One time in secondary school, I was caught with another student stepping out of school during school hours. Our parents were called to witness our punishment.
Everyone concerned was gathered in the principal’s office, including the P.E teacher who caught us on our way out.
Everyone concerned was gathered in the principal’s office, including the P.E teacher who caught us on our way out.
As the P.E teacher narrated how he caught us, he told a lie that made my partner in crime and I look at each other knowingly. He said, “boys were waiting for them across the road. I saw them, they were poly boys.”
This was a straight-up lie and I didn’t think it was okay.
This was a straight-up lie and I didn’t think it was okay.
So when he was done talking I proceeded to tell our own side of the story, intending to correct the impression that we were our to see boys. As I began to speak, the principal shouted at me, “shut up! Don’t speak.”q
My mother was visibly shocked.
She looked at the P.E teacher,
My mother was visibly shocked.
She looked at the P.E teacher,
furrowed her brows at me then turned around to ask the principal, “why did you ask her to shut up?”
“Adults are talking, she’s talking,” said the principal angrily.
“But how do you expect her to defend herself if you shut her up?” Asked mama, “Let her speak.” she turned to me,
“Adults are talking, she’s talking,” said the principal angrily.
“But how do you expect her to defend herself if you shut her up?” Asked mama, “Let her speak.” she turned to me,
“Ehen, go on.”
I didn’t miss a bit as I quickly narrated what happened and why we we stepped out of school during school hours. My friend had just seen her period, we were going to get her sanitary pad and were ashamed to tell anyone or teacher about it.
Still,
I didn’t miss a bit as I quickly narrated what happened and why we we stepped out of school during school hours. My friend had just seen her period, we were going to get her sanitary pad and were ashamed to tell anyone or teacher about it.
Still,
rules were rules so we still got punished and our parents agreed with the principal that we had no valid excuse.
As I saw her off to the gate, mama said, “When someone shuts you up, don’t stop talking. Speak up for yourself always, it’s your right. You hear me?”
Yes mummy.
As I saw her off to the gate, mama said, “When someone shuts you up, don’t stop talking. Speak up for yourself always, it’s your right. You hear me?”
Yes mummy.
That admonishment bit her in the ass many times as I would speak up when I thought she wasn’t right.
She didn’t mind, she preferred that over being silenced. Mama knew that when one gets silenced often enough, you become a doormat. As people walk over you, you bleed internally,
She didn’t mind, she preferred that over being silenced. Mama knew that when one gets silenced often enough, you become a doormat. As people walk over you, you bleed internally,
dying slowly, knowing you should speak up for yourself but you’ve been told many times to “shut up!” So you swallow your thoughts and act accordingly.
Dear woman,
Speak up: Your voice can spark a chorus of women’s voices and create a cultural shift; that’s how powerful you are.
Dear woman,
Speak up: Your voice can spark a chorus of women’s voices and create a cultural shift; that’s how powerful you are.
