Erica Davis-Crump and Monae Archibeque

[00:03] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: Hi. My name is Erica Davis Crump. Whoo. My name is Erica Davis Crump. I'm 36 years old. I have a deep case of the giggles, and I don't know why. Today is April 12, 2023. We are in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and my conversation partner's name is Monet Archibeque And this is my little sister. This is my ace. This is my coworker. This is my comrade in arms. This is my ace, and this is my conversation partner, Monet Archibeque Hi, friend.

[00:44] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: Hi. I'm Monet Archibeque I'm 27 years old. Today's date is April 12, 2023. I'm in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and my. And my conversation partner's name is Erica Davis Crump and.

[01:16] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: Okay.

[01:17] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: And she is my homegirl, my big sis, my therapist girl, my mentor, everything. She is everything to me.

[01:28] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: And I'm thinking, girl, same girl, same, because what. Okay, let's get into it. So, what the hell has the last three years been? We live in a state. We live in New Mexico, right? There's. As of the census, in 2020, there's 3% of us in the whole state. Black folks, for those of you that might watch this, if you could have gotten through the introduction and the giggles, I just want to know. I think today I want to. I personally want to ask you, like, what has the last three years been for you? Is this anything that you would have imagined? You've gone from a very. We bring up this. I bring up the statistics because we've been thrust. We say the demographics, because we've been thrusted into this, like, limelight of, like, being the black life expert, being the proximity to black life, and being called on every time someone had a question and really just making for people, it's like, it's. We're just people. How has it been for you for the last three years? All the rallies and all the ways in which you've been thrown into the ring?

[02:55] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: It is like being baptized in fire. That's how I would describe the past years, especially if you're talking about politics in New Mexico. It is literally, if you have. If you are a black person experiencing politics in New Mexico and participating in it, willfully.

[03:23] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: Willfully raising your. To sign up and help the only unpaid legislature in the nation to sign up and go work wherever, because, like. Right. Like, also, contextually, we found out in the last three years that policy and politics was where the deepest impact and change would happen. So. So the New Mexico black central organizing committee was born in response specifically to a young 8th grade black girl getting suspended in February of 2020 for purple braids. And it took 20 plus black women to get together and say, not on our watch. And when we were asking the questions why, they were like, but it's in our policy. And then that's when we were like, okay, well, let's go get in a policy. And now it feels like we just. It just feels like. And so the giggles are, like, laughing through the pain and the deliriousness that is the wild west of New Mexico. What are some things that you've experienced, like, when we're at. Around, like, not even when we're at a rally, how do you feel like you see yourself? I think that's what I want to know now. Like, ever since then. Right. Like, how are you seeing yourself now? And do you think it would have. Do you think. Yeah. How do you see yourself now compared to, like, if none of this would have happened?

[05:03] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: Yeah. So, like, I would think before I started participating in policy work or, like, being in community and doing any type of activism work, I thought, like, my thoughts before entering this type of work was, like, the space validates me and my efforts. Right. But now that I'm deep in the trenches, like we always joke about, I realize that I validate the spaces that I'm in.

[05:31] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: That part. That part exclusive. I'm the one with the curly hair. Which one has the braid? I mean, the little.

[05:41] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: Yeah, it really is. So that's really how it goes.

[05:45] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: Like, this will be a great diversity pick for the pictures. We got it. I mean, it's just wild to see how, in the 2020s, things still feel like the 1920s in the manner of specifically, again, New Mexico being the Wild west. And, like, I just. I get so. I don't want to say appalled, but it's like, I think we. I think what I want you to take from this and why I'm asking you how you see yourself is because what I want you to know is that I see you like a giant. I see you like this stellar being that is this lighthouse for all these young black people to look up to, black new Mexicans to look up to, because the old seasoned ones, we got it. Like, we don't. We have to continue to make way for you all, because you just have a different grip on reality than just the. Those that are ten years, like, older than you. And I hope you know that just because I know. I know that they. I know that we live in a space and time that they're not going to tell you how much you mean, to the space, right? Like, they're not going to tell you that you validate it, and that's why you're on the guest list or not, because they've done that shit mess to us, too. So I'm sorry, y'all. Um, like, the ways, like. Like, just finding that. I hope that you know that no matter what happens, and even though it's called the catastrophe of the last three. Three years, to kind of get to this place where megaphones kind of live in our hands, I hope that you. I hope that you see and know that you were worthy of that, regardless of catastrophe. That's what I want you to think from. If this. If they can post this anywhere, I don't think. They don't bleep nothing out. But I just. I hope also, like, being your full self. We're being our full selves. Like, being your full self. I hope that you. Your takeaway from all of this is that, like, you're just. You're more than enough and you change the pace. I hope you see that, because I just. The last three years have been hard on all of us. And it feels like we've lived five different lives from, like, the emotional violence, the mental violence, literal violence. Like, being a black activist in the southwest part of the nation has never been more brawlic. And I just hope that you know that as you reflect on any time you google us, like, anytime you google the black central organizing committee that, like, that exists, like, sitting with Secretary Deb Haaland and asking her questions about curls. Like, I just. Like you have always deserved to be in space. And I just really. I really feel deeply that sometimes black. Young black women don't know that. Don't know that unless they're exceptional or whatever else. But I just want you to know, no matter what, you deserve that, little sis. You deserve it.

