“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything You gave me.’”
BIPOC + The Journey:
Two celebrity deaths have made me the saddest. And while all death is heartbreaking, these were heart-shattering to me because they were both in the process of living their greatest potential - Selena Quintanilla and Chadwick Boseman. I never met either of them, yet their loss devastated the Black, Indigenous, Person of Color (BIPOC) community. Why? Because few people of color occupy the space of success and self-actualization like Selena and Chadwick.
Finding success is a journey filled with exciting challenges. Along the way, we encounter significant obstacles that we conquer with determination. It's a unique and empowering experience when we finally reach success, and we are proud of our achievements.
Over the past decade, I've been on a transformative journey, participating in numerous seminars and coaching programs. What's inspiring is witnessing fellow participants who started with very little and have now achieved multiple six-figure incomes. Many of these successful individuals happen to be from the white community. While they often mention, "You might think it's easy for me to say," I truly appreciate their intentions. However, it's important to recognize that the path to success isn't the same for everyone, especially for people of color.
These spaces seldom acknowledge the systemic challenges that people of color face daily. We don't all start on an equal playing field, and our experiences are shaped by a history that hasn't been fully inclusive. While I don't seek victimhood, I believe society must acknowledge the unique struggles non-white individuals endure because awareness is the first step toward healing.
Speaking from my experiences within the Latinx community, I've touched upon this concept in a previous blog post discussing the Four Agreements. We are a culture that, at one point, found ourselves as immigrants on a continent we originally called home. The impact of colonization led to our communities being confined to smaller spaces within the North American Continent. Due to political and economic challenges, we had to seek opportunities elsewhere, and America became our land of hope.
In this newfound country, my parents and grandparents worked tirelessly to become citizens. We were grateful for the opportunities, and to avoid drawing attention, we often remained silent. In many cases, being invisible meant avoiding deportation. This silence resulted in playing small, suppressing our emotions, experiencing hardships, and merely surviving rather than thriving. Sustainable success, however, demands that we step out of the shadows and embrace visibility.
Being Seen:
Tex-Mex artist Selena Quintanilla was important to me. When I saw her, I saw myself reflected. I saw possibilities. And when she passed away, my mirror was gone, and I no longer saw myself on the TV screen.
Selena Quintanilla allowed herself to be seen and shine when Mexican-Americans were undervalued members of the United States. She courageously opened the door for others like her, and still, her light went out. There is now an upswing of Latinx men and women going into entertainment, but the sting of losing Selena, who allowed us to dream a little bigger, continues to be felt 25 years later.
Different minority groups have various hurdles to confront, and the common theme is the lack of support and resources in our communities. There are layers upon layers that block us from success, yet some find a way to make the impossible possible.
According to a UCLA Hollywood Diversity report, people of color accounted for 19.8% of movie leads in 2017, an increase from 13.9% in 2016. It has taken tremendous strides to reach this point, yet we have a long way to go in the journey of diversity, inclusion, and representation.
It's interesting to note the directors and writers being predominantly white because even when we are represented on screen, we might see caricatures of our cultures and not actual representation.
There is a deep thirst for BIPOC superheroes, evident by the $1.3 billion Black Panther earned. So, to lose Chadwick Boseman was a devastating loss. We lost a man of value to cancer, one that was able to generate 1.3 billion dollars. It feels so unfair that a great one gets taken down just as we make powerful strides forward in representation.
Loss of Greatness:
We often believe that good people should thrive while bad people face consequences. However, when we consider someone like Chadwick Boseman, it challenges this notion. Chadwick was an exceptional human being known for grace, elegance, and compassion. He was truly a beacon of goodness, yet he passed away. This situation can be perplexing because subconsciously, we may equate death with the ultimate punishment, even for those we consider virtuous. So, we are okay when a bad human dies, but it seems off when a good human does - because of our ideas of morality and ethics.
Ultimately, death doesn't discriminate, and it's a destination we all will eventually face. Chadwick's life was tragically cut short at the age of 43, but what truly matters isn't the quantity of life but its quality. He portrayed a powerful superhero even as his body battled cancer. Despite the tragedy, he left behind a lasting legacy. He paved the way for Black children to be seen and validated, showing them that they, too, can be the heroes of their own lives. Chadwick Boseman's impact inspires and uplifts us, reminding us that goodness can leave an enduring mark on the world.
Representation Matters:
After Black Panther's release, Disneyland began incorporating the movie’s characters into its parks. And as a result, I've seen more Black people at the parks. Why? Because they could finally see themselves reflected and welcomed as a part of the fabric of Disney's storytelling magic. There's so much more work to be done, but corporations' willingness to roll out diversity programs is a sign of hope and better days to come.
This isn't just for the Black community because now other communities can be open to the idea that Black people are kings and queens of their destinies. Representation creates respect and awe amongst various races because we see the humanity that exists within every one of us. It's not about competition amongst races; it's about collaboration.
When we come together to create a more purposeful world, there will be more economic wealth and overall thriving. People can care for themselves and rely less on social welfare and government programs to survive. The American Dream can be realized, and we could show the world how powerful the spirit of collaboration truly is. Losing people of value will break our hearts far less because there will be many more successful role models to emulate.
Final Thoughts:
I'm a Latinx woman, and the loss of Chadwick Boseman affected me as much as Selena Quintanilla. These two celebrities come from different entertainment branches, and their commonality is that they filled gaping holes that were much needed.
I hope more celebrities of this caliber continue to emerge because we need to see people who look like us in places of success to believe it's possible for us. That way, someday soon, when a white person says, "You're probably thinking it's easy for me, you could do it too!" We could respond, "You're right!"
Amor y Canela
Monica
