The story of Marvel's first queer Latina superhero
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Gabby Rivera |
TED Salon: Radical Craft
• November 2018
With Marvel's "America Chavez," Gabby Rivera wrote a new kind of superhero -- one who can punch portals into other dimensions while also embracing her gentle, goofy, soft side. In a funny, personal talk, Rivera shares how her own childhood as a queer Puerto Rican in the Bronx informed this new narrative -- and shows images from the comic book that reveal what happens when a superhero embraces her humanity. As she says: "That myth of having to go it alone and be tough is not serving us."
With Marvel's "America Chavez," Gabby Rivera wrote a new kind of superhero -- one who can punch portals into other dimensions while also embracing her gentle, goofy, soft side. In a funny, personal talk, Rivera shares how her own childhood as a queer Puerto Rican in the Bronx informed this new narrative -- and shows images from the comic book that reveal what happens when a superhero embraces her humanity. As she says: "That myth of having to go it alone and be tough is not serving us."
This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.
About the speaker
Gabby Rivera is a Bronx-born, queer Latinx writer.
Gabby Rivera | Disney-Hyperion, 2019 | Book
This is my baby, my debut novel. I never thought she'd make it out of my Microsoft Word documents folder. But the wings on her are majestic. You should check it out. Juliet Takes a Breath is the story of a "self-proclaimed closeted baby dyke from the Bronx," Juliet Milagros Palante. “As she embarks on a summer full of explorations of race and identity, queer brown dance parties and a motorcycle-riding librarian, Juliet will ultimately learn that feminism is whatever she decides it is..."
Gabby Rivera (Author), Joe Quinones (Illustrator) | Marvel, 2017 | Book
Literally, America is my first ever ever comic and it's wacky, weird and a whole lot of fun. If you like prep school cyborgs, love stories that birth planets and inter-dimensional portal-punching, you have to read America volumes 1 and 2. America Chavez takes a sabbatical from super hero stuff with The Ultimates and enrolls in Sotomayor University. Along the way she’s mentored by Storm from the X-Men, fights in a Vegas boxing match and saves the universe from Midas, an evil corporation. Fun stuff!
Gabby Rivera (Author), Joe Quinones (Illustrator), Annie Wu (Illustrator), Jen Bartel (Illustrator) | Marvel, 2018 | Book
"America Chavez faces her biggest threat yet: Exterminatrix! As the Midas Corporation invades every corner of America's new life, she'll have to learn some new tricks to take them down-with help from family she didn't even know she had!"
Sonia Sotomayor | Vintage, 2014 | Book
When I was unemployed, depressed, going through a massive break-up and living in my momma's basement apartment, I read My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor. I needed Sonia's story the way Bonnie Tyler needed a hero in that 80s song. Justice Sotomayor grew up in the Bronx, in the same neighborhood as my mom and dad. And her life story restored my beliefs in hard work, self-determination and big-as-hell beautiful dreams.
Young Lords Party (Author), Michael Abramson (Photographer) | Haymarket Books, 2011 | Book
Yo this book! This book gave me chills. First of all, Sylvia Rivera, the Puerto Rican and Venezuelan-American transgender activist, one of the mothers of Stonewall, was a Young Lord! Didn't know that til I read this book. Also, learned that the Young Lords taught workshops on dismantling sexism/machismo and homophobia while offering free lunch in schools and taking over hospitals in the name of health care for all. Also, I loved reading about the solidarity between the Black Panthers and the Young Lords Party. Read this book!
Uriel Quesada, Letitia Gomez, Salvador Vidal-Ortiz (editors) | University of Texas Press, 2015 | Book
I didn't know about the activism in the LGBTQ Latinx communities during the 60's, 70's and 80;s. This book was a revelation. The first-hand accounts of how Latino queers used dancing, house parties and food to rage against the racism from not just white hetero cis folks, but also white cisgender gay folks, filled me with strength. It's a must read for all those fighting for a better world. We're not alone. We're not the firsts. And we've got our ancestors watching.
Tee Franklin, et al. | Image Comics, 2018 | Book
The story of Hazel and Mari's love is miraculous. It's a gift that spans decades and dimensions. And in Bingo Love Jackpot, Franklin brings back that 1960s Paterson, New Jersey love — and raises us love between queerkins living in the afro-futuristic world of our dreams. Bingo Love is nourishment and an ode to the sacredness of love between queer black women.
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This talk was presented at an official TED conference. TED's editors chose to feature it for you.