[09:24] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: Thank you. I receive it. Thank you for giving me my flowers.

[09:29] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: Always.

[09:30] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: Now it's your turn. So while Erica is being very coy and kind of dancing around this whole idea of the last three years, she is one of the reasons why abortion is safe in New Mexico. Yes.

[09:50] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: She.

[09:53] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: She does not like to bring it up, because she doesn't. She's very humble and she's very graceful. But like you were saying, if we don't tell each other, then the world may never. Because they won't.

[10:06] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: Yes.

[10:07] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: Because you were the co chair. Tell me your story.

[10:09] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: Oh, it was. We just did that thing. It was the. Listen, listen. Because this last week is also.

[10:15] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: There's no just about any of this.

[10:18] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: This is the co chair for Respect New Mexico women and Families, which was the 20 or coalition that repealed the abortion ban to make abortion safe in the southwest part of the country. And we did that right before the Supreme Court ruined lives with rose overturning, making New Mexico a really safe space for gender affirming care. And we. And the other part about the COC, like, we're, like, the COC was born out of that, too. The black central organizing committee was born out of the fact of. In the spaces that we occupy, we didn't see us, we didn't see blackness. We haven't seen ourselves. And, like, it's an honor to be the first black person to co chair the abortion Access coalition. It's an honor because we did it at a time that it was hell outside and. But, like, it was always more beautiful to come back, like, home. Like, to come home to CoC and to be, like. Like, to be together and how we turn up, how we. It's just different. Like, not having to code switch, not having to change anything up sometimes. Like, we have to. I just. It's a blessing to be able to do what we do, be it in abortion care, that is, as of April 12, in a garbage fire, because the way that this nation is hell bent on stripping folks of their bodily autonomy. But it's. Thank you for seeing me. Thank you. It makes it easy.

[12:00] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: Another thing you just gracefully just, you know, didn't bring up is the fact that you are the co founder of the New Mexico Black central organizing.

[12:12] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: We did it.

[12:13] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: You created this. You created this. Not only for our community to be visible in all facets, and it's kind of like the CoC has become this reckoning of, like, nothing for us without us.

[12:30] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: Right?

[12:30] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: And, like, no, they have to invite us to things and we have to be included. Now, it's not like a choice. It's just the. When are we gonna.

[12:39] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: Where are we gonna stop asking? Like, yeah, I don't know. I wonder why. I wonder if anybody else is going to talk about this. And I. Thank you, love. And I just. I wonder if anybody else is going to talk about how here in New Mexico, we live in a space of, like, of trying to get over active erasure. Like, constantly. Like, the reason the black central organizing committee exists is because there's this tricultural myth that's out here that says there's only hispanic, indigenous, and caucasian, completely erasing anything else or anyone else that could possibly breathe air. And so, like, I just. I think for context, for the people that might be like, why are these people, these girls over here just being all in love with each other? Because, girl, we have almost died. Like, we have almost, like, the stress, the late nights, the tears, the. Will you stay at my house? Because I think there's people outside. Because 45 sent them with operation led, like, Operation Legend. Like, they're having the founder being in a space where, like, the violence that 45 caused, being in a space with people that were founders of those movements, is why this story, I think, is our story. Us giving each other our flowers is really important because we did that in the face of some insolence and real bigotry and hatred that are in. Like, we did that. And I just don't know if you know that I see you, and I thank you for being my reflection, because that's. That matters. That matters so much. It matters.

