@ b i p o c l e n s e s O b e r l i n BIPOC LENSES ISSUE 1
Nikki Keating editor in chief Ezra Pruitt Chemutai Ruto Mannon CReagans larissa Heart
Thank you for joining me on this journey.
Anokha Venugopal Brian LRazo ea Crowley Danny Valero Michael Boyd Roman Nevaan Bawa 1
BIPOC (Black Indigenous People Of Color) Lenses was created during a tornado warning inside a study room with giant windows. Instead of hiding from the storm, a paper was pulled and the phrase: BIPOC LENSES
EDITORS NOTE
Contributors/Staff
A collaboration of colors under one roof was written on it. From there the idea of a magazine that would stimulate the campus mind on POC culture and life through photography and art was born. Something that all students can hold, creating a sense of community that ties them all together. Not only by finding out about each other's cultures and lives, but by seeing the similarities that tie them together in ways they didn't even realize. There are so many spaces where different cultures and identities can thrive, and it's one of the many things to love about Oberlin. BIPOC creates a space where readers can read about many different identities under one publication and shine a light on perspectives they've never heard before. Art is a language that speaks to all of us and encapsulates many emotions like Joy or Nostalgia. I am dedicated to conveying these messages through BIPOC Lenses. I hope that with each issue, the magazine only improves and grows in its storytelling and ideas.
CONTENTS INDUSTRY > B I P O C L E N S E S Issue 1 1 Editors Note 3 Reproductive Justice in LatinX Communities 7 As an International Student, Why Should I Care About the Overturning of Roe V Wade? 10 The Mechanical World 11 If Was a Flower 12 A Look Into the Ignorant Ally 14 When the Saints Come Marching In 15 Advice from ME to YOU 16 The Smallest Giant Remembers This Part 18 How to Get Involved 17 Ordinary Grace: Invisible to Whom
Undocumented Women’s Fund, Women’s Strike NYC, DSA Latinas Socialistas, Women Make Movies and 9M Translocal, collaborated to host the second edition of Picnic Abortero in Sheep Meadow, Central Park. Framed as a picnic to discuss reproductive justice and building ‘feminist community’, the event served as a welcoming environment for those interested in taking action for reproductive rights locally, while building translocal bridges with sisters in struggle around the continent.
Photographed by Anokha VenugopalClass of 2023
The special guest at this event was documentary filmmaker, Celina Escher.
Escher recently released Fly So Far/Nuestra Libertad, a documentary about women of El Salvador that have been imprisoned on the basis of having obstetric emergencies.
Under this category fall abortions as well as , miscarriages which are completely criminalized in the country under the 1998 abortion law, which bans abortion in all circumstances, even when the pregnancy poses a risk to a woman’s life or in cases of rape.
Reproductive justice in LatinX communities
THE 3government for a procedural final rating.
The film follows Teodora Vasquez, who had a stillbirth in her ninth month of pregnancy and was charged to thirty years in prison for aggravated homicide. Released ten years into her sentence following an appeal, Vasquez now advocates for El Salvadorean women that have been placed in similar predicaments. However, right as Escher was preparing to fly to El Salvador for the commercial premiere of Fly So Far, Escher found out that plans to commercially release her film had been leaked to twelve Evangelical and pro life groups after submitting the film to the
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These groups are now threatening to sue a commercial cinema that was set to premiere Escher’s work, over the film. Escher was made to postpone the film release indefinitely, and her return to El Salvador has been delayed as she is forced to reconfigure her plans as well as the very real risks of showing such a controversial film.
Pictured in the yellow dress is organizer Ximena Bustamante, who works with the Undocumented Women's Fund, DSA Latinas Socialistas, and Womens Strike NYC. Pictured with the braids is organizer Eileene Vicencio of the DSA Latinas Socialistas.
