004 - Lupe Blancas

Student organizer Lupe Blancas talks with Jordan about her experiences fighting for ceasefire and divestment as a member of YDSA (Young Democratic Socialists of America) at CSUN (Cal State University Northridge), as well as her journey to activism, the frustration of people who just want to “thank” organizers, and her dreams of becoming a documentary filmmaker.

Resources:
BDS Movement information
BDS Boycott list
Join DSA or YDSA
Jewish Voice For Peace Actions

Thanks for listening and supporting left media. If you’re interested in conversations about the intersections of creativity and social change hosted by a socialist organizer, please follow along for this 8 episode “Season One”. I am also so grateful for comments or shares that help us reach more people!

Here’s some links to your favorite websites. I’d love to hear from you.

- Jordan

And Roses Website
Youtube
Instagram
Twitter

Transcript

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 0:25

Hi everybody. Welcome to and roses. My name is Jordan and I'm joined today by Lupe Blancas, who is a student at Cal state university, Northridge studying documentary filmmaking as a member of the young democratic socialists of America or YDSA. Lupe has been involved with campus organizing to free Palestine and the Israeli genocide, and specifically to pressure the school to divest from investments in Israel. So today we're going to chat about Lupe's journey to getting involved in student activism. We'll talk about what it's like to be organizing on a campus that at least so far, like hasn't achieved the critical mass of support. to do something like build an encampment and of course we'll chat about the challenges inherent in holding a dream of using filmmaking to promote leftist socialist causes. Lupe, how are you doing today?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 1:15

Hi, I'm doing great today. Thank you for having me.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 1:18

Yeah, absolutely. I, before we dive into any of these questions, I did just want to ask, is there anything that's been inspiring you lately?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 1:28

I'd have to say my fellow students and students across California, and actually across the country, who are participating and putting in their work. So I feel like watching them makes me inspired to do what I want to do what I'm doing here.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 1:43

Yeah, as the, like, encampments started really taking off at campuses across the country, and obviously all sorts of demonstrations, protests, was that, like, how surprised did you feel? Like, did you think that something like that was possible to take place, you know, during your years as a student?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 2:01

You know, from history you've seen student activists, like in Vietnam being like, you know, the most recent example. So So, it wasn't surprising, but it felt like a, finally, like, great we're getting together, we're doing this as students. So, I've, yeah, again, I felt very inspired by them, and it felt like, yeah, like, we are making progress.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 2:22

Yeah, well, and CSUN itself like actually has like a real history of demonstration, student activism. I think like it was the like late 60s, early 70s, where there was a lot of demonstration related to the fact that it was like a really disproportionately white university and they established a Latino studies department in response to like student activism. That's something that I've learned about in history books. Is that something that, I don't know, you as a student at that school, is that something that people are aware of, talk about?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 2:55

Actually, no, I didn't know about that, but I wouldn't be too surprised, just because at times, I feel like past student movements, again, like I mentioned Vietnam, but there's so many things in between that get, like, you know, You know, thrown under the rug and forgotten through history. So I feel like me not even knowing that even though I attend CSUN is such a, you know, like, wow, like, of course, like, that wouldn't be something that's spoken about.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 3:17

I had only heard like the, you know, some brief little things in the last few years, and I was trying to do a little bit of research before this interview. And one of the things I was reading this L. A. Times article from, I think it was like 1988, and some people who had been involved in those movements were commenting, looking back. And yeah, it did actually strike me that there was somebody who was a student activist at the time, and they talked about how they had actually, like, Been able to get the creation of like the people's forum or something. It was like some stage on campus where they regularly hosted, like, you know, like leftist, progressive thinkers and speakers as well as like students like Angela Davis spoke there, but what he was saying in the interview. And this was like, at the end of the 80s was like, yeah, they've already, they took the stage down, like, it's not there anymore. So yeah, we'll, yeah, we'll definitely let's talk a little bit more about, I don't know, some of the challenges inherent in student organizing. But yeah, before we get there, like, let's talk about, you know, what's going on your campus today these days. I mean, I suppose this semester just ended, but yeah, kind of tell me what had been going on in the last few weeks.