[14:38] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: Really does. Like, and the violence that we, like, continue to see even in space, even though we are established. And because Erica, like, I wish that people could see you so they would know, because, like, you have this presence. But, like, whenever Erica steps into a room, whenever we're doing policy work or anything like that, people know exactly who she is, and they, like fangirl over a little bit. It's really cool.

[15:06] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: It's fun to watch them on Twitter.

[15:11] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: She chose them on Twitter. But also, too. There's also a flip side to that, too, where there's admiration. There's also a target on her because.

[15:21] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: People do know who she is.

[15:23] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: And the violence that we continue to see, like, we'll be in committees and we're getting. People are saying the n word in the actual committee.

[15:33] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: I can't believe that that happened. It's archived and documented. Yo, I'm sorry. Like, that's. That happened. Like, and there's no new tricks. It's just. They're exhausting. There are no tricks. Are our elders that should still be on this planet. But I fully believe, aside from those that have been assassinated, to those that weathering. Weathering being the condition in which black and brown people are, have their physical health literally deteriorated due to socioeconomic dysfunctions, trauma and racism and systemic issues, the weathering our elders because we've lost them. Right? Like, I think about. I just think about how, like, so many white elders get to, like, deep nineties, right? And I think about how we can't conceptualize that. Doctor King was, like, 38. That's two years. That's a year and a half for me with, you know. But you know what I'm saying? Like, it's just like, people act like things are so far behind us and. And. But the violence and the. It's the way that it's so insidious and it just wears at you. And that is why I wanted, like, that's why I wanted us to cover that because we're to the point now we have to ask if we've got the energy for it. And I know everybody gets there, but, like, you validating the space, having energy about you, like, and I received that and I thank you, but we've had to decide, like, girl, do we got it to go? Like, oh, God, we're gonna need to lay down for two days after this. Like, juneteenth Roosevelt Park, 2000 people. The first time anybody really came outside, like, and it. And it was in response to Brianna and Ahmad and George Floyd. Like, that's. And they're like, y'all just go up to the front and help.

[17:43] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: Help the people.

[17:44] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: What? No. What do you mean? Encourage people? Our hearts are broken too. Like, I just don't know if you know that in all of the darkness, in all of the craziness that, like, to be able to still. To take up space in this way with StoryCorps is really nice. And it's a blessing that even if people just don't go Google New Mexico 2020 wth. Even if you don't do that, I mean, somewhere I hope I just wanted to be canonized that my little sis Monet Archibeque was ride or died with the shits. Civil rights era 2.0. America's Pluto return. Oh, my God. The mass extinction era. We're still gonna fight for liberation, though. Like.

[18:44] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: Like, we have to. There's no other choice.

[18:51] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: We just want to be seen as humans and more than matter. And you did that. And I hope that that's immortalized in here now.

[19:03] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: Thank you, sis.

[19:04] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: I appreciate you.

[19:08] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: I have a question for you, though, because you did, um. You were. I'm at a loss words for the rally. That was in response to Roe v. Wade falling. You were. I feel like MG isn't like, the right.

[19:28] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: But this wasn't hype, man.

[19:30] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: I feel like it was hype mandae MC organizer. Like, we literally. She was standing at a podium. And I. I hope that whoever listens to this Google says because it isn't. Um, if you rally, yes, because you will see Erica. It's like, what was that called?

[19:52] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: Bands off our planned parent girl. They don't get bigger than Ro ban's off. They keep giving us stuff because we don't know what to tell the white men to leave our universes alone. We running out of our bodies.

[20:08] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: If you Google 2022 bans off our body rally, Albuquerque, New Mexico, you will see Erica at a podium and on the podium in Albuquerque, New Mexico where they try to say that statistics say that we are not significant enough to make a change. Our demographic. Black people were not. Our statistics are insignificant.

[20:31] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: So like, oh, significant for black folks out here for our demographic.

[20:37] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: Exactly. Exactly. You will see her standing at a podium. And at the podium there is a sign that says, stand with black women in all caps, big black side. Shout out to Kayla. We love Kayla Harris.

[20:53] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: Good Google. She's the reason y'all can have gender affirming it care out here. There's so many. But that was real. That's true. That's like, that's. How was that happen? Yeah, that did happen. That did happen.

[21:08] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: The governor was there, congresswoman the liner. All of the administration was there. People running for their. It was giving. Yes, it was giving like fire. Album cover.

[21:28] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: When does the album drop with all.

[21:34] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: The elected officials surrounding area?

[21:43] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: God did.