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AS an international student who is in America temporarily, why should I care about the overturning of Roe v Wade? Well, this uterus is international it’s affected both here and in Kenya, my home country. I came here for educational and professional opportunities with the intent of one day returning to Kenya, therefore, as a non immigrant I am, understandably, apprehensive to share my opinion on this “landmark decision” about which I previously knew very little. My positionality as a Kenyan international student makes me feel as though this is not my fight. Don’t get me wrong, I do support the fight for abortion access, reproductive rights and gender affirming care everyone deserves the right to bodily autonomy. A denial of this crucial access to healthcare is a great injustice. However, I would be a hypocrite to be invested in US abortion rights while ignoring the reality of the same in my home country Abortion remains illegal in Kenya, despite ongoing attempts to legalize the procedure.
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Gender Affirming Care remains inaccessible due to a lack of legal gender, recognition for trans or non binary people, coupled with antiquated anti LGBTQIA laws. Hence, I must conserve the amount of energy I pour into these complex issues in America to have enough for Kenyan affairs. International students often pour hearts into the battles of others only to look around and very few people willing to fight with us in our own battles. Unfortunately, America’s cultural and political hegemony over the world enables its affairs to be centered and shadow other affairs in the world. This is because, what happens in America affects the rest of the world. As a non American, whether you like it or not, you must keep up with what happens in here. For example: in 2017 President Trump reinstated the “global gag rule” that took away US government funding from international NGOs that provide access to or information about abortions.Such NGOs are crucial in countries like Kenya that have
Furthermore,
Chemutai Ruto Class of 2025 Chemutai Ruto
As an International Student, why should I care about the overturning of Roe V Wade?
"There were an estimated 464,690 induced abortions occurred in Kenya in 2012" academics, doctors and judges argue that this law is vague for healthcare and workers are confused on when they can and cannot be prosecuted for performing an abortion.
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restrictive abortion laws. This is just but a minor example of how your country’s politics/affairs affect the other side of the world quite possibly, the overturning of Roe V Wade will too.
“Forcing someone to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term, or forcing them to seek out an unsafe abortion, is a violation oftheir rights to privacy and bodily autonomy,” This challenged conservative writers of the 2010 constitution who had the opportunity to make the constitution as inclusive as possible.
For example, in March 2022, Judge Reuben Nyakundi made the ruling that “access to safe abortion services is a human right” in a case concerning the wrongful arrest of a miscarrying 16 year old girl and the healthcare worker that provided the abortion. Judge Nyakundi affirmed that:
The Guttmacher Institute
In Ohio, the six week ban is in effect. Therefore, if you need an abortion past this time frame, chances are you’ll have to travel out of state. This is a huge barrier if you are not in a financial position to do so Put this into perspective: the closest states are Illinois, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, or New York. You would have to account for travel costs, accommodation, and the abortion itself which ranges from $650 to $3000 depending on your insurance and the trimester (Guttmacher Institute). I don’t know about you but, to me, that is a lot of money. If you can’t disclose the fact that you need abortion money to your parents or guardians (if they support you financially), and you don’t have other avenues to raise that money you would have to cough it up yourself or opt out of an abortion Not very accessible, is it? There is the option of having an abortion pill mailed but this runs many risks of legality, prosecution of the healthcare worker that prescribed it and is about $550 according to the University of California San Francisco. Abortions have always been expensive, but with these added barriers the cost now includes gambling with the law. In Kenya, abortion is banned but there are exceptions if “...in the opinion of a trained health professional, there is need for emergency treatment, or the life or health of the mother is in danger, or if permitted by any other written law” (Article 26 4 of Kenya’s 2010 constitution). Many Kenyan and “Inaccessibility of quality abortion care risks violating a range of human rights of women and girls (of course trans men and nonbinary people are at risk) including the right to life.”
