Honoring our Indigenous and African Abuelas

On the eve of my tenth birthday celebrated in Borikén, I share a reflection on rematriation, birth, source and the black and brown ancestral matriarchs charged with the possibility of our existence here today. A reminder to honor where we come from, the sacrifices, and our true purpose here. A reminder to situate our presence, purpose, in the struggles of the past, reclaiming our right to healing, to liberation today and tomorrow, for ourselves and future generations.

Reflecting on this birthday, my greatest work on my journey has not been a painting that can be hung and exhibited. Nor is it some title, award, or accolade. I wish I could say that the greatest work has been my children, but they are ultimately their own creations, ever unfolding as their own divine paths determine. My greatest work is the one that no one sees or knows—the internal work I do on my own self. The constant self-reflection, analysis, learning, changing, growing, transforming, unfolding, expanding, healing, liberating. The work this motherland womb has midwifed over the course of these ten birthdays in Borikén. The work of decolonizing within: the rightful place where this work must unfold. Today I think of the abuelas, the midwives that made all of this possible and those who walk in their steps to ensure that possibility continues on into tomorrow. I thank all my ancestors for guiding me through this work. I thank all the children of Borikén, inspired to arrive, return and stay home in the archipelago and those of them who have shared their journeys with me. I stand in awe of the collective call, those of us answering and the rematriation we together are resurrecting, excavating, expanding, practicing daily. 

Brooklyn-born and raised, Yasmín Hernández is a visual artist, writer, activist based in el oeste de Borikén in the archipelago known as Puerto Rico. Her work is rooted in rematriation and liberation practices. Rematriating Borikén is her project lifting the conceptual and physical return to her ancestral homeland. CucubaNación in Mayagüez is Yasmin’s art and community space inspired by Boricua bioluminescence. She shares her art at yasminhernandezart.com and chronicles the journey home at rematriatingboriken.com .