[21:46] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: God did. But how was your experience with that, Erica? Because you were speaking before a crowd of literally hundreds of people. She had everybody hyped up. She was doing breaks with Beyonce Renaissance.

[22:02] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: She knew when to drop it. Honey. Break my soul had just came out. Break my soul has just came out, girl. And freedom was speaking the word of life. Like, no, that felt, first of all, thank you for coming. What people don't know is anytime there's a rally, we go together because we literally keep each other. I don't know if it's codependence or safety, but, like, Monet and our other best friend, Ebony, that's our battle buddy, the battle buddies. Even also, Alexandria Taylor. Oh, my gosh. The. There's so many people. Yes, Sirius, I know there's. But, like, when we go places, we got to go together because that was like, it wasn't so much like, it was intense because we had, we had literally swept for the extremists before. We had to have security like we always do. It was just intense. But it was also, like, really good for a change to not to, like, feel like the underdog one. Like, it just felt really good to be like, okay, Texas is always ruining everything. We can count on Greg Abbott to ruin your day. Okay, honey. But it over here next door, you can come over here and, like, it was just. It because, like, it just, I don't know, it just felt nice because New Mexico, it sucks. A lot of read for a lot of reasons. Like, literally, we're, like, tied 50 in poverty, we're tied in fifth, bottom of the barrel in education, and, like, there's change. But for once, we were on the right side of history. And, like, being from here and the times that I've been, like, erased, the times that, like, you've held my hand through that stuff, like, the crying, the. I swear I I'm out here. How come I have to do just this part, but I don't get to do more than this? Like, it was really surreal to be like, okay, well, like, yeah, the nation screwed, but we're all right. We're all right here today. That was nice. It was really validate. Like, it was really validating and it was just validating. Like, it felt like. Like if the. If the founding fathers didn't, like, ratify and legalize the way that they trafficked our ancestors, the satisfaction that they've probably felt in achieving things is what I felt like the real. It was just kind of like cellular ancestral goodness. Like, it felt like this was for all of us. Like, it felt like. It just felt like that was for all the times. J. Marion Sims operated on an enslaved black woman without her consent and without anesthesia. It felt like this is black maternal health week and abortion pills are still safe here. Like, the full spectrum of reproductive repro justice is kind of a little bit being realized because we know they still be on abs, but it just felt like we were a little bit closer and it felt like we were in hell for like a day. Like a day. That was it. Because the next day, and as we all know, last Friday, they are gonna keep telling the people with uteruses what to do. So, yeah, it's cool being black doing that too. So, yeah, exactly.

[25:42] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: How do you feel? Like, how are. How are. Cuz you are the reproductive justice powerhouse in New Mexico. How does it feel to, like, know that again? Baptized by fire. Bad things are going to keep happening.

[26:00] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: I feel like, at this point.

[26:07] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: So what are you doing to prepare for that? Like, how are you, how do you get ready to, like, essentially. And I don't want to say go into battle because I hear, but it is battle.

[26:18] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: You just rest. It is, yeah, it's what we do. It's all the rest. And it's like not feeling guilt. Like when we found that we needed sabbaticals last year, like, we're all in our twenties and thirties and when we realized, like, sabbaticals were necessary for the way that they make us, as black femmes do the emotional and mental lift sometimes and not make us. It's taking the choice and autonomy and agency back to me. Like, I not going to do your emotional work because the bad stuff isn't really over. But we. I think we have a lot to look forward to because we figured out that. I think we've figured out to, like, let the people who have become ancestors lead us. Like, knowing, you know, Audre Lorde went and retreated. Bell hooks went and retreated. Like, James Baldwin went and he took it a retreat from, like, this aggressive work. Like, we are realizing how I I know that we take it so serious. Like, all right, we're going to take a month off. We're going to do this because the way that. That we've all been called on, like, has been the way that we always are. And it's not, like, neat. We are needed and necessary, but also to preserve ourselves. The way we get through all this messes. I think by resting because, you know, the map, Bishop, we read her book. Like, I love her taking intense, like, seriously, just, like, napping. Like, we have to, like, not feel bad about what we need with rest. I don't know. Like, it just feels like a reset and putting ourselves first. Cause we wouldn't question anybody else that does it. You know? Like, I'm sure big wigs. Like, the biggest thing about Congress in December that people get pissed about is how much they don't work because they're all on their vacation. So, like, if they're gonna go rest. All right, baby, you should probably go do that, too. I don't know. I just feel like rest is really critical. Cause it. If we don't, it just. It's not worth the early grave. It's not worth it. It's not worth it. Letting people work you into. Into that move serious. And for you, what is. What do you feel is, like, next? What do you feel is. What do you feel is possible given what we've accomplished?

