Earlier today I read an amazing essay in the NYT about a Vibe magazine journalist and her fraught experiences with Puff Daddy - touches on a lot of this male power imbalance in a similarly gut wrenching way. My heart goes out to you for the trauma you’ve endured. I feel so much rage toward men and I haven’t endured any of this.
💛💛💛When we dare to speak in a liberatory voice, we threaten even those who may initially claim to want our words. In the act of overcoming our fear of speech, of being seen as threatening, in the process of learning to speak as subjects, we participate in the global struggle to end domination. When we end our silence, when we speak in a liberated voice, our words connect us with anyone, anywhere who lives in silence. Feminist focus on women finding a voice, on the silence of black women, of women of color, has led to increased interest in our words. This is an important historical moment. We are both speaking of our own volition, out of our commitment to justice, to revolutionary struggle to end domination, and simultaneously called to speak, "invited" to share our words. It is important that we speak. What we speak about is more important. It is our responsibility collectively and individually to distinguish between mere speaking that is about self-aggrandizement, exploitation of the exotic "other," and that coming to voice which is a gesture of resistance, an affirmation of struggle.
bell hooks 💛. Thank you for your voice. So much Love to you.
Not a post I could just stick a heart on and move on - this took guts to write, and I am just here to bear witness. Thank you.
Thank you so very much. XO
I'm screaming right along with you. Thank you for using your voice. I love you BIG!! 💙💙💙
We'll all scream together. Love you bigger. XOXO
I felt and feel this SO deeply, Katrina. Any words that I may utter feel like chaff in the wind. With you, caring and in solidarity. 💜💜💜
Solidarity, sister. XO
Earlier today I read an amazing essay in the NYT about a Vibe magazine journalist and her fraught experiences with Puff Daddy - touches on a lot of this male power imbalance in a similarly gut wrenching way. My heart goes out to you for the trauma you’ve endured. I feel so much rage toward men and I haven’t endured any of this.
Thank you, Joy. I'm going to go find that NYT article now. XO
Wish I could hug through a computer. I hate that this is your reality. I hate that this is our reality. The evil empire has got to go.
Thanks, friend. I wish it wasn't our reality, either. So much bullshit, and it's time for it to end.
So much to feel angry about. So much to voice and shout and scream. Painful as it can be, as uncomfortable as it is, I am glad anger is rising in us.
I am so angry about being so suppressed for so long, so angry about all I/you have lived through and endured.
Raging about our livelihoods and mental health being put into the hands of those with hidden agendas. So many hidden agendas.
Raging at what’s been known for so long. Choices and decisions made to not teach/educate others so that everything stays the same. Cycles on repeat.
I’ve been compliant in my own voice for so long. (Lifetimes.) Leaning in to the masculine for safety, for survival.
No more. There will be no more.
I hear and feel every word of this. In solidarity. XOXO
💛💛💛When we dare to speak in a liberatory voice, we threaten even those who may initially claim to want our words. In the act of overcoming our fear of speech, of being seen as threatening, in the process of learning to speak as subjects, we participate in the global struggle to end domination. When we end our silence, when we speak in a liberated voice, our words connect us with anyone, anywhere who lives in silence. Feminist focus on women finding a voice, on the silence of black women, of women of color, has led to increased interest in our words. This is an important historical moment. We are both speaking of our own volition, out of our commitment to justice, to revolutionary struggle to end domination, and simultaneously called to speak, "invited" to share our words. It is important that we speak. What we speak about is more important. It is our responsibility collectively and individually to distinguish between mere speaking that is about self-aggrandizement, exploitation of the exotic "other," and that coming to voice which is a gesture of resistance, an affirmation of struggle.
bell hooks 💛. Thank you for your voice. So much Love to you.