed us their hands scared and hardened by all the bullshit work they broke their backs (quite literally in my fathers case) just so we could have a chance at a better life. And honestly, when I’m not stuck in my own self-loathing of all the things I’ll never be, I’m encouraged by both my father and grandparents, who I’m very privileged to have, in places where other people simply want to keep me down.

Images like this remind me of that, how they came here, and how I could either accept the institutionalized racism in this country, or fight - tooth and nail - to fucking make it. All they ever wanted was for me to follow my dreams, to see me happy, and how they’ve all helped, in one way or another, with every endeavor I’ve under-taken thus far. It’s great, really, but I really feel as though now is the time to really kick some ass and make them proud while they’re all still alive…