Some of our Hips are too Big

African women. African woman. Underdog, sufferer, opportunity-less woman.
African women. African woman. Ignorant, indifferent, agent-less woman.
African women. African woman. Weak, poor, emotion-less woman.

Are you her? Is she me? Are we them?

Stop trying to talk about us and understand us. We know who we are – each ONE of us.
Even if still searching, we know who we want to be.
No, not your American models, movie stars and diva….
We like the things you do and the way you do …. But we have our way too… give us the chance to show you.
We know what we are capable of achieving. We do what we can with what we have.
We don’t want to be under your obsessive gaze. Please just let us be.

Thank you for opening doors for us. But please, don’t force us to walk through.
Thank you for being a voice for us. But please, don’t make us conform to your views.
And thank you for trying to understand us. But please remember, we won’t all fit in that box – some of our hips are too big.

Adapted from Neema Ndunguru