Author: J.Mar

I was born and raised in Kern County in an unincorporated area of Kern, CA. My parents moved there in the 90s to make a living as farm workers. Watching them barter their bodies, homelands, and family for a chance at the “American Dream” has caused me to reflect. My writing here is largely the unceremonious unpacking and repacking of what was won and lost in this exchange. My version of the dream consists of completing a PhD in Public Policy. I currently study public finance, public participation, and remittances in Mexico. I am also generally interested in the Latinx public finance experience. I’ve learned to be cautiously optimistic about the future. Lastly, I love plants and cleaning is a freeing ritual to me.

Assimilation

Assimilation is how they wiped out millions of indigenous people

Assimilation is how they took land from sovereign nations

Assimilation is how they denied and erased different narrative notations

How they were able to create a gendered understanding that we continue to glory

Assimilation is why I have bad English, worse Spanish, and don’t even recall a native language

Assimilation is why they call me white-Hispanic

How they taught anti-black and brown sentiment creations

Assimilation is how they instilled self loathing throughout generations

Effectively removed aspirations

Assimilation is the only way they accept pluralization

Assimilation is what they use to control chattels of capitalism and globalization

A system they created to continue dispossession

What more do they want us to assimilate?

J.Mar