OPINION: ‘I’m a Black trans womxn and I want my voice to be heard loud and clear’ | Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service
SunShine Ramel
June 29, 2020
SunShine Ramel (bottom row, second from right) and collaborators on the Juneteenth Block Party stage on June 19, 2020. (Photo provided by Angelicia Gonzales)
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My name is SunShine Ramel or SunShine Ray Pop. My pronouns are she/her/they/them. I’m a poet, artist, activist and drag queen.
I’m 24 years old and started doing activism work back when I was a junior in high school. Ever since, I never stopped fighting for what I believe in.
Lately, I have been busy organizing marches and making art for them. I’ve been out marching because I’m a Black trans womxn and I want my voice to be heard loud and clear.
I want to change the world with art and poetry and help others through my creative expressions. I want others to feel inspired and bring a little bit of joy during these hard times. Art and poetry help me out when I’m down, so I think that they will help others the same way they help me.
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I started organizing because I was tired of seeing the same thing happening over and over again. I started to organize in the community because I felt like my voice wasn’t being heard. So, I had to stand up and fight for what I believe in.
I fight for what I believe in because unfortunately, it’s hard for to be Black, gay and trans, as well as a womxn in America. And I feel if I don’t fight for myself and people like me, no one will.
I’ve recently helped organize the BLACK WMNZ Emancipation Protest for Juneteenth this year, Pride March for All Black Lives and Black LQBTIA Womxn’s March and Courage MKE’s Youth and Families March for BLM. I’ve also helped with a mural on Holton and Center.
Helping organize all these marches has let me know that the community cares about me and people just like me. It shows that we, as a community, can love on each other in these hard times.
I’ve cried tears of joy lately. I’ve also cried tears of sadness and anger. But having a community of people who cares about my Black life helps, because they help me lift up my voice.
Keep shining bright like the star you are and never stop following your dreams and believing in yourself. I love you all. Shine on, SunRays.