As we begin the merry month of March, I am reminded that it is Women’s Month. As soon as I hear that, I think of my mother.
My wonderful slightly aged mother. Although she has only been on this earth for 42 years (let her tell it, it’s only 34), she has seen and been through a lot.I won’t digress into her whole life story, but I will tell you that from every experience or job that she has had, I learned from it through her.
I learned my dancing skills from her. Back in the ’80s she was a break dancer. I got my super duper fresh rap skills from her, because, aside from being Queen Tut on the dance floor, she was also a rapper. Sometimes I even get called her stage name, Dizzy Dee.
One of the most important things I learned from her is love. When she’s in love, she loves hard: The “I’ll walk three miles in the snow for you, even though I’m pregnant” love. But not only love for a man, but love for other fellow women.
For that I appreciate her. Love for fellow women and love for one another is something I believe women at Grambling State University lack in some sense.
Ladies, have you ever been in Tiger Express or the cafe one day and you just get the evil eye out of nowhere? Some random chick you don’t even know either has the biggest eyeball problem, or she is definitely sippin’ on some Fruit Punch Haterade.
Even if you have on the cutest outfit or do positive things on campus, she still has a reason to eyeball you. Situations like these are prevalent around campus because there is no appreciation amongst us.
Maybe instead of downing the next woman or tooting your nose up at her, think about all the positive things you can do for one another. How about instead of claiming her weave is busted, you teach her how to get a better sew-in?
Or instead of being evil to her because of the alleged sex partners she had, you can teach her to love her body, without giving it away every chance she gets.
It’s little things like this that can uplift the women around campus. Rather than calling her ugly, compliment her beautiful smile. Can you be her friend instead of letting her hang around people who you know aren’t good for her?
If you appreciate your friend so much, rather than you telling her what she would like to hear, tell her what she needs to know, the hard hitting facts, the constructive criticism.
This is where the appreciation for yourself and other women can start. When was the last time you complimented a woman?
Can you recall the last time you told a young lady you appreciate her?
Starting with the simple affirmation that you can appreciate another woman, you can begin appreciating yourself even more.
Donneka Green is a sophomore mass communication major from Gainesville, Fla.