All Black Lives Matter in the Borderland

Abstract

In the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, Black Lives Matter has often been seen as a “northern” issue. The borderland has been described as a bicultural bilingual community where a majority of the community identifies as Mexican, Mexican American, or Latinx. This essay explores the issue of Anti-Blackness in the Latinx community often rooted within our own families and broader community. This ideology is prominent along the U.S.-Mexico Border. However, a community of activists, students, and elders are reshaping that narrative. On June 6^th, 2020, the borderlands rose up in protest against white supremacy and the state sanctioned execution(s) of Black citizens. The goal of this article is to document the historical moment of protest in the South Texas borderland region. Current and future activist scholars can look back on the summer of 2020 as a firm example of intergenerational and intercultural Black and Brown solidarity. They should know that All Black Live Matter no matter the geographic region.