Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Dear White Women: I am tired of having to educate you, of being your go to token on issues pertaining to
diversity, women of color and LGBT issues. I really am.
I'm tired of having to soothe your hurt feelings
when I react to being discriminated against by you.
I don't care if you find my thoughts revolutionary.
My skin literally crawls every time you refer to my experiences as "fascinating." I don't pity myself; I don't need yours.
And the compliments can be tokenizing. I'm a human being, not a *** case study. We will not lower our voices. The revolution will not be soft-spoken.
I don't need your approval. Please don't tell me, "You're so articulate, you speak English so well."
"You BARELY have an accent!"
And when Americans tell me I don't have an accent, I wonder,
"Why so proud of the fact that we colonized Africa?" No, I will not teach you Spanish.
Plus, news flash: I still do have an accent.
Just around people I trust not to judge me for it.
Be we all know an accent equals ignorance.
Different equals dangerous.
My missing accent is for survival.
Ponder that at your next conference. We will not lower our voices. The revolution will not be soft-spoken.
I am a daughter of Africa. [Wind interference.] Soy mi grande mujer, ***.
I was born breathing revolution.
I need you to accept me whole, so stop with the "kumbayah" silencing tactics, i.e.,
"We're all women, sexuality doesn't matter!" "We're all women, race doesn't matter!"
It *** matters. [Cheering.]
I cannot separate the sum of my parts at your whim.
Don't ask me to check one of my identities at the door in the name of blind solidarity.
And when challenged PLEASE resist the urge to pull out your one secret weapon:
Your one Black or Latino friend to testify on your behalf,
because pitting people of color against each other only makes you an ***. [Cheering.]
Good intentions are not insurance against pain inflicted and sometimes all I need is a simple,
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry."
No excuses, no resume of women's studies classes that demonstrate your enlightenment.
Just *** say I'm sorry.
Check yourself.
We will not lower our voices. The revolution will not be soft-spoken.
My revolution will happen at a kitchen table,
not a podium.
My revolution has already been happening, so don't ask me where I've been. Where have YOU been?
A revolution is not complete if it is not complementary.
Our revolution stands on the backs of many women before us, a concoction of sweat and tears.
Lolita Lebrón. Las Hermanas Mirabal.
Gloria Anzaldúa. Cherrie Moraga.
Winnie Mandela. Sylvia Rivera.
Sojourner Truth. Audre Lorde.
The toils of our ancestors will not be erased from history.
We will not lower our voices. The revolution will not be soft-spoken.
A house built by many hands; A revolution is a public masterpiece.
Our revolution recognizes that
all individual accomplishmenst benefit the whole.
Our revolution is the sound of women's voices, unique and united, calling for gender liberation.
Our revolution did not begin here and our revolution will not end here.
Not until all our voices are heard.
We will not lower our voices. The revolution will not be soft-spoken. We will not lower our voices. The revolution will not be soft-spoken.
Thank you.