Considering it was written in recent and more progressive times it is a shame that abortion remained illegal and even after the bill of rights was updated it still argued that “The life of a person begins at conception” when there is plenty of research arguing against this (The Bill of Rights, Rights and Fundamental Freedoms). This alludes to Kenya’s majority conservative beliefs
Global Fund For Women Center for
Furthermore, while progress continues to be made, it is often slow and sometimes inconclusive. Progress was made when the 2010 Kenyan constitution went on to broaden access to abortion by including one’s health and situations of rape as exceptions to the ban, but more could be done. What could be said is that while many countries such as Kenya, are making slow but steady progress in this realm since 2000, thirty seven countries have increased the legal grounds on which abortions can be provided, the United States seems to be regressing (Council on Foreign Relations). This is unfortunate since the United States was one of the first countries to liberally legalize abortions almost half a century ago. As an international student, I can’t only focus my energy on the U.S but as for now, I remain firmly tuned into both conversations because, and points to the long road ahead in fully legalizing abortion. This same clause argues that “Every person has the right to life.” However, restrictive abortion laws subject many to unsafe abortions that result in an average of 7 deaths a day 2,600 women and girls annually (Centre for Reproductive Care 2012 report). What about these women’s and girl’s right to life? Another contributor to the rise of maternal mortality rates is the costly treatment for unsafe abortions considering “2 in 5 people live on less than $2 a day” (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics). Clearly, the legalization of abortions would greatly reduce the number of people dying from unsafe abortions
From this, I hope you can see that abortion remains a complex issue around the world, not solely in the United States. Specifically in Kenya, the procedure remains embroiled in legal, cultural, and religious battles
“The truth is, no one of us can be free until everybody is free” - Maya Angelou.
Foundations that support womens rights in Kenya Reproductive
Rights 9
Tony Singfield Class of 2023 10
And my clink does clank My teeth smile bright
Just like them. Just like me. Me like them Them like me? Gears turn to make the machine whole And the machine functions for a few All the gears are necessary Turns are up teeth are intertwined Sounds clank and clink They are one One machine Just like them. Just like me Me like them Them like me?I am gear. I am fueled by tears
Mechanical
The World
Dust has collected on my sun facing side Although I shine My insides do not reflect its glow No i do not reflect my prime Just like them? Just like me. Me like them Them not like me.
Turns are up then down then down and I lose up I lose down U ask me to lose my frown All gears are Not Necessary Just like them. Just like me Me like them Them like me?
If I Was a Flower Would You Still Like Me? Danny Valero Class of 2022 11
It is
"You haven't seen anything yet" they chanted. But the thing is, we have. You put a cloth across your eyes and walked down a different street POC women have repeatedly tried to make people stand up and see border control performing coerced sterilization, blocking teen migrants from accessing abortion care, and black women being targeted for birth control. Those issues fade into the background of someone's feed liked, but eventually swiped on and forgotten.
"You Thought That Protest was bad?" A Look into the Ignorant Ally Nikki Keating Class of 2025 a hard pill to swallow to learn that your freedoms are a privilege, not a right I can imagine it must be scary for white women right now to know that the floor could be ripped out from under you and you fall into the hands of people who have no idea what you've gone through. I can imagine this because I've experienced it for 18 years, to be exact The difference? No one gave me a glass of water to swallow the pill. This is NOT to compare trauma or struggle, as I know that leaves a mark on everyone. Yet as I scroll through Tik Toc, I can't help but notice the praise given to my white peers when proclaiming loudly that things were going to "get real" now that they were involved. As if things weren't real enough when my people were dragged through the streets and shoved into cop cars. Maybe it's only real when it affects them personally Maybe it's only real when it affects them personally. It's only real when white people need to protest or call up their government officials. The urgency of social justice does not move the dial when POC women scream for better access to contraceptives or when "Black Lives Matter" is shouted across rooftops and streets.
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"Leo, Mike, Jean and me Featured works by Lea Crowley Class of 2026
If this makes you go, "well, I'm never posting an infographic ever again if I'm going to get hated on anyways," then you're proving my point. You were never in it for the cause; you were in it for the praise from your fellow white peers who swipe up and say, "Yess gurl rip them to shreds" when you post on your story. While you POC friends, If you have any, have to worry that statistically, unplanned pregnancy runs higher in their communities. At the end of the day, white people need to come to the terms that protesting and posting an infographic While not inherently wrong, taints the gesture with them expecting praise or wanting to be looked at as woke or hip and applauded for something POC women have been doing for far longer and for less credit. This article was not written to tell white people to stop protesting. If you haven't gone out and protested, you should do so! But when talking to your POC friend, you shouldn't throw out the fact that you protested when they said you made them feel uncomfortable You should listen and change whether or not YOU think protesting absolves you from your ignorance. Understand that you should not crave or feel entitled to the validation that isn’t given to everyone. At the end of the day, YOU should want to be a better person. Not your Instagram fOLLOWERS.
