WESTERN WARFARE: WORDS MATTER, TEXAS MASCOTS ARE DUE FOR SERIOUS REFLECTION
Those of us that like sports live it deeply in Texas. For better or for worse, it forms part of our identity. The Valley itself has an impressive appetite for sports but some of the mascots locally and in the state continue the legacy of racism and hate.
BEYOND THE SHADOWS, THE MUSIC AND EXPERIENCE OF TWIN TRIBES
With their goth post-punk sound and aesthetic, Twin Tribes masterfully transports the listener into a darkwave landscape that is nostalgic yet unfamiliar.
SPACE EXED, A FORCED REBRANDING
The Rio Grande region experienced a forced rebranding through the myth of the Magic Valley. Despite demographic and political changes, market forces like SpaceX continue to dictate the regional identity through arts and culture.
Ponte Trucha, A Recap of 2021
It has been a whirlwind since the Trucha launch in February 2021, when the country was reeling from an attempted insurrection and the rising COVID-19 related deaths. It is clear that now more than ever, we must be hyper-aware of our surroundings for the safety and benefit of the people in the Rio Grande Valley. Tenemos que ponernos Trucha!
Blue Lives Don’t Exist: Chipping Away At Pro-Police Culture
The Blue Lives/Thin Blue Line flag, which has been turned into stickers on cars, or even decals on actual police cruisers, was born in direct racist and anti-Black response to the Black Lives Matter movement. Read more about how it started in late 2014, just months after the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.
GIMME A BRAKE (LIGHT): MUTUAL AID AS SOLIDARITY
Minor traffic violations can lead to suspension of your driver’s license, resulting in more fines or even jail time. This is just one way poverty is criminalized at the hands of the police, making it expensive to be poor. The criminalization of poverty happens at the expense of working-class communities living paycheck to paycheck. Learn more about how we can break down barriers to criminalization by helping each other through mutual aid.
CRT: The National “Debate” and a Chicano View of It
The national debate surrounding Critical Race Theory (CRT), as much as vehement opposition to a vague concept could be called a “debate,” is intense. It is troubling when considering the incorrect definition of Critical Race Theory as used by those who oppose it. Read more from Rene Rocha about how CRT is and can be implemented in the RGV and its implications.
Commentary: Police Budgets Are Strangling Our Communities
This month, Rio Grande Valley (RGV) municipality and county leaders are implementing new yearly budgets. Despite last summer’s nationwide awakening to racial police violence, these new budgets spend more on police than programs and services that keep us safe and healthy. Read more from Divest/Invest on what truly keeps communities safe.
DIY: Papel Picado
The craft of Papel Picado consists of delicate designs cut from tissue to create bright and fragile patterns that celebrate life and tell the story of the dead. To keep the Dia de los Muertos tradition alive through art, Trucha made some RGV inspired Papel Picado templates for you to cut out and use to decorate your altar.
LGBTQ+ Center Awareness Day
October 19th is the national day of awareness for LGBTQ Centers that provide vital resources for our communities. Locally, the Rio Grande Valley is lucky to have groups and organizations that cater to the social services, youth support, medical treatment and entertainment of LGBTQIA individuals.