Acevedo Writes

Maroons (from the Spanish word cimarrón: "feral animal, fugitive, runaway") were individuals who escaped from slavery in the Americas and formed independent settlements, known as Maroon Colonies. I wonder at how often we are told there were no successful rebellions in the Americas but Maroon Colonies existed everywhere! To escape slavery, form a community with a common purpose, and continuously resist IS success. From Brazil to Florida, Jamaica to Hispaniola we have always rebelled. #FunFactFriday #AceFunFact #YourTextbooksBeLying

So glad I got to discuss my poem "Spear," consent, rape culture, and how I use writing to understand the world around me with PBS. The link is in my bio. #spilledink #spokenword #poetry #poems #writing

Holy. Shit. Cosmopolitan. Posted. My. Poem. I ain't got a hashtag for this.

A year ago I quit teaching. I stopped taking classes. I didn't have a semester full of shows, or my part-time with my kiddos. I wasn't sure where my income would come from. I thrust myself into my dream, holding it tight in my fist, and believing if I made space for my goals the universe would reward me. A year later my whole life has changed. I'm continuing to make room and being thankful for the gifts.

I do a lot if research on post-Columbus Americas for my writing. I'm going to start sharing that here as FunFactFriday since I think some people are as interested in that history as I am. A new term I learned was Ladino vs Bozales. We are commonly taught that black folks were brought to the Americas only through the transatlantic slave trade. And for the bulk of our black ancestors that's true. However, there were black people on Columbus's very first voyage: black ladinos or "negros ladinos." These were black folks who had been raised in Spain, spoke Spanish and had been Christianized. Given Spain's proximity to Africa, and the way in which it had been conquered by Moors several centuries earlier, it's not surprising that Black folk and the Spanish had a much closer relationship that we've been taught. But that didn't stop Spain from participating in the horrific slave trade where they captured slaves on the continent and chained them before transporting them. They called captured slaves negros bozales, "muzzled Blacks," in order to distinguish them from the black Ladinos. In Spain's early system of slavery there was a distinct class system for slaves: those born in Spain, those brought over from the continent, and those born in the Americas. Divide and conquer in full effect an as early as 1492. #AceFunFactFriday #YourTextbooksBeLying #LetUsReviseThem

For the last days before Latino Heritage month ends and the football stadiums stop playing salsa and entertainment industry stops putting Sofia Vergara on the cover of magazines, a quick reminder of the mezcla that makes up the term "Latino." #spilledink #spokenword #latinoheritage #poetry #poetsofinstagram #poems

FINAL POST: In my Indigenous People's Day posts today I've chosen only photographs of statues as a reminder that WE BEEN commemorating our indigenous ancestors. WE BEEN knew their worth and erected monuments in their image. Often we are taught that because the indigenous in the Americas didn't have text that their stories have been lost or aren't worth telling. We privilege the conquistadores who came with their contracts and alphabets and wrote history in a way that benefitted the narrative that shone brightest on them. But our ancestors have been telling these tales. Have remembered the names. Have documented orally-- and artistically-- the history of our people. Some would have you think the indigenous in the Americas/Caribbean were assimilated and dead without a fight. But the indigenous of the Americas and Caribbean resisted, they rebelled, they still exist and their stories are being carried on. Good night and Happy Indigenous People's Day. #ColumbusStillAintMyHero

Agüeybaná II, whose name means "The Great Sun," is admired in Borikén (modern day Puerto Rico) for his loyalty to his people. He promoted rebellion among his fellow Taínos who at first refused to follow him, fearing the Europeans to be immortal; Agüeybaná II convinced them of the contrary and then led his people in the Taino rebellion of 1511, the first rebellion in the island of Boriken against the better armed Spanish forces. He led several successful raids before being shot and killed, ending the first recorded military action in Puerto Rico. His rebellion was heard all over islands of the Antilles and inspired others to fight the Spanish. The Great Sun is a name worthy of a federal holiday. Happy Indigenous People's Day! #ColumbusIsNotMyHero #YourTextbooksBeLying #LetsWorkOnSomeRevisions #BorikénWasNotDiscovered #PeopleAlreadyLivedThere

