Thursday, July 10 at 12 p.m. EST, News One will host a Twitter chat on Black women and street harassment. Follow the conversation at #YouOKSis on Twitter.com.
I get tired of
people not understanding that Women, Gay Men and their bodies are Not a free
for all, disrespectful playground. I’ll never understand when Street Harassment
became the norm for vile and vulgar men & women (Yes, there are populations
of lesbians are doing it women too.) to do. Grabbing somebody by the arm,
saying “Say, Say. Give me those tens” is a gross form of how you should ask for
a date. It’s even worse to call the person “Stuck up” or insults the person
with profanities just because they don’t want to get to know you. They know
enough. You are ignorant. Who wants to date anyone ignorant? Sad part is we've become a fearful population that if we complain, we are the bad guys. If we don't respond to these harassers with a “Yes” we are part of the problem. I’m tired
of hiding my cell phone because I have to give some fool a fake number and just in case he call it to see if my phone will ring so I can
feel safe. I’m tired of seeming like I might snap wild if you speak to me in
public. This is crazy. Street Harassment is humiliating and can be dangerous.
To the men &
women who are not doing it getting upset because awareness and discontinuing it
is being discuss. You are not helping at all. Saying stuff like “If he was cute,
it would be okay, “Not all Men are doing that”, “This is a Device from the White
man to keep Black folks from dating”. Instead of getting upset, listen and help
stop this heinous act. You know many that do it and not saying anything to them & continuing to hang with someone who does. You know that is a low-key way to say you agree. Many of you
complainers have never had one discussion about Street harassment with a young
man who does it or young women who has or might experience. How many of you
have told a girl, you know about Street Harassment. Yet you can fix your mouth
to complain or defend your right not to want to hear about it. Here is an
article for you to read http://newsone.com/3033217/youoksis-feminista-jones-street-harassment-notjusthello/
I know about Street
Harassment to well. I still remember when it was just referred to as “Cat
Calling” (Which very gross and derogatory term in itself. And men have the
nerve not to want to be referred dogs.) in Pop Culture. Miss Piggy experienced the “classic”
definition of 1980’s Cat Calling. All she was trying to do was spy on Kermit
and these construction workers (the "classic" face of Cat Calling) are interrupting
her in a vulgar manner. Now days Miss Piggy would get arrested for going off. It's bad that as a child I understood what those guys were doing was wrong. Street
Harassment happens everywhere. The street, grocery store, the mall, hallways of the
middle & high schools, the paths of the local university (Yes, that group
of guys standing around the front of the Science or English building always have
something to say), bus stops, and many other places. The bus stop was where my
worse encounter happened.
It was the first
time I unloaded my pepper spray on anyone. I don’t drive. So I was waiting on
the bus for my morning commute to summer school at one of the community colleges
one summer. A car slowed down and the driver rolled down the window and spoke.
Anything people know about me is I don’t answer to “Hey Baby”, “Say Baby”, “Psst
(that makes me furious and has gotten some people cussed out)”, etc., or talk
to people who want to converse from their cars or have grabbed my hand as I was
walking by. The guy, who was Hispanic (It’s not just black guys but you knew
that) said “Can I have your number”. I said “No”. He asked “Did I need a ride”?
I said, “No, Thank you”. He said “Well fine then” and drove off. He made the
block came back and said “Are you sure” I said “Yeah, I’m sure”. After that I
thought he was gone. Nope, he was just getting started. He decided to drive
around the block to taunt me 3 times before the bus came. I boarded that bus so
quick and went to school. Hours later I’m coming home and I decided to get off
a few blocks from my stop because the bus driver was taking his 15 minute
break. It’s hot and as heck and low and behold here is the guy from earlier. He
slowing down and I keep walking. He saying “Hey Baby. Give me your number”. I
keep walking. He stopped the car and gets out and is walking towards me. I am 8
steps away from turning onto my street. He said “Look B-word. I’m talking to
you”. I unloaded the Pep Squad on his face. This is the Pep Squad.
All this because I
said No. I said it was my worse. My worse was very extreme. It is not my only.
I don't know any lady or Gay man that has not experienced this crap. Crazy part
is is so common they may not even recognize it as wrong.
What is wrong with
No? No, First off, what was wrong with you approaching me with a “Hello, How
are you”, away from your car? Then what was wrong with me rejecting you. I have
the right to say No!!! I have the right Not to Fear for my life because I said
No!!! Everybody has those rights. No One has the right to harass anyone for a
date, though.
Yeah sister &
brother, I am ok. But I really want People stop that. Cat Calling, Heckling for
Dates all Street Harassment is wrong. It very disrespectful. Its cliché’ to ask
but would you want anyone to do that to your mother or father? Don’t answer
that because many of you don’t respect the well-being of your family members. It
past just a "hello". It's past "you were just speaking" It is your speech that it the problem. It's disrespectful. It’s about respect. What is wrong with Respect???
Always, Talking to
You in Adult Terms
No comments:
Post a Comment