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 4:23

Yeah, in the last few weeks, I felt like that was such a critical point because everyone knew the semester is about to be over. We needed to act now. And let the campus and the administration know like we're not gonna let this go. Just because summer begins doesn't mean the the movement's over or the demands for divestment are over. It's definitely continuing. So it was very, it was such a hectic time to get that together because you know everyone has finals, everyone has this, and then, but you're, you know, you're still trying to organize.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 4:53

Right. Yeah. And I'm sure, you know, you'd been in, probably been in touch talking with other, you know, activists on campus for months, but then, yeah, it's just at this time when there's so, so much else going on. Yeah. Had you all, was it even like an idea in your mind to like do any kind of like big end of semester thing? Or was it was kind of just like this moment, right? There were other actions breaking out on other campuses. Yeah, tell me, what had been going on on your campus? How did things come together in these last few weeks? And and I guess, like, what actually happened? Because, yeah, CSUN was not necessarily one of the schools that was, like, in the news. But, so, what was going on at a campus that, you know, was not making headlines for police brutality?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 5:34

So I would say definitely we're on CSUN wasn't one that was making public news, but I feel like our campus is very much trying to stay as neutral as possible. So that kind of like puts us at a weird spot as a movement where our school is not acting, but they're not, you know, completely like shutting down our movement or, you know, whether it be because sometimes there were vigils and sometimes they were actual like protests and demonstrations, or sometimes it even was showing up to administration meetings. So pretty much those conversations with the administration were kept very neutral from any organization that was going. It was kept neutral. So that was our relationship with admin. But as we saw, you know, these other encampments being disrupted, we saw UCLA, we saw USC NYU becoming very violent. We knew we had to act also to stand in solidarity with them to let them know they're not alone and that other schools can start an encampment just as well and create a large demonstration to make their voice heard for their school to divest. So I feel like what's happening on our campus is very much like that.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 6:44

Can you tell me a little bit more about like, who is we, like, who are the people at your school who have been kind of trying to stand up?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 6:53

What, I mean, we, obviously there's students who also just join in, who aren't part of organizations or clubs on campus, but I would say the main organizations is obviously our SJP here on campus. So, they're the main organizers. We stand and rally behind them as A-Y-D-S-A. Which RYDSA is small in numbers, but we know our members will show up, you know, still put in show up to these events and show their support and solidarity. And, you know, we've always tried to reach out or we try to reach out to make sure, you know, we're involved in the movement where we're helping and we're standing with each other. And there's so many more organizations. I couldn't even, there's more than 10. I know that there is, cause you know, we had feminist clubs Chicano clubs. Pacific Islander clubs like all coming together to support SJP and to support the free a free Palestine,

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 7:46

Yeah. One of the things I feel like a lot of folks on the left can struggle with is just the sort of Like seclusion like you kind of have your group of people and you can sort of end up in a little bubble what has it been like? Yeah trying to build those sorts of like coalition Relationships during this time like is there Anything that you had to learn the hard way or any challenges in that?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 8:10

you know, in building that you're trying to build community. And, you know, not everyone's always going to agree in a community, but you can always try to work together. So it's just that learning collaboration and learning to work with others. That's like the biggest thing when it comes to organizing, because we might not all have the same ideals, but we all know, like, what we're working towards. So it kind of helps that collaboration.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 8:36

Yeah, okay cool what well you say that the The administration had been pretty like trying to appear neutral While not actually like meeting your demands. Yeah with the semester coming to an end it kind of like limits what you can do. If they're stonewalling you what did you, yeah. How did you attempt to change that situation?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 9:02

It's very much creating awareness of what's going on, putting the facts out, like we always try to put the facts of how much the CSU is contributing to the Zionist occupation in Gaza. So I feel like it's a lot of just trying to build up the awareness and let the school know we know the facts to back up what we're saying and why we need to divest. I feel like that was a good thing.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 9:28

Yeah. Do you feel like and not to make this sound rude or anything do you feel like you, like got anywhere? Do you feel like the efforts were effective?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 9:39

Yes, but it's very much that restraint that we feel from our administration. So, they recently condemned the actions that are happening in Gaza, but it wasn't public. It was done in an admin meeting, I believe. And we all heard and were like, great, that's great, but it wasn't done publicly. And it just kind of felt a little backhanded, you know, they're like, Hey, we're acknowledging, but we're not going to meet those demands though. So it's just a very, a little troubling, but we know we're better than where it was from square one, because SJP had existed way long before, you know, I got to see sun. And right now I feel like, you know, we've made strides. They know we're demanding this and we're not going to let it go. So I feel like in a way, yes we very much have made progress, but It's not as much progress as you'd hope for.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 10:35

