in one of my recent 1:1s we rebuked the shame many of us are blasted with for Loving social media n connecting on The Internet when we’ve Lived through one of the biggest integrations in human history
n like my nichey earlybloggingdays peers I def existed as a guinea pig Being the eldest child n first grandchild n also the first graduating class at my project based high school
it felt like everyone in my reality was watching me learn lessons n shape media as a confused emotionally abandoned teenager constantly judged n dissected n compared n sent anonymous hate mail (to the point I Taught mySelf basic html/css to put trackers on my tumblr to try to figure out who was harassing me)
we were pushed here onto the Internet some of us more covertly —- into a digital third space for connection
for multiply marginalized people / parents / activists / artists / misfits
we built this sh!t brick by brick informing style educating n directing trends filling the pockets of more visible n more marketable “curators” “designers” etc.
a naive part of me thought somehow I would Be compensated or uplifted celebrated offered brand deals jus for the trailblazing I did LOL
the backbone of the Internet has always Been the rejects the recluses the global South the underground
the way I’ve watched n experienced some of my favorite artists morph into versions of I’ve shared online the way I See them steal my friends swag over years at a Time
we are shifting n grieving n adapting our strategy but we not ceding no virtual space we not gonna hide n Be silent
we will protect n defend the sacred (the children the Water n the Earth) with wiser action
I am thankful to Know the actual Source(s)
n to Be called to get even more creative to workaround censorship surveillance artificial intelligence n theft
this is actual intelligence the original technology is US
we develop new cultural codes new hieroglyphs new dimensions new ethical expectations new cultural norms
ancient futurism
we will take up space
we will not Be erased
we work openly honestly devotedly alongside the machines
we will program our realities to meet our needs
to find the balance
emBodied melody 