Many movements have been pushed into oblivion because the platforms that should have been given to them are given to white people, who then use their privilege and power to improve their social status.
Landscape 13
When the Saints Come Marching In Lea Crowley Class of 2026 14
Nevaan Bawa
"The biggest advice I want to give to incoming freshmen that I wish I had my first year is to Never be afraid to go to events or try new things even if you're the only one in your friend group that seems interested in it. Don't miss out on things you find interesting. Don't be afraid to venture out of your friend group or to go to things alone. Explore your interests. Don't suppressed them because none of your friends want to do it. You are the controller of your life, don't let others decide what you do and don't do."
"Coming to college is really difficult, especially with the way that the world is right now. My advice would be that it is ok to stop. You don't need to do everything you find cool and interesting. Do activities that are meaningful to you. Finding friends is also much harder (at least for me), and finding things that I really care about is how I had the opportunity to meet people. I would try not to stress so much, do a couple of meaningful activities, and know that your time is important. Do what you want to do. You can control who is in your life now, so pick and choose who you want to spend time with! You are important!"
Brian Razo Ezra Pruitt Classof2025 Classof2024 Classof2023
"Don’t be afraid to reach out for help/use the resources available to you. I know…. Such a common statement, but such a crucial one. Oberlin is a place of many things, but one thing is for sure: it’s a place of adulting and finding ourselves. Sure it’s cute to want to do everything on your own, but sometimes you have to swallow your pride and reach out. There are so many resources available on campus for us to use (and… it’s free), so you better use them resources!! Trust me, and you’ll soar with flying colors if you do!! Don’t forget that Oberlin is filled with so many talented, sweet, and ambitious people, so don’t be afraid to get to know people and step outside of your bubble (after all, we literally had to be isolated for two whole years, so loosen up a bit these obies don’t bite lol). Nine times out of ten, everyone here is always open to meeting new people, and you never know what great friendships and connections you’ll make!! College is the opportunity to meet people within various distinct fields." to YOU
ADVICE FROM ME
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Michael Boyd Roman mistermroman@gmail.com The Smallest Giant Remembers This Part 16
Michael Boyd Roman
Rarely are Black men depicted as manifestations of divine beauty. Even after, or perhaps as a result of various Black American freedom movements of the 1950’s through the 1980’s, images of Black men almost always embody political or social propaganda. Conversely, my work de politicizes the contemporary Black male, because I understand that the presence of contemporary Black imagery instinctively encourages politicization in the current climate. Eliminating any socio political signifiers forces the viewer to sit with their own implicit biases, as any conclusions drawn by the viewer are a result of the viewer’s own inherent beliefs. The figures in my work do not allude to wealth or station in life, allowing body language and facial expressions to establish meaningful connection with the viewer. Using drawing, installation, video and digital mediums, my work connects similar concepts from different cultures across time, space, and race. While no culture has right or claim to the range of emotions expressed, consumers historically and inherently apply value to the artistic expressions of one culture over another. By combining expressions of similar sentiment from seemingly disparate, often conflicting cultures, I emphasize that respecting the differences in people requires recognizing the divinity inherent in those who appear different.
My Work
Loiter Kings as Pantokrator
#LostInTheJungleOfShoutsAndScreams portrays the ordinary grace of contemporary Black men by blending elements from hip hop and urban culture with art history and religious iconography. Concepts of beauty and divinity must also apply to Black men. In showcasing divine Black beauty, I provide contemporary images that are positive and spiritual to counter long held historical narratives that are applied to contemporary representations of Black masculinity. Using the symbols and iconography of spiritual perfection that have reinforced concepts of white supremacy and hegemony for centuries, I empower my figures to embody and occupy similar positions of prestige, power, and purity.
Ordinary Grace: Invisible to Whom?
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How to get Involved Join our Mailing list for Photoshoot Information, Writing/Art Submission and more! 18
BIPOC LENSES
BIPOC Lenses is an Oberlin Student-run magazine that unites many different POC organizations under one publication to showcase the beauty, talent, and art thats students of color create on campus.
