The Power of Joy in a Divided World

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The lands we walk upon hold soul-level memories. The cities we inhabit were built by many hands—some working freely, many others in chains. Our very identities are shaped by histories both acknowledged and erased. In this powerful conversation with ethnic studies scholar Maria, we explore how settler colonialism created enduring structures of inequality that continue to impact our spiritual and social reality.

Details

Maria helps us understand how colonial powers systematically removed indigenous peoples from their lands while forcing enslaved Africans to work that same land—creating hierarchies that persist today. This isn't distant history. These patterns of displacement, exploitation, and categorization continue to shape our modern experiences, from census boxes that can't contain our complex identities to immigration policies that separate families and communities.

What emerges most powerfully is how we might begin healing these deep wounds. Maria shares her own journey of reconnecting with ancestry despite missing pieces, showing how we can reclaim identity through creative means—studying local histories, preserving family stories, and finding contextual understanding when direct knowledge is unavailable. She challenges the terminology used to categorize people, explaining why labels like "Hispanic" can perpetuate colonial erasure while terms like "Latino" or "Chicano" emerged from communities claiming their own narratives.

The conversation takes a transformative turn when Maria introduces the concept of joy as resistance. "If you give up your joy, you're giving up your humanity," she explains, revealing how maintaining moments of connection and happiness becomes a radical act in the face of dehumanization. This spiritual survival strategy has helped communities endure unimaginable hardship while preserving their essential humanity.

As we navigate increasingly divisive times, Maria offers a vision of healing that begins in our immediate environments—classrooms, households, and community spaces where we can practice solidarity across differences. These "microcosms of understanding" create ripple effects that gradually shift larger patterns of division. The episode concludes with a powerful invocation from organizer Pedro Rios: "What is solidarity if not love?"

Join us for this soul-stirring conversation that honors historical truth while revealing pathways toward collective healing. Subscribe now and share this episode with anyone seeking to understand how our past shapes our present—and how we might create a more just and loving future.

References

Gloria Anzaldua, author, historian, feminist, gay activist:  Gloria E. Anzaldúa

Pedro Rios, AFSC, San Diego Director:

Pedro Rios | American Frie

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