Yeah. Are there like, I mean, I guess a lot of people are going home for the summer right now. Are there, yeah what is like next year look like? Has anybody sort of talked about that? Or not that if you're working on any secret plans, you need to reveal them, but

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 10:55

like, us as students. We're not letting the demand for divestment go So it will still continue and you know, even though we have to go home that doesn't mean the movement is over We can all do things from our hometowns, you know and from our cities Because you know the divestment isn't just from our schools. It's for everywhere.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 11:13

yeah. Well, and I want to talk a little bit about that but real quick, I did also just want to ask, like, even if the administration was appearing like neutral and they're not necessarily like calling the cops to shut down any of the demonstrations that you did you did, I think you were telling me like there was some opposition, like you would have some kind of like counter protesters coming out sometime. What did that feel like?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 11:36

It wasn't scary I'll say that but it's very much You know, they're just trying to antagonize you and get that rise out of you. I wouldn't really personally, I wouldn't pay too much attention to it because I know what I'm there for, and I'm not going to give them that satisfaction. It's definitely frustrating when you see fellow students being the counter protesters just because, you know, you'd hope that they'd understand that this situation and that we shouldn't be supporting Zionist,

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 12:06

Hmm.

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 12:07

Zionist money coming into school and school. you know, providing or funding genocide. So it doesn't feel fun seeing counterprotesters show up because it feels so common sense, like stand up for your fellow human being. So I feel like it's just more of the frustration of that for me.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 12:27

Yeah, what, were there any like specific interactions you've had with like fellow students that have been, yeah, extra frustrating?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 12:36

It's just those comments. It's very much comments. It's never like escalated to anything anything big, but I would say it's just the commentary of what you typically hear from politicians that are like, Oh, but do you condemn Hamas? Like, you know, like those kinds of things that those kind of comments.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 12:55

Yeah, well, is, and, is that Hmm. How well has your message in general been received by like fellow students? I mean, are there, it's, it seems like it's obviously, you know, many students are on the side of free Palestine. But not necessarily. A ton at every school are actually, like, coming out to demonstrations or getting involved with organizing. What is it like interacting with, yeah, people who are maybe Oh yeah, I'm on your side, but they're, you know, maybe not getting involved.

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 13:32

that's frustrating as well. When someone's like, oh, I'm on the side, but maybe we shouldn't do this because there was no one has achieved liberation through peace in a way to put it that way. I was like, no one has achieved liberation by asking nicely. Like, that doesn't work. And it's kind of hard to put that idea into people where just saying that's wrong is enough. Because it's not. You have to put in the groundwork and you have to demand action.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 14:05

Yeah, I feel like over the years as I've gotten involved with DSA and with organizing and different like campaigns And I'll you know meet somebody and they'll ask me like what are my hobbies? And I don't know meeting somebody it's like inevitably pretty soon I'm sort of sharing about the kind of like work that I do and I like always get this response. That's like Wow, that is, that's so cool. Like, you know, good for you. We need more people like you and I always just want to be like, no, we need more people like you to like get off the sidelines and not put, you know, this idea of like people who are activists on some sort of like pedestal that, you know, separates yourself from them. And because people are doing activism, you don't need to, and you can just cheer them on, From the sidelines, like, we, we need people to get involved, we need people

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 14:57

I've definitely heard that comment before. I think actually even after our own demonstration, I would hear others, even myself included, where you're like, oh, thank you for what you're doing. Like, you know, that's great. And I was like, join us. Like, come to the other side. Like, don't thank me. Like, I'm not, I feel like, you know, I'm just spreading awareness here. Like, I'm just another human being saying we should not be watching a genocide happen. You know, I feel like it's just like, you know, basic empathy to show up for another fellow human being. So it just kind of feels funny when someone says like, oh, thank you for what you're doing. Anyone can do this. Like, this isn't like a special badge that you wear. It's just something that you do.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 15:41

Yeah, and it's that idea too of like, yeah, like I'm, I want to, I'm here to spread awareness, but also like, if I fail to like compel more people besides myself and a few other people working on this already to like step up and do something, then in a way, like I feel like I've failed. I mean, it's like, and you can't beat yourself up too much because everybody is ultimately responsible for it. But, yeah it's, I don't wanna like just spread awareness.

