RAGGA NYC

GIRL THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR THINGS. THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO KNOW WHERE WE ARE FROM AND HOLD THAT PRIDE FORWARD. WEATHER THAT BE FROM THE SOUTH, WEST, CARIBBEAN OR WHERE EVER. THESE TERRORISTS ARE LEGIT PLAYING BOB MARLEY AT THE ATTEMPTED COUP AND THINK ITS CUTE. I CANT...// STAY STRONG STAY SAFE AND KNOW THAT AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY WANNA BE ALL KINDS OF BEAUTIFUL DRIPPING SHADES OF MELANIN BUT CANT SO THEY ARE PRESSED. LOSERS #GETHIMOUT #TRUMP

As we enter a new year and HOPE TO GOD that this year brings relief in more ways than just Covid - let’s us remember that there is still work to do. A black trans woman was just found dead in a GA parking lot, Trump is out here threatening people for votes, 12 is still utter trash, Mitch McConnell is still a reptilian and the government wanna send us $600 after almost a year of financial disaster - so yes the fight is not over. Let us be reminded of our lineage in POWER. We got this. // January 1, 1804, Haiti made history by being the first Black republic in the world and the first country in the Western Hemisphere to abolish slavery. Weather your from this beautiful island or not Haiti represents the fight and power of all black people everywhere! Much love and respect to our ancestors.

It’s times like these when i’m reminded just how thankful I am to have this project/ this family. To anyone feeling down - know that we will get through this together. Good times are on the horizon. Together as a family we will continue to connect here online and soon in person. So smoke a blunt with sisters on FaceTime, hop on video chat w trade and stay safe! At least we have the memories of family to hold us through these times of solitude. To everyone feeling alone - know that hard times don’t last always. Happy holidays from the RAGGA family. From mines to yours

Congratulations to our RAGGA family @martine.tv & @chocolatinaruiz on this win!!! Love y’all DOWN Join is Tuesday to life up the dolls // #Repost @topicalcream Topical Cream is thrilled to announce the inaugural Topical Cream Prize, which will be awarded yearly to one artist and one activist whose efforts have made a meaningful impact on their community, selected by a jury of their peers. Congratulations to Martine Gutierrez who won in the artist category, and Viva Ruiz for Thank God for Abortion who won in the activist category. https://www.topicalcream.org/publ/topical-cream-prize-2020/

#Rp SUPPORT THE SELF-DETERMINATION AND SOVEREIGNTY OF NATIVE PEOPLE LIVING IN NYC! LINK BELOW. MANNA-HATTA FUND, a grass-roots organization that, led by the American Indian Community House, (@aichnyc) redirects resources from non-Native people to Indigenous communities and individuals in NYC. The Manna-Hatta Fund presents the opportunity to make a one time donation, or give monthly for people who want to make a longer term commitment. This fundraising campaign goes from Oct 1-November 28, so please give what you can or share, and follow @aichnyc ! https://mannahattafund.org/ art by Dan Nance

When I started RAGGA I set out to find queer/ ally Caribbean icons who had been there the whole time on these dance floors and gallery openings with me in hidden, plain sight. Time and time again I kept finding out who was Cuban but I never knew or who had Jamaican parents and just never spoke about it. SO when I when I saw Jorian Charlton‘s work I fell in love. RAGGA family member Tau Lewis introduced me to them and they shot some beautiful portraits of @mpclarke and @ehrohn... for the RAGGA Toronto family group art show that happened at @mercerunion. I just wanted to get on here and tell you just how much you mean to me and us in the RAGGA family and internationally Jorian. Your are a visionary. Keep doing your thing and representing Caribbean folk so beautifully. // All images in this post are by Jorian Charlton // Jorian Charlton is a portrait photographer based in Toronto. Her work focuses on Jamaican- Canadian culture through her personal experiences. She pursues reflections of identity and diasporic relationships to homeland, while her poetic approach to these themes characterizes her style of visual story telling. https://www.joriancharlton.com See more