Quick detour from the Taínos to mention the Incas because few people know that the beloved rapper 2pac Shakur was named after...Túpac Amaru, who was the last chieftan of the Incan Empire to actually rule over his people. After the Spanish invaded the Andes many of Túpac Amaru's family members were murdered and by 1570 very few regions were still under Incan rule.Túpac Amaru led a brief one year rebellion against the Spanish in 1571 before he was captured and executed. With him died the last hope of a return to Inca rule in the Andes, but his name and resistance in the face of insurmountable odds are worth remembering. So shoutout to one of the last American kings, Túpac Amaru. Happy indigenous people's day! #ColumbusIsNotMyHero #YourTextbooksBeLying #LetsWorkOnSomeRevisions #QueVivaPeru

Hatüey-El Primer Rebelde de Cuba (died February 2, 1512) was a Taíno Cacique from the island of Ayiti/Quisqueya, who lived in the early sixteenth century. He has attained legendary status for leading a group of natives in a fight against the invading Spaniards, and thus becoming the first fighter against colonialism in the New World. In 1511, Diego Velázquez set out from Hispaniola to conquer the island of Caobana (Cuba). He was preceded, however, by Hatuey, who fled Aiyti/Hispaniola with a party of four hundred in canoes and warned the inhabitants of Caobana about what to expect from the Spaniards. He is celebrated as "Cuba's First National Hero." (Via Wikipedia). Hatüey is a name we should remember and honor. How amazing that he left his island to help his cousins who hadn't been invaded yet. How much we could learn from him. Happy indigenous people's day! #ColumbusIsNotMyHero #YourTextbooksBeLying #IndigenousPeoplesDay #QuisqueyaWasNotDiscovered #NeitherWasCuba #TheyHadBeenFoundThousandsOfYearsBefore #Taínos #Arawak #Caribs

The Cacique Guarocuya, better known as Enriquillo, was the nephew of Anacaona and one of the last caciques on the island of Quiqueya/Aiyti. He is attributed with rebelling against the Spanish for over twenty years and led several successful revolts which freed indigenous slaves from sugarcane plantations. One of the largest saltwater lakes in the world (located in Dominican Republic) is named after him and has a large population of crocodiles. Perhaps a reminder that although the Taínos were considered "meek" and "peace loving," as is often their only description in textbooks, they also had sharp teeth and fought for their freedom, their homes, their families and their dignity. Enriquillo is a leader worth commemorating. Happy Indigenous People's day! #IndigenousPeoplesDay #ColumbusIsNotMyHero #YourTextbooksBeLying

The Cacique Anacaona was a High Chief on the island of Quisqueya (Haiti/DR) from 1474-1503. She was a poet, singer and leader who was beloved by her people. She and her husband rebelled against Columbus's men, refused to surrender and both were eventually captured and arrested. The Spaniards told Anacaona she would be forgiven for her rebellion if she agreed to be a Spanish leader's concubine. She refused and was hanged. But what I'm sure the Spaniards didn't expect was how many rebellions would spring up in her name; how remembered her legacy would be even now, 500 years later. Anacaona's is a name I much rather commemorate this Monday. Happy Indigenous People's Day! #IndigenousPeoplesDay #ColumbusIsNotMyHero #QuisqueyaWasNotDiscovered #ItHadBeenFoundThousandsOfYearsBefore #YourTextbooksBeLying #LetsWorkOnSomeRevisions

#poetry #poetsofinstagram #spilledink

We were designed a long time ago. We have a reason for being. Even when it doesn't seem like it. Let's not forget it. #spilledink #poetry #poetsofinstagram #spokenword

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9.23.09. Today is one of my favorite days of the year. #loveliveshere #poemsforbae #poems #poetry #love #lovethatheals #poetryslam #spokenword #spilledink #poetsofinstagram