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 16:13

Exactly. It's just like, I'm here putting out the work. Like, yeah that's very tough because it's just like, it feels like that target of people where they're like, oh, I just kind of know what's going on, but you're not putting in the work. So, boycotting. Like, that is so important right now to be boycotting. So it's not just like, oh, I'm gonna post like a free Palestine on my Instagram story. Or, you know, put the Palestinian flag as my Instagram profile picture. Like, yep, they actually do the work again. So like that backhandedness, like, Oh, thank you for what you do. I'm going to go post an Instagram story. Like, no, let's be boycotting. Let's be demanding for divestment. Call your representative. There's so much you can do.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 16:53

Yeah, absolutely. And I'll try to in the episode description, in case anybody is feeling like a little guilty listening to this, or if anyone's listening and feeling moved to do something, I'll add in the episode description, some resources of ways that people can get involved. Yeah, back to that kind of like, Campus organizing specific question. It is interesting. There are these sorts of like hard limits put on campus organizing. Like, yeah, CSUN back in the sixties, seventies, what, one of the other things that I read in this article was that there was, I actually wrote it down somewhere. Oh yeah. So there was this like underground newspaper called outcry that students were running and. I don't know how they afforded to print it. Maybe they were just selling copies, but it had a circulation of about five thousand and it lasted for five years and looking back somebody in the article was just saying like that's actually like almost unprecedented for just this like, like a student project to last for five years because, you know, not only is, does the term come to an end and many people go home, but then it's just like there is a set amount of time that anybody actually is at a university. There's not somebody who's, you know, there's not a student who's there. I mean, unless you like continue to through like graduate studies at some place, but yeah, I guess, just kind of curious about how you think about, you know, the bigger picture, like building capacity, building strength in this struggle beyond, you know, campus organizing.

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 18:30

Yeah. That's why I feel like that encouragement to organize even outside of campus, like, you know, organizing your community. It's, I feel like building community is the most important thing you can do. So starting at home. Or, you know, outside of campus in your your own personal communities is very important because the moment you feel like it's only like a school thing, then that's just homework. Like, you need to bring it out. Like, you need to bring it outside of campus. It should be it's a practice, you know? You don't just like suddenly like don't buy Starbucks on campus, but when you're off campus suddenly you're there. Like, you know?

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 19:04

Yeah, well, and one thing that I think has been cool to see in this moment has been so you're a member of the, of YDSA. And I know that a lot of folks, like YDSA is a national organization, part of DSA. And there's been a lot of, like, folks working in this time to Kind of build those connections like across campuses. And then it's like, even, you know, after graduation, there's still, yeah, there are more, more democratic socialists working on other like non campus projects. Tell me a little bit about why DSA, how you came to get involved and what it's been like sort of stepping into a position of leadership there.,

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 19:42

yeah, so when I was looking up CSUN, obviously I wanted to see what clubs they had. And I came across the YDSA, and I saw the word socialist in it, and so I started doing some research on who they were, what they were about, and it seemed like it was only one of the only socialist clubs on campus, if not the only one, at least, that I'm aware

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 20:03

Were you specifically wanting to be a member of some socialist club or organization?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 20:09

I'd say yes, because I definitely do fall, like, on that leftist socialist ideals, personally. So it's definitely something that I wanted to specifically seek out or some sort of activist club, because that's what I was in all through high school. So that was kind of like leading me to that path.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 20:26

Okay. So, but it was but you weren't necessarily like in some socialist group before this was sort of like a step that you were trying to take for the first time. Is that

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 20:36

Yeah, like freshman year of high school, I was very much not liberal. I feel like that was very much like middle school, me discovering feminism and following like white feminism, like, Oh, cool. Like, girl power stuff, you know? But then once I was getting to high school and learning more history and I just was honestly just educating myself and like starting to somewhat read theory and through high school I just started learning more and I was like, okay, I fall definitely on the socialist side. So going into college I knew I was like, okay, like those are the groups that I want to organize with and build community with.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 21:15

And so then as you're looking, YDSA is one of the ones that catches your eye. Yeah. What was it like trying to get involved with that type of club?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 21:25

Yeah, so you know, simple as that, it's It was a club that op was open to anybody. So I started showing up to the meetings and I liked what they were doing, which then that further encouraged me to join leadership.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 21:36

What is like, what sorts of things were they doing at meetings or like, yeah. What sorts of like, I don't know, volunteer

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 21:43

I would

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 21:44

did they provide?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 21:46

It was definitely the educational aspect of it, but I won't say like not a lot was being done. Again, it was such a small chapter, but I knew I wanted to help rebuild it and, because it was almost like a dying chapter and we know we have to rebuild and organize again to build our community. So I felt like I just wanted to be a part of that and help build it. And why not start with the YDSA?

