Black and Indigenous Latine Perspectives on Western Music Therapy Leadership Coloniality

Abstract

This Latin American scholarly essay is a collaborative piece on the respective experiences of both a Black and an Indigenous Latine music therapist within colonial academia. We highlight pertinent memories within our respective trainings and educational experiences that fostered denial of self or promoted self-erasure through assimilation. The collaboration began as the presidential election of 2024 was nearing, and thus an added stress to rejecting non-political clinical frameworks permeates the body of work. The Latin American essay closes with a call to action that focuses on musicianship and cultural humility while offering alternative practices within the USA.

Editorial Comment

This will not be comfortable. As you encounter each invitation offered by the authors, take time to observe yourself. Notice even your bodily reactions as they engage with power. Those moments when you turn away, resist, or respond quickly—these reveal the domains of colonial power we have metabolized into our identities. These are the places that call for reimagining—notthrough a single story, but through a wide, plural vision that restores dignity to ourselves, and to our patients, students, and colleagues.