WEBVTT

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"My first feminists lived
on 131st street in Kinsmen

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in Cleveland, sported
big Bengal hoop earrings,

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fly feathered dos
with tails in back,

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and freshly-pressed Sergio
Valentes for picture day.

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Nobody tried to
quiet they voice.

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No one could
misinterpret head angled

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on a down slope, four
finger pointing up

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as a home girl say, um excuse
you, you best be stepping off.

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Off the runways of
the ghetto, they

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were the women I wanted to
be, with names, like Lanita,

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Jerita, Shandra, and Monique.

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These cornrow, fake Louis
Vuitton, big booty wearing,

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great blow pop smacking,
kick ball playing,

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wash cars on Saturday,
black and proud,

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spitting out "nigga pleases"
and "sho' you rights"

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like it ain't a thing.

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My name is Keisha,
yeah, they call me Boo.

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Yeah, I am a Leo.

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Yeah, my man is Desi.

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Yeah, let's set it out.

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You were the women, could have
been from anywhere, cute, cool,

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and conversating on
classroom corners as street

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lamps heat much Jheri curl juice
to the sounds of my Adidas.

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Defining youselves
with might on tones,

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and traditions of Davis,
Giovanni, and Shange.

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You were the women, the
women I wanted to be,

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owning your world, double
Dutching into tomorrow.

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These words stand on
playgrounds in your memory,

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may your ears rock
to their beat."

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[APPLAUSE]

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Can everyone hear all right?

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OK, great.