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 22:07

Cool. Yeah. What how did you rebuild it or like, what were some of the things that you thought could work? What did work? What didn't work?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 22:14

This is definitely something that's still in the works. I only recently became a board member, but in speaking to the previous board members who were also, you know, about to graduate, who knew, like, they didn't want to like, just let it, you know, die or let the chapter die or dwindle down. So it was definitely just talking to them. And creating plans for the future. So again, that just very much got us like, we need to really partner up with other organizations here on campus to help build a coalition of students who want who have like minded ideals.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 22:44

Yeah, it's it's very tricky to find. People like you who are, you know, like ready to step up, step into leadership. And

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 22:54

It's nerve racking.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 22:54

like, yeah, there's this like, I don't know, success, win mindset, Instagram quote. I don't know. It's probably some motivational speaker, but It's stuck with me. It's this idea of, like, you need to be prepared to get lucky. Like, you can't, like, count on being lucky for everything in your life, but also, Like, if you're not prepared for the opportunity, it'll pass you right by. And I think that's something that's so interesting about trying to build a movement, build sustainability, find like new people is that like, it's not every day that somebody comes along and it's like, yeah, I want to get involved with socialism. And I, Like ready to step up and take on responsibility. But it does sound like the people who were kind of like your predecessors they were prepared a little bit. Like they were looking for somebody like you and they were able to support you in stepping up. Is that right?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 23:47

Yeah, it was definitely helpful getting support. When I went to YDSA conference in Atlanta, I feel like from there and speaking to other, like, national leaders and other campus leaders, It was the encouragement there because I was definitely not ready. I didn't go in mind into joining DSA that I was going to be a part of leadership automatically, but I saw, you know, they were graduating and being talked to the other previous officers of our YDSA. It was definitely just encouraging or like, okay, like go for it. And again, like you said, just taking that opportunity because I was like, when else am I going to also Be able to help out like this on campus, you know, because I wanted to make the most of my time here on campus Well, like while i'm there

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 24:29

so I guess you're stepping up as a leader. You're getting this sorts of encouragement. And then, yeah, was that like just a few months ago that you sort of stepped into that position? Or how long ago was that?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 24:42

The official position was given. Was announced honestly early this may like early may like that was like official that I was going to be a part of the Leadership for the next school year as like, you know, they were all yeah like as they were all graduating Or not all graduating, but our main officer was graduating and one was stepping down. So it was just the time I was like, okay, this is like, this is an opportunity, obviously presenting itself. And I wanted to take it. I was like, why not? Like, you know, you don't learn unless you do it. So it felt like such like a gutsy move for me, but I was like, okay, but I am prepared for it. And I'm ready to learn. And I'm ready to, you know, become more active. Like you don't go into the. I didn't went into it knowing everything, but I'm always willing to learn and improve as I go.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 25:30

Yeah, well, yeah let's take an even bigger step back and just talk a little bit about like your own story and kind of like how you got here. You were saying like a little bit about, yeah, kind of starting to be interested in like feminism and in the, in middle school yeah. What were some of like your early experiences? Like, I don't know. What was your family's political background? Like, was that, you know, did you grow up in a household where, you know, people, that was something that was encouraged or no.

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 25:59

My family was pretty much typical, like conservative ish, but kind of moderate, you know? So I feel like that's where my family kind of fell on the line, but I was always very much outspoken. I don't know where it came from, but I just knew I didn't like what I was seeing. Like, from an early age, I feel like I was always like, Why? Why is that not happening? I remember when gay marriage was still I saw people still advocating for that to be legalized in, like, 5th grade, and I was like, no, they shouldn't be allowed to get married. I was like, why? Why not? Like, why are we denying this to people? And me as a child, obviously, like, not fully understanding what I was saying, but I knew what was, what felt right and what felt wrong. I just knew I was like, well, why are people behaving this way? And then again, going to jump into middle school, that's where feminism came in. And I was like, yeah, there's like, we live in a patriarchal society. That's hindering opportunities for women, et cetera, et cetera. And then from there, I just started realizing this is a rabbit hole. I started on peeling these layers and I was like, wait a minute, this isn't just patriarchal society. Now I'm looking at the capitalist society. Like, what is this doing? It has a hole. And obviously. The racial tensions in this country and systemic racism in this country. From there, then I was like, okay, yeah, like I really, like, we need to do something about this. I didn't know what, but I knew I needed to join something. And I think that's from high school that was inspiring me to start like, you know, using my voice any platform that I had, I knew I wanted to use it to bring up these issues of like systemic racism, inequality, you know.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 27:37

mean, that can be like a tricky place to be in. And I think a lot of people get there is like, I want to do something, but what? And so, yeah for you, like, what were some of the avenues that you were able to find to begin, like expressing those things or actually like engaging directly? Yeah.

