These Stories Are Not Silent

    Rosario Jesús Treviño Yoson is a 2nd year majoring in Economics. They identify as a mixed queer transmasculine person, and plan to use their degree to address food insecurity. As a Diversity Center Advocate, you can find them in several virtual dCenter spaces, including International Identities and Topics, Thursday Study Hall, and Open dCenter hours. 

    Where am I in my DJS journey? 

        I am at an overwhelming place in my current DJS journey. The more history I read, the clearer my perspective becomes. Without understanding where we come from, we don’t have a clear idea of where we are headed. As I learn more, my perspective has been shifting- achingly slowly from an American-centric worldview. My role has always been, and always will be that of a learner. In truth, I am at such an unsettling part of my DJS journey. I was reluctant to write this post- surely there are plenty of contributors that are more knowledgeable than I am. 
        I am hungry for more knowledge, more history, to confront myself and others with the countless untold stories of horror and injustice in the United States.
        These stories are not silent. The people scream to be heard. 
        Right now, my mind tells me I am never doing enough, and I feel largely hidden. That’s okay with me for now-I am at a strange time in my life. I am trans, and queer. I just started masculinizing hormone replacement therapy, and I still look feminine. I am growing more confident in my ethnic and racial identity- but I consistently hesitate. My proximity to whiteness is something so tangible, yet completely socially constructed. Even my family views being white, straight, and cisgender as something to strive for, as if reaching that standard will finally give them freedom. That is a profound and tragic lie, for I have not found more power and happiness than in my familial culture and my queer existence. 
        Shortly before quarantine, I noticed my thinking drift toward self-centeredness. I was constantly questioning if I did something wrong, and not “what more can I do today?” The last 6 months of quarantine has given me the opportunity to really check myself. My purpose right now is to uplift the voices of others, and I’ll continue while I find my own voice.