When I was in the 5th grade, I played the saxophone in the school band. There was a big band jamboree for the regional schools that we were preparing for. My family didn’t have a lot of money, but my dad was able to get a used saxophone for me. At the big band jamboree practice, I noticed I was the only girl saxophone player and the only girl of color. (I was living in a small town west of Seattle at the time.) My saxophone wasn’t nearly as nice as the other kids’ instruments and mine required some tweaking to play in tune. As we were practicing, the instructor noticed that my sax was out of key and he spent some time with me trying to fix it. So all of these eyes were on me! At one point, one of the white boys next to me said aloud, “Why is a girl playing the sax?!” I was so enraged! I didn’t know how respond – all I could do was give him the stink eye. They didn’t teach classes on multiple oppressions based on race, gender and class at my school. I had to learn about that later.

Favorite Musical Artist/Group: I have to admit that there is a huge cheese factor to my likes and dislikes. I don’t really have a favorite singer, but my biggest likes usually coincide with the current American Idol season. I know, I know… But this season, I am really digging on my pinay sister, Ramiele Malubay! Vote for Ramiele! And when AI isn’t in season, I enjoy listening to all kinds of stuff – Alicia Keys, Indigo Girls, M.I.A. But I mostly listen to NPR!

Posted by Liezl Tomas Rebugio, NAPAWF Anti-Trafficking Project Director