By Melina Paris, Contributing Writer
On the road to Evanston, Wyo. Nicolassa Galvez and Alyssandra Nighswonger discussed their post-inauguration interviews. Since Jan. 8, Galvez and Nighswonger had been driving across the country capturing the women’s untold stories.
“There was a lot more talk about intersectional feminism and race,” Nighswonger said. “There was more of an awareness to stand up for the rights of people around you rather than what’s just important to you. That’s just something I’ve noticed across the board, greater awareness of other people’s struggles.”
She appreciated seeing the momentum from the Women’s March carrying over. Nighswonger said friends from different cities went to all the airport protests after the administration’s executive order banning Muslims from entering the United States was issued.
St. Louis was the first city they had interviews in after the president’s swearing in and the city struck a chord with Galvez.
They said the women attending their event St. Louis had a pretty diverse LGBT population but beyond that it was only slightly diverse. They spoke to the grandniece of a civil rights organizer named, Gregory Clark.
“She had really powerful things to say about being black, queer and a female,” Galvez said. “She also serves on a board for transgender rights. There was a lot of conversation about transgender rights but I don’t think anyone we interviewed was transgender.”
In Colorado they met with a powerful group of women who, they said, was probably their most diverse group. A lot women came together who didn’t know each other.
The Colorado women plan to use the Road to the American Woman event as a catalyst to connect, continue to meet and start organizing.
Earlier that day, Galvez read a story about a luncheon for women, who are part of the film industry. They were discussing being more inclusive.
In the story, actress Salma Hayek asked Jessica Williams, the former senior correspondent for The Daily Show, about the essence of her persona when she is not black and not a female. Throughout the conversation with other women of note Williams found herself explaining several times that she cannot remove herself from her blackness .
“I was really impressed with Jessica Williams taking that stance with women in film who have been in that industry for such a long time and were older than her,” Galvez said.
“The women still didn’t believe her,” Nighswonger said. “Jessica was saying, ‘I know but can you just believe me? I can’t put down my blackness, I can’t walk into a room and blend in.’”
Galvez noted that there aren’t many women of color at their events.
“Black women are in many ways the most marginalized of all women,” Galvez said.
She noted that because there are so many subcultures Latinas, their perspectives also differ. Therefore, representation and leadership for that community would be confusing. Black women should take the lead and that there needs to be more support for movements such Black Lives Matter.
Something else hit her during an interview in Denver. A Latina filmmaker who attended their event became emotional. She spoke to Galvez and Nighswonger about the anxiety that comes with being at an event where she doesn’t know anyone and is the only woman of color.
Galvez said the woman started tearing up as she explained how she gets nervous and uncomfortable.
“Every day, they have to deal with that and I don’t think we always get it,” Galvez said. “Just having to determine if it’s a safe space they are in, wondering if they have to tone it down, ‘Who do I have to keep an eye out for?’ It’s added to the social anxiety we all have when we come into a room full of strangers.”
Click here to find out what happened in their prior stop in Louisville, Ky.
Read more about their journey at www.roadtotheamericanwoman.com