What does Solidarity and Leadership look like in AmeriKKKa under an economic system of capitalism? I often wonder if it is possible to move away from capitalism considering that in AmeriKKKa that is all we have known after the conquest of Indigenous folks.

I am reminded that there were models of Solidarity and Leadership that existed and are examples of what was, can continue and can be. The Black Panther Party and the Brown Berets are examples of Folks of Color that organized, spoke truth to power and interrupted ignorance to call attention to the historic genocide of Communities of Color and their continued struggle.

The Brown Berets and the Black Panther Party exemplify that two independent communities of folks can and should work along side each other to put pressure on AmeriKKKa. Moreover, they are an example that there is no need to practice “Oppression Olympics” in the fight for equity, liberation and freedom for Black, Brown, Red, Yellow, Queer, Undocumented and other intersectional identities that we as People of Color have.

The Brown Berets and the Black Panther Party are instrumental to the conversation that if we collaborate in our leadership, if we speak solidarity amongst People of Color that together we are a force to reckon with. As Malcolm X said: “freedom for everybody or freedom for nobody.” As Subcomandante Marcos from the Zapatista Army said: “Para todos todo, nada para nosotros.” We need to act, speak and be the power for all People while accounting for our varying identities and social movements. We need to coexist and in true Solidarity and Leadership support each other in our individual fights for liberation while accounting for our communal identities as People of Color who have been exposed to genocide at the hands of greedy AmeriKKKa.

In Solidarity Siempre,

La Doctora