Message to My Sistas
by Assata Shakur
http://www.*****************/sistas.htm
At this time I'd like to say a few words especially to my sisters:
SISTERS.
BLACK PEOPLE WILL NEVER BE FREE UNLESS BLACK WOMEN PARTICIPATE IN
EVERY ASPECT OF OUR STRUGGLE, ON EVERY LEVEL OF OUR STRUGGLE.
I think that Black women, more than anybody on the face of the
earth, recognize the urgency of our situation. Because it is We who
come face to face daily with the institutions of our oppression. And
because it is We who have borne the major responsibility of raising
our children. And it is We who have to deal with the welfare systems
that do not care about the welfare of our children. And it is We who
have to deal with the school systems that do not educate our
children. It is We who have to deal with the racist teachers who
teach our children to hate themselves. It is We who have seen the
terrible effects of racism on our children.
I JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT OUT TO EXPRESS MY LOVE TO ALL OF YOU
WHO RISK YOUR LIVES DAILY STRUGGLING OUT HERE ON THE FRONT LINES.
We who have watched our young grow too old, too soon. We who have
watched our children come home angry and frustrated and seen them
grow more bitter, more disillusioned with the passing of each day.
And We who have seen the sick, trapped look on the faces of our
children when they come to fully realize what it means to be Black
in Amerikkka. And we know what deprivation is. How many times have
We run out of bus fare, rent money, food money and how many times
have our children gone to school in hand-me-down clothes, with holes
in their shoes. We know what a hell-hole Amerikkka is. We're afraid
to let our children go out and play. We're afraid to walk the
streets at night.
We sisters, We have seen our young, the babies that We brought into
this world with such great hopes for, We have seen their bodies
bloated and aching from drugs, scarred and deformed by bullet holes.
We know what oppression is. We have been abused in every way
imaginable. We have been abused economically, politically. We have
been abused physically, and We have been abused sexually. And
sisters, We have a long and glorious history of struggle on this
land! /planet. Afrikan women were strong and courageous warriors long
before
We came to this country in chains. And here in Amerikkka, our sisters
have been on the front lines. Sister Harriet Tubman led the
underground railroad. And sisters like Rosa Parks, Fannie Lou
Hammer, Sandra Pratt and our Queen Mother Moore have carried it on.
Sisters, We have been the backbone of our communities, and We have
got to be the backbone of our nation. We have got to build strong
family units, based on love and struggle. We don't have no time to
play around.