Hope is a hard thing to ask for. It’s hard to muster up and it’s even harder to keep. When looking at how quarantine and the last nine months have impacted my ability to hope or rather my ability to dream will always throw me for a loop. I’m unsure as to whether I’ve remained as hopeful as I used to be. I’m happy to know I’m not alone in questioning my hope in these trying times. Recently, I sat down with a person who I admire greatly for their thoughts on what it means to dream in the midst of unprecedented times. Mikalo Arenas (they/them/theirs) is an Indigenous American model, poet, and student at the University of Oregon. They are currently studying Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, along with Sociology and Theater.
“My dreams and quarantine [have affected] the questions I ask in my head. I’ve been asking these questions and dreaming about these things for years, really.”
Arena considers their Indigenous background when thinking about their dreams for the future. “My brain goes to Indigenous Sovereignty. How can I, on my day to day basis, make it a mission to decolonize my brain, my mind, my body, and soul? Putting in that conscious effort of that physical and mental act puts me on a constant stream of hope. If I get the constant affirmations within the days of the equations I put in life and see those through...that is seeing, feeling, and living in a post-colonial world. Through those minor interactions because things have to start small and knowing that I can put that effort in and can see it in others...that constant shed and loosening on the white grip that has been constantly put on people’s souls to combine and construct their minds.”
Arenas isn’t alone in their dreams. These dreams for a post-colonial world have been around for hundreds of years. Their exploration of decolonizing one’s heart, mind, and soul forced me to question my own internalized colonialism. In order to explore one’s own dreams, you have to explore the world around you and your place in it. I am not immune to the white grip that has been placed in our school structures, our work systems, and our interactions with people daily. Arenas’ message burns bright in my mind because every day is the day to do the work. There is no stopping or resting when it comes to doing consistent anti-racist and anti-colonialist
work. For too long Black and Brown people have carried the burden of this work. I’ve found so many people, including myself, have slacked in committing to a better world at times when it’s needed most. Our work and dreams should not end in quarantine, or when our election is decided or when people stuck in the past within our systems fall. It is never to end.
I am grateful for the time and discussion I was able to have with Arenas, even from miles away over FaceTime. Their vision for the future and what it means to dive into hope, love, and a post-colonial world is important. I am in constant awe and gratitude for their words and window into their life. I know that no matter how much quarantine has impacted our dreams, there is always hope and work to be had and be done no matter the journey.
Comments