by Imani Williams
Voices from an Urban Bush Sista
So I wanted to do something pretty and light acknowledging the sheer wonder of women worldwide in honor of Women's Herstory Month. But, there is so much bull*hit going on that I digress. What is going on? We dhoulf be basking in the glory of what is beautiful, strong, soft and durable. Unchanging, yet ever evolving all that is woman. Instead we have to acknowledge or at least give pause to the nonsense trying to head off our queendoms at every turn.
High school girls speaking positively about their vaginas and being punished for the courage to utter the word va-gi-na out loud. The principal better be glad he had teens on the stage instead of yours truly. I've become rather fond of the way p-u-s-s-y flows off my tongue. But since I'm good and damn grown, I can say what I want. Without question, my body belongs to me.
In another town, college co-eds belonging to a rather superficial sorority decide to kick out their sisters who are getting more out of the college experience than partying and hanging out, (sexing) with whoever knocks. Over a dozen members of the organization received a letter evicting them from the house and from the letters of this backwards Greek letter organization. Also, those asked to leave were in the category of ethnic minority. Hopefully those women who were asked to vacate, can move past their tears and hurt and ban together with a Class A lawsuit.
Around the world Black Entertainment Television, (BET) which is no longer Black owned and operated, continues to degrade and humiliate black women by showing women as objectified sex kittens without brains. The display of women being shown as nothing more than gyrating girlies who have all earned the too common label of video ho's is at an all time high. Enough!
Somewhere in the midst of all of the confusion and plots to take away our sense of being is a call for women to stay alert. Your womb, your right to create life or not, continues to be challenged by people who don't have the equipment to carry life nor the right to pass judgment on whether or not you choose to.
Thank goodness for organizations which are women headed and run that continue to see the necessity and value of programs that support girls and young women being exposed to careers and ideas that won't limit their ability to provide for themselves. Science, mathematics and technology hold the key to the future of many young people who, given the opportunity to test their creativity and inner drive, can reach for the sky.
Popular culture continues to focus on the shallow and forces competition on superficial ideas. Things like looks fade over time even for the beautiful people. The idea that you can make it on looks alone or that beauty comes from the outside vs. from within is not doing a whole lot to raise self esteem in our young girls nor does it help them prepare for the struggles ahead.
The barrage of media driven campaigns that send the message that you have to be beautiful and a certain size with Barbie dimensions is wreaking havoc around the globe. You have girls who are not even out of elementary school starving themselves to reach some unattainable weight and goals that have nothing to do with her being a proud, confident, self assured person in the future. Amid the craze to alter what the Creator gave us are young 20 somethings who are climbing up on to the tables of surgeons and altering breasts that will never feel the bond of an infant nursing, and fat being suctioned that sometimes, when left alone, can give you curves that being straight up and down can never touch.
So what if girls worldwide were encouraged to be the best that they can without the subtle comments and nudges that they need to be something different. What if they were told on a regular basis that they were beautiful and that they can set goals and attain them. What if they didn,Aeot look to supermodels and video ho's to set the standard. What if they were taught from tender ages to love themselves from the inside out and to let no one disrespect them or make them feel less than. What if we honored and encouraged our girls to exercise, to stay healthy vs. starving themselves to be 100 lbs. What if we stopped allowing 11 and 12 year olds to dress like they are 25 and we instead offered daily affirmations that said you are beautiful and enjoy your childhood. What if we as responsible women each made sure that the girls and young women we come into contact with keep the light in their eyes that allows them to reach for the stars.
