Letter from the Guest Editors

N’oj is a Mayan Kaqchikel word meaning “that which is not seen but exists” and refers to internal wisdom. In the 5th issue of Revista N’oj we build upon the internal wisdom and knowledge of the body. We posit the body as self, as a knowledge, and as resilience. The body not only holds wisdom but becomes a vessel of resistance as Latinx people survive, thrive, and maintain cultural practices that have long been at risk of erasure. In a colonial space, the body withstands violence and pain, but also displays resilience and transformation. In this issue, we called upon Latinx people to reflect on these experiences through artistic mediums. To do so, we cultivated a space to allow community members to reflect on and represent their bodily experiences, whether that be intergenerational trauma, the pandemic, or the everyday.

The cover art, Origin, from a series entitled The Euphoric Dance of the Unconquered Mind by artist Elizabeth Jiménez Montolongo speaks to the capacity of Latinx bodies to heal and to resist. Based on the dances of Mexika (Aztec) dancers of the Bay Area who carry into the 21st century traditions of Indigenous Mexican dance, this painting posits Latinx bodies as sites of resistance, power, and joy. Montelongo’s vivid color palette and choice of abstraction both honor Indigenous ancestors while creating and evoking powerful visions of futurity. Ultimately, this migration of Latinx peoples and the continuation and celebration of traditional forms of dance show the body’s capacity to undermine structures of power and settler colonialism.

We are honored to facilitate and contribute to Latinx storytelling, and we thank everyone for this collective space.

With love,

Natalia y Julian