Sisters of the Breadfruit: my healing place

Sisters of the Breadfruit

Why have I called this “sisters of the breadfruit”?

Well, I was inspired by bell hooks book titled “Sisters of the Yam”. Her book focused on ‘black women’ their trials, tribulations, issues, and relationship with the self, with the body and with others.

Apart from yam, taro and seafood we have another food that is common throughout the Pacific and that is breadfruit- as coloured brown women of the ocean, we have survived on breadfruit, we have cried and shared a meal over breadfruit. Breadfruit has been a staple food in most of our homes at some point in our lives. Over breadfruit and tea, we have strengthened relationships, we have shared experiences. Over open fires, we have roasted breadfruit and have passed down herstories/histories and traditions. 

Breadfruit was introduced to the Pacific and the people of Oceania by the colonisers- and like many other things that were introduced, I wanted my writing to be about unlearning, learning and growth. We share stories and experiences of "likeness" and with the start of this blog, I hope it provides that space of healing I have been actively seeking. I call this blog "sisters of the breadfruit" because I want the stories to be about the relationships we hold, the relationships we have and the relationships we contribute to. I want the writings to be satisfying, fulfilling and comforting like fire-roasted breadfruit. I also want the writings to challenge you and rethink how you view yourself and life. 

Why create another blog?

I think for me, it has been about progression and about growth. While I could have continued to use my old blog-, it simply served a different purpose. My old blog was/is a blog that was about a women’s journey with her body and mind and putting it down on paper for other young women to connect to and find a space for healing and to have conversations to seek healing- something that bell hooks has continuously talked about in her writings.

I also struggle to see relatable articles that connect to my personal ‘political views’, especially within the Pacific Islands diaspora. This has resulted in a repressed state of being that has made engaging in conversations more challenging. I want to use this blog to decolonise the mind and the self through radical self-reflection. 

What is this blog about?

This blog will be slightly different in terms of its style. My Politics or Politik has always been slightly different. The way I view the world, structures, inequalities, and problems have always been different. I have been labeled an Anarchist in many situations- I don't fight it, I suppose people will say whatever for their own understanding and comfort. I am a feminist. I am a feminist who does not believe in ‘democracy’ because that means believing in a system that is already flawed. A system that allows you to take sides with the ‘majority’ rather than a side that pushes for equality, freedom, peace, and quality of life. Things that I stand for. 

While I see ourselves as products of this world, and pawns of the system- I also see no value in making changes within structures that ONLY perpetuate injustice and inequality. I would like to influence change in order to change structures that will then allow environments to be more enabling, conducive and safe for positive changes to take place. It is about dismantling and destroying these structures to ensure that our people are equal, living a life that brings them joy, happiness, and love.