Connecting MORE: Silvio Dos Reis
Mestre Silvio Dos Reis talks about his life’s work, inspirations, organization, the history of Capoeira, and his general involvement in the Afro-Latino community.
About
Acerca de mí: Nací en el 2004 en Seattle, Washington (¡¡Vivan los Sounders !!) y todavía estoy creciendo aquí ahora. Desde que era más joven (alrededor de los 7 años de edad) he estado jugando fútbol a nivel juvenil profesional y semiprofesional, he estado estudiando y participando en programas de ciencias (que me encantan), y he desarrollado mi pasión por la fotografía al mismo tiempo; la fotografía es probablemente el principal culpable, diría yo, de mi interés en ser voluntario con MÁS (Movimiento Afro-Latino Seattle).
Entonces, ¿cómo me involucré? Bueno, cuando comencé la escuela secundaria, me di cuenta del hecho de que había la necesidad de completar una multitud de horas de voluntariado para graduarse. Busqué una organización para ser voluntario que (1) necesitaba voluntarios, (2) tenía una misión que me interesaba explorar y (3) podría darme trabajo en algo que yo disfruto haciendo; yo no solo quería dedicar largas horas de trabajo en algo que no disfrutaría, no me beneficiaría o no me inspirara. MÁS encajó perfectamente, podía practicar mi arte, obtener mis horas de voluntariado, y hacer un trabajo asombroso en la comunidad. A eso se reduce todo.
Mi identidad: afro-latino / americano
Me identifico como afro-latino y americano. Un poco de historia sobre eso: mi madre y mi padre son de Venezuela y Ecuador, respectivamente. Mi padre, por lo que sé, es mezclado (tanto como la gente en Estados Unidos es), él es parte Español y parte Kañari (pronunciado Cañari); la colonización por los españoles, como en muchos lugares, también ocurrió en Ecuador y siento que parte de mi identidad es Española y Americana. Para mí, ser parte latino significa tener esa mezcla europea en mí ... Al igual que mi padre, mi madre también es mixta pero ella (hasta donde yo sé) tiene Afrodescendientes en su familia, así como su influencia española. Mi identidad como Americano (un término que considero sinónimo de indígena // hispano / etc.) y afro-latino proviene de los antepasados de mis padres; Americano para mí es un término general que describe mi identidad de ser parte Venezolano, Ecuatoriano y Americano (Seattle); el término americano generalmente se usa para referirse a alguien nacido en los EE. UU., que es completamente ignorante y algo molesto. Para mí parte de mi identidad es reconocer eso. Para resumir mi identidad, soy Afro / Latino, Americano.
English
About myself: I was born in 2004 in Seattle, Washington (Go Sounders!!) and I’m still growing up here now. Since I was younger (about 7) I’ve been playing soccer at the professional and semi-professional youth levels, I’ve been attending school, participating in summer science programs (which I love), and I’ve developed my passion for photography at the same time; photography is probably the main culprit- I’d say- in my interest in volunteering with MAS (Movimiento Afro-Latino Seattle).
So how’d I get involved: Well, when I started high school I was made aware of the fact that I’d need to complete a multitude of volunteer hours in order to graduate. I looked for an organization to volunteer with which (1) needed volunteers (2) had a mission which I was interested in exploring and (3) was able to provide me with something which I enjoyed doing; I didn’t just want to put in long hours of work on something which I wouldn’t enjoy, benefit, or become inspired from. MAS was a perfect fit, I could practice my art, get my volunteer hours, and do amazing work in the community. That’s what it comes down to.
My Identity: Afro-Latino / American
I identify as Afro-Latino and American. A little bit of background on that: my mother and father are from Venezuela and Ecuador, respectively. My dad- as far as I know is mixed (as many people in America are), he is part Spanish and part Kanari (pronounced Canyari); colonization by the Spanish like in many places, took part in Ecuador as well and so I feel that part of my identity is Spanish as well as American. For me, being part Latino means having that European mix in me… Much like my father, my mother is also mixed but she (as far as I know) has Afro-descendants in her family as well as her bit of Spanish influence. My identity as American (a term which I consider to be synonymous with Indigenous//Hispanic/etc) and Afro-Latino stems from my parents background; American for me is an umbrella term which describes my identity of being part Venezuelan, Ecuadorian, and US born (Seattle); the term American is generally used to refer to someone born in the US, which is completely ignorant and somewhat troublesome for me. Part of my identity is acknowledging that… To sum up my identity, I am Afro/Latino, American.
