El Camino de Una Mexicana
My name is Angela, co-owner of Villagers Outpost. I've never really shared my story before, but part of initiating our own clothing brand was to be able to connect with our friends and customers. My story is very similar to all people that have endured the struggles of immigration, but each individual faces different challenges on their journey.
La mujer que soy hoy en dia, es el resultado de mis experiencias como indocumentada a traves de mi niñes y adolescencia en los Estados Unidos. Soy orgullosa de ser Mexicana, y toda via mas, de mis raíces indigenas. Raíces que toda via estoy descubriendo después de tantos años.
Growing up I never gave any attention to my family history or showed interest in learning about my ethical background. I didn't know much except that I was Mexican, born in Michoacán and was brought to the states when I was six months old. I was undocumented and resided in Los Angeles, CA; the place I call home.
I come from a family with a heavy grip on Catholicism, therefore, any connection to my indigenous history through family has been wiped out over decades of religious practices. As some of you know, raising questions that go against your faith in a Mexican household is eternal damnation.
We all have different paths, but this one is mine. I want to be the change that opens new doors to our native ways, even if I'm thousands of miles from my native land. Deception, secrecy and phrases like "que va decir la gente" don't belong in a household. This is the type of toxic upbringing that I experienced to say the least. It took many years to truly be myself and feel good about who I am. With so much more to learn, I'm grateful to have started this journey.
Now a mother of two, I decided to truly discover myself. This deep brown skin, these prominent cheek bones, this straight black hair... why is Spaniard influence so heavy in my family when our indigenous traits are so evident? At what point did my ancestors decide OR forcibly erase our native side? What makes my religion the correct way of life and not my indigenous side? Questions that I would have been punished for, will now be the start of a new era for myself and my immediate family. This is the pivotal point in my family history.
Yo nací en tierras Purépechas.
Yo soy indígena.
Yo soy nativa.
Pero también soy Mexicana y Xicana.
By: Angela Juliana Nuñez, Co-owner of Villagers Outpost