by Hayley Headley and Laure Dehem, United World College Maastricht
25th June, 2020
To the men in this world who never shut the f*ck up.
No, we don’t want to hear it right now–
And no, it was never funny
And that mildly racist or sexist or homophic thing you said was still racist or sexist or homophobic
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And since you just get to keep talking
And we all have to keep listening
Now– it’s our turn.
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So sit back, and enjoy the ride.
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I am sick and tired of dealing with this world of bullsh*t.
Black women have to be motherly, hard working, educated, strong, dedicated
We have to juggle it all, just to be seen – not even heard
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Everyone is so ready to jump at the next accomplishment of ‘insert white man here’
But they never want to hear about Estelle or Margaret
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It’s all about Jake or Blake, Robin or Tom but never about Angela or Maya, Daisy or Rosa
And no one ever cares when THEY f*ck up ouhhhhh but when we do–
It’s all apology video, national news headline, CPS phone call
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Let me tell you that I’m mad,
I’m pissed the f*ck off
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Why bother talk when you won’t even listen?
Why bother speak up when you’ll just yell louder?
Why bother try when we just get ignored?
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Let me tell you why….
Some of y’all just don’t like black women
And I’m really done caring about it
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And tell me why I should
Why should I small up myself to give you more room?
Why should I speak quieter for you to shout?
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God knows you have had more than enough time on stage.
So now it’s our turn to be heard
And we ask you – kindly, to shut the f*ck up
