I have been thinking for awhile about how to fill in the empowerment piece of my mission (see more at cheriefrid.com). I know that I want to contribute positively to fighting domestic violence, and I have also been passionate about building women's confidence against negative influences, including societal body shaming.
I keep thinking about my past, and my personal domestic violence experience. I keep thinking about my friends and their negative experiences. I keep thinking about how women find themselves in a good, happy, self confident, positive, and productive place.
I went back to a moment in college. A moment where a friend was pledging a sorority, and experiencing the negative pressures associated with that. I remember she returned to the dorm one day, and locked herself in her dorm room. On the white board on her door, she had written "No Woman No Cry".
Women do this. They build strength. They create walls. They put up defenses. They protect themselves from the negativity of life. They force themselves not to cry when encountering very difficult and emotional situations. (Don't get me wrong here, a good cathartic cry is quite healing. I'm not suggesting one should not cry!)
Where I am heading with this is: let's work to remove the thing that causes the cry.
Let's work to stop domestic violence, to stop body/makeup/slut shaming, to stop bullying.
Let's work to lift women up, to support confidence building, to create a positive, healthy, happy life.
I'm still figuring out the direction of my empowerment mission, and what the end result of my philanthropy will look like. But I know that No Woman No Cry embodies this mission.
For those of you wondering, yes, these words are taken directly from the song, No Woman No Cry, by Bob Marley.
No, woman, no cry,
No, woman, no cry,
No, woman, no cry,
No, woman, no cry.
Cause, cause, cause, I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown,
Oba - obaserving the 'ypocrites
As they would mingle with the good people we meet.
Good friends we have, oh, good friends we've lost
Along the way.
In this great future, you can't forget your past,
So dry your tears, I seh.
No, woman, no cry,
No, woman, no cry.
'Ere, little darlin', don't she'd no tears,
No, woman, no cry.
Said, said, said, I remember when-a we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown.
And then Georgie would make the fire lights,
As it was logwood burnin' through the nights.
Then we would cook cornmeal porridge,
Of which I'll share with you,
My feet is my only carriage,
So I've got to push on through.
But while I'm gone, I mean,
Everything's gonna be all right!
Everything's gonna be all right!
Everything's gonna be all right!
Everything's gonna be all right!
I said, everything's gonna be all right-a!
Everything's gonna be all right!
Everything's gonna be all right, now!
Everything's gonna be all right!
So, woman, no cry,
No, no, woman, woman, no cry.
Woman, little sister, don't she'd no tears,
No, woman, no cry.
I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown.
And then Georgie would make the fire lights,
As it was logwood burnin' through the nights.
Then we would cook cornmeal porridge,
Of which I'll share with you,
My feet is my only carriage,
So I've got to push on through.
But while I'm gone,
No, woman, no cry,
No, woman, no cry.
Woman, little darlin', say don't she'd no tears,
No, woman, no cry.
Eh! (Little darlin', don't she'd no tears!
No, woman, no cry.
Little sister, don't she'd no tears!
No, woman, no cry.)
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