Dear America,

Hopefully, you've noticed that I've been absent for a while on Feminist Fridays. I apologize. I've had some pretty serious family issues to contend with. You may also notice that today's blog is different for a couple of reasons. First, it is a poem and I'm no Maya Angelou so please forgive me. As long as I can remember when I feel exceptionally strong emotions they most often end up on paper in one form or another. Today is no exception. Second, abortion is a subject I typically steer away from outside of my circle of friends and I've certainly never addressed it here. It is an intensely personal choice that no one other than the woman facing it has the right to make. Having said that, with all of the attacks on women's rights in this country I feel that I can no longer stay silent on this subject. So I will just come out and say it, regardless of whether it hurts my brand. Here at Be A BOLD Girl we believe in a woman's right to choose. We believe that every girl and woman in this country is entitled to basic human rights over her own body. I saw a quote yesterday (on a different topic) from Olympic athlete Allyson Felix who said, "...you can't change anything with silence." That really resonated with me. When I am speaking to girls with my book I always tell them that their voices matter and to use them. It is with all of this in mind that I proudly add my voice to protect the rights of women and girls. If you would like to add your voice to mine, please "sign" your name by adding it to the comments on Facebook and then share, or similarly "sign" and retweet on Twitter.

Dear America,

You don’t own my body. You can’t tell me what to do.

You tell us that you care about life - until it leaves our womb.

Then children they go hungry and are shot down in their schools

It seems to be old white men who are making all the rules

You don’t own my body. You can’t tell me what to do.

I will protect our daughters - my mama didn’t raise no fool

Our daughters must be given the simple freedom of choice

Our daughters will not be silenced when they try to use their voice

You don’t own my body. You can’t tell me what to do.

You tell us that you care about life - until it leaves our womb

Then women they are raped and men may plant a seed

Leaving us to bear a child born from a brutal deed

You don’t own my body. You can’t tell me what to do.

I will protect our daughters -my mama didn’t raise no fool

You’ve made it so that birth control is harder to receive

Then you say you care about women - Oh how you do deceive

You don’t own my body. You can’t tell me what to do.

You tell us that you care about life - until it leaves our womb

Then we aren’t given equal rights and the amendment hasn’t passed

And when it comes to wages women mostly come in last

You don’t own my body. You can’t tell me what to do.

I will protect our daughters - my mama didn’t raise no fool

You treat us as inferior and say you know what’s best

But I can tell you that we will decide who may suckle from our breast

You don’t own my body. You can’t tell me what to do.

You tell us that you care about life - until it leaves our womb

Then with the stroke of your pen or a single word you sentence women to death

Now know that we will fight this fight until our very last breath

You don’t own my body. You can’t tell me what to do.

I will protect our daughters - my mama didn’t raise no fool

We will march forward with our daughters. We will not go back.

Because we control our bodies. You must learn to live with that.

Sincerely,

Women

and the humans who support them

xokim

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Thank you!