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 27:55

off with GSA, which is like the the gay straight Alliance on campuses, which was you know, like something that mattered a lot to me. I had a lot of queer friends. I am also queer. And then from also coming from a very heavy, like Latino and Hispanic community, we also see the issues that we face as a community racism. And obviously 2016, when I entered high school, going into freshman year, I very much started hearing more about politics because I would very much look at Feminism in middle school and all that, from like an outside perspective. But in high school, I was like, no, our politics really affect all of this. Like, as much as I knew about, you know, past law, I was like, that were unfair and unjust. I feel like in high school it really like kind of clicked in my head that I was like all these systems are working together and are like the root cause of everything like oh we look at systemic racism we look at gender inequality, the pay, like, well I was like capitalism

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 28:53

Yeah,

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 28:53

I feel like it was just that for me, it was very much these ideas that I just kept putting like, you know, one and one together. Like systemic racism and capitalism, for example, like those two things, like working hand in hand to uphold that racist system that I was just like, like, I can't stand for this anymore. Like, we really need to do something. So I feel like that was like leading me to the path of like, wanting to be an active member in our, in my community. And, you know,

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 29:25

Yeah, is there like I feel like for myself as I've gotten involved with organizing and there's a number of things that like I feel like my My perspective has changed over the years on like different approaches that work or different tactics or, you know, like what should be our short term goals versus long term or whatever. Is there anything that you feel like, yeah, over, over the last several years, as you've gotten more involved, that your perspective has like changed on, like, what should we be doing or like what approach should we take to, to do something about these issues we care about?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 30:03

I feel like my approach definitely has changed. Again, I would go to back to high school where I would email Dianne Feinstein. Or you know, any representative. And that felt like, I was like, okay, great. Like that's enough. But then I was like, no, demonstrations are important. Showing up, doing groundwork within your community is important.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 30:22

The other thing too is that like The more you become aware of everything that's going on in the world. It's like it doesn't necessarily It's not encouraging it doesn't necessarily give you like a good feeling like I don't know just the Sleep that I and I'm sure you and like many people have lost, you know, since October 7th and just I don't the other night I'm just trying to go to bed and I'm scrolling and it's just like yes This is like a video of a dead child on my phone like and I guess I just have to turn it off and go to sleep now And then it's just like on top of everything and just Palestine and Gaza, it's and there's, you know, the Congo and there's the climate crisis just going on in the background of all of this. How do you, like, I don't know, personally sort of like contextualize or cope with just the overwhelming bad feelings of it all? Yeah.

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 31:28

where I was like, I was definitely overwhelmed learning about everything.'cause the moment I learned about freshman year, I learned about what was happening in the Congo and. Just recently, I think it was like the other week, I was really sitting there thinking like, I've known about this since freshman year of high school when I did a report on the Congo, and nothing has changed. And I just had to really sit there like, that's not a good feeling, that's not a good thought, especially scrolling, trying to keep up with everything. It's very overwhelming. Because you know, you want to be involved with everything, you got to worry about the climate crisis. Racism, there's so like, it's a lot and you're trying to keep up but I think at some points you have to rope yourself together like it's not just going to be you, like you're not going to be the one to fix this all, like you have to work together as a community so I feel like just taking that stress off of yourself like you're not going to be the one to like fix it all or bring it all and end it all like and bring in like justice but you're doing your You have to remember that you're here for the long term, that you're working towards it. It's not a change that's going to happen the next day, so I feel like it's just like having to calm yourself down and not, and bring yourself back, like, to humanity. Like, I feel like at some points you do have to step away, not too long, but just to take care of yourself at some point, just because it is overwhelming and it kind of does sometimes feel like a little discouraging. Like, am I doing enough? I feel like that's the thing that overwhelms me.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 33:04

Yeah, and yeah, and it's just like so tricky too because it's like I feel like that sort of sense of self preservation Is actually the thing that leads so many of the people who maybe should be doing more To just you know, like I can't even think about this I it's too overwhelming like it really sucks But i've just gotta i've just got to focus on me right now and but then it's like I feel like you see that in other people and that's one of the things that like makes it Even harder to disengage because you see how many people are just like not doing anything You Yeah I'm

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 33:43

Yeah,

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 33:43

know where I was going with this. I'm

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 33:45

I know

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 33:45

complaining.

