"Street Harassment" by Dailyn Santana

This incredibly powerful poem was read at our launch party on Thursday by Dailyn. At 20 years old, she's smart, she's fierce, and she's an inspiration to us all. I am Ani Difranco I am beyond your peripheral vision so you might want to turn your head cuz someday you'll find you are starving and eat all of the words you just said... The other day I was walking the street in Manhattan when suddenly... "What's good Mami, damn you ass fine as hell, let me talk to you fo' a minute" ...I'd really like to know the success ratings on that line. So I turned around to the prick and said, ok, you would like to have a conversation, shall we?"Let's talk about how you feel about Obama recently stating that Republicans are to blame for the immigration delay --" "uh........” ...we had a nice little conversation. I wonder how many girls have fallen for that line and settled with guys just because he was interested in how beautiful or hot they are. It makes me question, do women and girls know their worth? Do you know your worth? your smile, your laughter, your eyes, your opinions, emotions, they MATTER. Your voice matters. You are not your lips and your thighs. You are your mind I just wish more people took what I’m saying seriously I wish people could see who I truly am underneath. That I'm more of a man that they'll ever be... and sometimes I forget to brush my teeth… that I fucking love cursing… and I hate shaving my legs… that everyday I’m away from my grandmother I ache the distance… and sometimes when I’m bored ill do impressions of novelas in my mirror… and I think there’s no point in talking to yourself if you don’t respond… I feel like a homeless person always asking the world for change but I know my worth with every step I take.