21st century black warrior wimmins chant for strengthening the nerves & getting yourself together

By Hattie Gossett.

        sisters mothers cousins girlfriends
    aunties lovers grandmothers daughters
        we honor yo bad wimmins selves
        we pour libation to you
        sisters mothers cousins girlfriends
    aunties lovers grandmothers daughters    
    you who sing the original break(out) songs: steal away/steal away/
        steal away/cuz we aint got long to stay here    
    you who wont bow down to no father or husband or lover or boss
        or government
        you who are the womanlover or the manlover    
    you who waylay rapists and child abusers and absentee landlords
        in the alleyways and on the rooftops     
    you who resist the dopedealer and outslick the pimp    
    you who keep mr executives hands in their place    
    you who plan and carry out the work slowdown and the strike    
    you who outmaneuver the overseer in the fields under the hot sun
        or in the factory on the airconditioned assemblyline    
    you who break up all madames fine china and sprinkle rust on her
        imported linens    
    you who mix dried blood and powdered glass into mastas quiche&
        salad
        you who raise children to love themselves and create solutions        
    you who dream and plan and work with us for the future    
                  with
                         yo     
                  bad wimmins
                        selves    
                       we honor you    
                  with yo bad wimmins selves               
                     we pour libation to you    
                  with yo bad wimmins selves    
                     we wear your colors     
                  with yo bad wimmins selves    
                     we eat your foods    
                   with yo bad wimmins selves    
                     we dance your dances    
                   with yo bad wimmins selves    
                     cuz you give us something    
                   with yo bad wimmins selves    
             that is carrying us through this world            
                   with yo bad wimmins selves    
                       we honor you    
                    with yo bad wimmins selves    
                       we call on you     
                    with yo bad wimmins selves    
                       witness us in our battles    
                    with yo bad wimmins selves    
                       witness us in our battles      
                    with yo bad wimmins selves    
                       witness us in our battles        
                    with you bad wimmins selves
                    with    
                    yo
                    bad    
                    wimmins     
                    selves                            


    Excerpt from Sister No Blues by Hattie Gossett
    Published by Firebrand Books. 

See Also

Black Beauty White Beauty

Black Warrior Wimmins Chant

Colored Pussy

Hattie Gossett Biography

Jamaica's First Female PM

Suggested Readings for Black Feminists