[29:04] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: I feel that. Oh, what's next? That's such a loaded question, you know, because are we talking on, like, a community level? Are.

[29:16] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: I want personal.

[29:17] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: I want personal.

[29:18] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: And, like, I want what's next for you and your, like, this version of you. Like, the version of who you want to be in community.

[29:31] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: Yes. So I want. I want to be somebody who is not only easily accessible, but able to pour into people the way that I've been poured into by not, like, just you, but also ebony and shamara. Like, you know, I want to be what? Because you guys are my homegirls. Like, I want to be what you guys have been to me, to the younger generation, because, like, let me tell you something. Doing policy work, when you're the first one in your family to do it and you don't have no familial connection, what do you do? What do you do when you don't have nepotism? You put on the best outfit, you cry about it. Thank you. To your ancestors. You cry, and you actually have go work and you shop. Exactly. And you have to get to work. But the thing is, though, nothing is done in isolation that's worthwhile for community. Well, I just hope to pour into others the way that I've been poured into, and I'm not. If I do decide to continue with policy work in New Mexico, I do not want to be a gate.

[31:02] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: Right.

[31:02] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: Because that happens here. Happens a lot here. I don't want to be in. I don't want to be a silo of information that people feel like they have to, you know, appease me in any type of way to get my attention or for me to pour into them. I just want to be that cool older auntie that's like, you need a ride. You need me to support you. What help with. I'll be there for you, no conditions.

[31:33] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: That's what I.

[31:34] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: That's what I see from.

[31:36] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: I think you're doing, cuz, like, I feel like you do that. Like, I. I think you're that already because I know for, like, Kiana, Kelsey, who's already done theirs. My kiddo who's. I have a 17 year old daughter who, when she won prom princess, I had to relay the fact that Auntie Monet made an AP's Athenae account to go vote for her niece. Like, like, the support when you're in a. You ten toes down. Like, you are. Like, when that is one thing that I'm so grateful for about you. And hell, we are forgetting to name Shana B. Shana Brown at some point with Jay. But, like, just talking about how in our. When we call on each other, when I say I need you, I know that until I'm done, like, I'm gonna have to tell you, chill. That's too much. Or, like, no, that was like, you are always fully 100% down, literally by my side. If it's hide the evidence or hide the phone. We, like, not that we doing the legal stuff, y'all, but, like. But, like, we're just like, it's so nice to have someone and to be in community with people that love so deeply and sincerely and mean it and live their values like you do and our loved ones do. And I feel like that's rare and beautiful, and I feel like that is a gem about New Mexico that I hope is relayed in this, that they get to see two people that cultivated a space of and community of black women when they were erasing us when in the state and across the nation. And I just want, you know, your name to be in the books, too. Like, you're historical in that manner to me. So you're gonna be that. I love it.

[33:34] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: Thank you so much.

[33:34] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: I appreciate you. I love you. I ain't got nothing else, so we can turn it off. Thank you, storycorps, you got anything else?

[33:42] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: Thank you. No, I don't. I think this was great. It was very organic. And I hope you guys, whoever listens to this in the future, even if it's just our great great great grandbabies, we were trying to make the world a better place.

[34:05] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: But the old white man, they're really, really powerful, y'all. So in 3025, if you get this great great Auntie Erica and great great great great Auntie Monet. Archibeque We tried. We tried so hard. They. But we're not. We're safe in New Mexico, though. I wonder, what region is it gonna be? Hunger game?

[34:26] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: You think it's gonna be district twelve?

[34:33] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: Like, is it. What is it giving? I don't know. I'm just. We're trying to keep it from that.

[34:38] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: As long as it's not mad, we'll be okay.

[34:43] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: Girl, I'm sorry.

[34:46] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: We have really bad allergies. We are sensitive.

[34:51] ERICA DAVIS-CRUMP: We thought the panini was a problem, honey. Then the dirt and the climate change, that also 30, 25 children, the old folks don't believe is real either. They called them boomers. We weren't safe because of them. But hopefully y'all figured it out. And you have vapor masks and you're living on Mars. I don't know, but that was.

[35:19] MONAE ARCHIBEQUE: Thank you so much, Soycore, for the opportunity. We're grateful. Thank you for taking the time to listen to us.