#EstoyAqui
Like many others, my reaction to the news of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz’s withdrawal from the mayoral race was one of surprise and disbelief. Because the story had reported that Diaz’s withdrawal left only one “major” candidate of color in the race, I found myself “tagged” in a series of tweets about my candidacy.
The first tweet was from a fellow Latino — a journalist and college professor who I’d spoken to before — who noted, in a critique of the story, that I was also a candidate of color in the race. The tweet included my photo, and I was taken aback to see my image staring back at me. A second person tweeted a “correction” to the piece, pointing to my candidacy as evidence the reporter was mistaken. I released the breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. Feeling seen again can have that effect.
It didn’t take long for others to chime in in defense of the author (“he’s a good journalist”); excusing the omission as understandable “amnesia;” or worse, justifying the omission based on my “second tier” status.
The tweets all tagged me (thereby dragging me along in the discourse), and rendered me invisible, even as they subjected my value to examination as if under a microscope. The sense of being talked about as if I weren’t in the room, while repeatedly being dragged back into it, was unavoidable.
The implication of these exchanges, both direct and implied, was the status or “worthiness” of my candidacy as measured by the size of my war chest and/or experience in elected office. These benchmarks are a reflection of the status quo; the pillars of a system that serve as barriers to preclude full and equal participation of all members of a democracy, reserving the highest posts for the chosen few.
I AM NOT A TRADITIONAL CANDIDATE. I haven’t spent years in elected office; I haven’t been dreaming about becoming Mayor since I was a child; and, I haven’t spent decades positioning myself strategically to become the “next in line.” But I AM a candidate, and I will put my years of service up against any of the “major” candidates’ accomplishments.
As a CEO and single mother of two, I have worked in my personal life and my professional career to overcome seemingly insurmountable barriers. I have prepared young people for careers so they can achieve independence and mobility; increased access to higher education to expand opportunity; established housing to support homeless families; and developed cross-sector partnerships that provide pathways to economic opportunity. I have also been a successful executive of several multi-million dollar organizations with hundreds of staff.
There has never been a Latina elected to city-wide office. I am the first Afro-Boricua candidate for NYC Mayor. My experiences have equipped me to harness the skill, strengths and potential of the greatest City in the world. And I believe my true viability will be determined by New Yorkers who believe that all voices matter, including the ones of those who have traditionally been discounted.