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 33:47

Yeah, it's just, again, we can rant forever, because it's like, it is just overwhelming topics, and, you know, and I feel like there's like a pressure as well to like know everything. Like, oh, why don't you know about this? Like, oh you know, you should better handle this, and that's what the education here is for. Again, like, awareness isn't a bad thing, but, because sometimes, you know, poly ed is important, you know. Yeah. Political education is important because I feel like that's a lot of the roots of some people that they just don't know the full picture yet. And that's why they're not as involved.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 34:22

Yeah. Well, I did a I did a recording with somebody, this episode's not out yet. It'll come out a week or two after yours, but they were just saying like pretty shortly after October 7th. Something like, It was not an issue that they had been really deeply aware of, but like pretty quickly after October 7th, they had a friend who like invited them over to like a gathering at their house where they basically just like shared information about like the history of the conflict and In that moment, they said it was just like an incre I mean, they're somebody who like cares about issues They just didn't really know that much about this and they said that this was like a really Eye opening, you know, kind of shocking thing and they learned about it and they've continued trying to learn about it Yeah, I feel like For people who maybe are like in the mode of like self preservation, like I can't do everything. I see what like activists and organizers are doing and I can't deal with that level of like commitment or that level of burnout. I feel like everyone can do something. And it's like, we are not actually going to make any headway in any of these issues until we have like, More people doing a little something Like people get so stressed out about like, oh, who are you gonna vote for and I get that There's like a big symbolic sort of thing in that but it's like voting is like the least tiniest most insignificant thing that you can do as a person and I feel like if everybody spent like Half the amount of time that they spend like thinking about like this the presidential election vote. Just like learning about something and trying to find, I don't know, just sending a text to, to, to somebody for some local campaign or like we can make the world a better place. We just need a lot more people to do a little bit more.

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 36:08

Yeah, that's why I feel like boycotting is one of the best things you can do. We all shop, we all do groceries. It would be great if everyone could just keep in mind, you know, like, boycott campaigns. BDS website is there to know what products or what companies support

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 36:25

really important to add as well is that like boycott can be a really powerful thing. But you also, one of the things that's sort of weird in the like social media age is like, you'll just see somebody randomly like, Oh yeah, we should do a boycott of this company because of this reason that I discovered. And it's like when, I don't know, that sort of thing can spill over to be something meaningful, but it like usually doesn't. And when boycotts are effective, it's when they are like organized. And when it's like, there is like an actual like concerted campaign with, you know, co big coalitions that have been built to, to target specific companies. And so, yeah, BDS is like a really great example of that. And so, yeah, like check out the BDS website, uphold their boycott. That is something that you can do that supports the Palestinian cause. Absolutely. Okay. I want to just sort of switch a little bit for this last section, because this is and roses, the show about intersections of creativity and social change. And you are studying to be a documentary filmmaker. And that's sort of a avenue that, you know, could also be used to kind of promote like leftist values or share information, spread awareness about not just what's going on, but about what people can do. Tell me a little bit about, you know, your passion for documentary filmmaking. Where did that come from in your life?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 37:47

It started in a video journalism class in 8th grade, and we started making documentaries about people in our town, and at one point we interviewed a World War II veteran, and that very much clicked into like, my love for history, and knowing, you know, about the past. And from there I knew I was like, okay, I want to do this. Like this is like Helping me share other people's stories who I am being inspired by or You know, I feel like it's important to tell their story or because it's unique and my activism was very much working hand in hand because like I told myself like any platform that I have i'm going to use it and documentary filmmaking like how else what a good way to you know, spread Like the truth and like the real messages that are like the real stories that are happening in real life because you know Not as much as I love a good movie, you know, I want to see the truth too Like what's happening?

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 38:42

Yeah. Do you have

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 38:43

Go for it.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 38:43

project if somebody gave you a blank check and you know said they were going to support You know production distribution. Yeah, what? What subject would you love to tackle?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 38:55

I actually wrote. This was my documentary like what is it my portfolio? This was in my portfolio of the dream project that I wanted to make it is about my where my mother's from which is called the costa chica in mexico, which is A community of Afro Mexicans living in Mexico, and I feel like a lot of people don't know about it. I've seen a few short YouTube documentaries on it, but I know that would be my full dream project to give a full length history of what the Costa Chica is.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 39:22

Cool. I hope that you can make it one day. Of course, like it is not necessarily an industry that's like thriving at the moment and how do you feel about, yeah, studying to do this thing that, that could be, that is really valuable, but it's not necessarily something that it feels like society is treating as valuable.

