I never imagined as a resident of Louisville, Kentucky that I would ever have anything to thank Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell for however I have been proven wrong. Mitch McConnell has, in the way of trying to reprimand Senator Elizabeth Warren, gave women one of the most powerful slogans in decades.

“She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted.”

These were the words Mitch spoke as he attempted to explain why he had used a little-known rule to silence Senator Warren as he interrupted her speech concerning Jeff Sessions’s impending nomination. Mitch said that Senator Warren had breached Senate rules by reading a letter with statements against now confirmed and celebrated by racist, antisemitic, a scourge to the face of humanity David Duke, Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, from Coretta Scott King.

In Mitch’s attempt to put Senator Warren “in her place”, he opened up a can of Feminist Whup Ass!  CAN YOU SMELL WHAT SENATOR WARREN IS COOKING?! I can! And it smells like thousands of women, violating the rules, shrugging off your warnings, saying fuck your explanations and persisting by any means necessary. It smells like Molly Shah, leading a group of protestors to Mitch’s doorstep to read Coretta Scott King’s letter. It seems like Mitch’s attempt to be a world class chauvinist failed. His failed attempt to silence Senator Warren only amplified our voices.

I am thankful for the women that violate the rules. That shrug off warnings. That disregard futile explanations.That persist. Even as some men are telling us to quit. Even as some men attempt to silence us.  Once a lioness begins to roar, you cannot shut her jaws.

I am thankful for all the women throughout history that persisted!

It was Alice Walker that reminded me, “The most common way people give up their power
is by thinking they don’t have any.” So every day I awake I remind myself that I am powerful beyond measure.

It was Audre Lorde that reminded me, “When we speak we are afraid our words will not be heard or welcomed. But when we are silent, we are still afraid. So it is better to speak.” So every day I awake I remember my voice and that I was born to stand in the gap and be a shout for others that life has silenced.

It was Laurel Thatcher Ulrich that reminded me that, “Well-behaved women seldom make history.” So I am not afraid to misbehave, to break the rules, to stand when you say I should sit, to shout when you say I should whisper.

It was Anais Nin that reminded me, “How wrong is it for a woman to expect the man to build the world she wants, rather than to create it herself?” I am master and creator of what I want to see in this world and I do not need a man’s approval to be innovative and creative.

It was Angela Davis that reminded me, “We have to talk about liberating minds as well as liberating society.” So with everything that I write I attempt to loose shackles on someone’s enslaved mentality.

It was Margaret Thatcher that reminded me “In politics, If you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman.”  So I will not be silent for the next four years as those in power simply tweet, but I will work with women that are fighting for justice and equality for all people.

It was Harriet Tubman that reminded me, “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” So every day I wake up with the belief that something I do, can and will change the world for the better, for the next generation, for those coming behind me ready to grasp the baton for justice.

You see, Mitch, your problem, among many of your problems, is that you underestimate the power of women. Especially women that are pissed off and sick of your shit.Never attempt to paint us into a corner, because baby was NEVER meant to be put in a corner. My life cannot be defined by coloring in lines! I am three hundred and sixty degrees of pure femininity and as Madonna said,  “I’m tough, I’m ambitious, and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a bitch, okay.”

Call me whatever you want and still I will persist!

I have locked hands with time before time was time. I walked alongside the Pyramids. Painted my fingertips in gold. Dipped my soul in pink waters. Twirled cotton in between my fingers.I have cut down strange fruit from oak trees. Jumped over weathered broomsticks. Did pirouettes with angels on clouds. Tap danced on flames with the devil. I swallowed the Nile. Long jumped over the Himalayas. Carried babies against my breasts, buried heartbeats too soon. Balanced water pots on my head.  I laid down in a king size bed as a whore and rose as a queen. I have tasted blood and sweat. Sipped tears from crystal flutes. Choked down bitterness and regurgitated hope. I have been to the four corners of the earth. Rested my back against the equator. Tiptoed through galaxies. Wore clouds as couture. Dripped myself in stars as jewels. Allowed sunlight to bask in my spotlight.

AS A WOMAN I HAVE BECOME ALL THINGS SO THAT ONE DAY ALL PEOPLE COULD TASTE FREEDOM!