For the Love of the Sheroes in My Life: A Short Poem on Power
I honor the incredible women in my life –both family and friends who have taught me the ABCs of being a "shero.”By Sabrina Khan, Power and Democracy Program Deputy Director and Senior Staff Attorney
March is Women’s History Month. Honoring this observance, Advancement Project National Office celebrates the brilliance of women of color. This short blog series of posts focused on women in the movement by Advancement Project’s staff uplifts the work and writing of women creating tomorrow’s HERstory today. Sabrina Khan opens the series with a post about the Sheroes who helped make her the woman she is today. Follow our blog throughout the month of March for more gems like this.
In the spirit of International Women’s Day, today, I honor the incredible women in my life, both family and friends, who have taught me the ABCs of being a "shero.”
A mplify marginalized voices;
B ehold your greatest weapon: your brain;
C hannel frustration into meaningful action towards change;
D iversify your circles, thought partners and perspectives;
E xplore the world and test the bounds of adventure;
F oster a lifelong love of learning;
G ive back and often to the best of your abilities;
H ave patience with yourself: it's okay to learn by trial & error;
I mmerse yourself in that which you love;
J oy is the best revenge, don't let negativity steal yours;
K nowledge is power, so listen and read up;
L ean into your loving relationships and appreciate their support;
M ake sure you check yourself on your own assumptions;
N etwork to connect with local movements for change in your area;
O wn your strengths, celebrate your resilience;
P romote awareness about issues that need to be spotlighted;
Q uality over quantity;
R espect is the foundation of healthy relationships;
S tand up unequivocally for what you know is right;
T each others lessons you've learned over time;
U nlock your mind and cultivate your passions;
V alue empathy and its ability to build bridges;
W rite or find a creative outlet to express yourself;
X enophobia and ideologies of hatred have no place here;
Y es We Can / Si Se Puede;
Z ealously follow your passions in life.
Sabrina Khan is Senior Staff Attorney and Deputy Director of the Power and Democracy Program at Advancement Project National Office.