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 39:46

feel like anyone studying any art field It has this feeling of being scared that your that your job isn't gonna, you know, help you sustain, you know, like a living wage. And I feel like that's the fear of anyone who is in art, but it's that risk that you kind of take with it. So, yeah, it's just, it's a risk, but I'm willing to take it.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 40:14

and it's. At the risk of just sounding overly idealistic, I think this is also the sort of problem that, you know, comes up time and again on this show. Is like, this is why we need a society that is not just structured around the accumulation of profit. Is that there is like, beauty to be created, there are hidden stories waiting to be told. That we should have the space to and the time to be able to pursue our, the way that the economic system of our society functions. It does not encourage people to create like meaningful, valuable things. It's just Instead, you know, we have this like tech bubble of people just throwing money after like, you know, meaningless inventions that mostly just end up making life worse or you know, it's just like the most greedy people on earth are getting rewarded. We need socialism

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 41:11

No, definitely, from being around other filmmakers, there is. The industry very much feels like putting something out until the next trend comes in and then putting something out until the next trend comes in. And we don't see like true or in the mainstream because in underground filmmaking you can find amazing films international films that don't get much recognition. You know, look over the subtitles, y'all. Um, It's just hard when everything is very much deeply rooted in capitalism. Like, we need to sell, like, we don't want to hear your story. And it's frustrating, like, as a filmmaker, because there's great stories out there that sometimes production companies don't want to take a risk for. They're like, that's not what's selling right now. And, you know, they don't want to take that risk. And, but I think there's value in seeing, like, underground films.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 42:06

Yeah. Do you have any thoughts on, you know, as somebody who's like studied documentary and just sort of the role that like, you know, I guess kind of news and video production can play it's been really interesting this current conflict to use the euphemism in Gaza has been pretty Just covered everywhere on social media. I, I feel like I can't really think of anything except for maybe, you know, like 2020, but just the proliferation of like footage and video that is available about like what is going on. And I think that's played a huge part in shifting public opinion on what previously had been, you know, a pretty niche thing, you know, Free Palestine, you know, stop the Israeli occupation and genocide. And it just being able to actually see for ourselves what's happening is really opening people's eyes. How have you felt just like watching all of this kind of just take over social media?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 43:04

it's inspired me to see this because you see how much documenting these events is so important. If not, then we wouldn't know about it. So that's why I like you think of past pictures of like, you know, famous photographs taken of war or like, you know, the Great Depression, like those. Those moments being captured reminds us of that history, and we have to capture it or else it's going to be forgotten.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 43:30

Do you think there's like a danger of people just becoming like numb to it or just oversaturated?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 43:37

Yeah again, just like, you know, scrolling and seeing something so horrific and knowing that you have to go back to bed. Like, that's a crazy thought that some people at some point become desensitized from it because you're not thinking about it anymore as deeply. Because you're like, oh, this is just like what happens over there. And it's, very frustrating working because like that's not normal. That shouldn't be anyone's normal. And we shouldn't so yeah, it feels a little weird that at some point some people do become desensitized about it, but I do think it is important to show.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 44:10

Yeah, well, and I think because that can happen right when it's like you're just Showing or you're seeing horrors But there's nothing you feel like you can do about it And so that's why I think that yeah the step beyond simply raising awareness, which is important not just Raising awareness not just of what is going on but raising awareness as well of what can people do? and then taking that even a step further to the actual like Organizing of like building lists of people that you're texting and asking to like come to a demonstration I think that's the sort of Key to unlock that problem, right? It's like, yeah, not just Things are so bad, but things are really bad. Here's what you can do and i'm personally Asking you to come do this thing I don't know That's why I just have so much respect for what you all are doing with ydsa and all of the student activists across the country it's been really amazing to see. Yeah Lupe, that's more or less all the questions I have for you. Anything else that's on your mind as we sort of wrap up?

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 45:13

No but just a message to put out there is get involved in your community. Build community and great things can happen from there.

jordan_1_05-18-2024_171003: 45:23

Absolutely. Thanks so much for coming on the show. I really appreciated

guadalupe_1_05-18-2024_171006: 45:27

me.