Poetic Complement: 'Raise Your Voice and March with Me'

[alee_grrl]

One of the things that really resonated with me when reading Julia Stein's "Downtown Women" was how much we still needed the Bessie Abramowitzes of the world. Stein's poem reminds me of our rich history, of the many excellent role models we do have, and of all those women who didn't sit quietly and accept the status quo. I wanted to build on that, to expand her wonderful poem into a modern rallying cry as well. We live in a time where some are trying to erase the achievements of these amazing women, where they are trying to undo years of fighting and go back to a time of less regulations and deny women reproductive health rights. We must remember the women who stood before us, and call on the same strength they did. We must stand up for ourselves.

"Raise Your Voice and March with Me"
inspired by Julia Stein's "Downtown Women"

I am the great-granddaughter of Bessie Abramowitz
                   the Russian-Jewish factory girl
                   who refused the matchmaker
                   who chose her own husband
                   together they shook Chicago
                   they changed the garment industry

I say that we are worth more than your charity baskets
                   we are worth more than pats on the head
                   we make our own choices, we are our own voice

Bread and roses! Bread and roses!
                   Raise your voice and march with me!

I am the granddaughter of Crystal Lee
                   immortalized on film as Norma Rae
                   who lost her job for daring to speak out
                   to demand more pay for her hard work
                   who unionized her plant despite threats against her
                   who showed us the power of a cardboard sign

I say that we are worth more than your charity baskets
                   we are worth more than pats on the head
                   we make our own choices, we are our own voice

Equal pay and a living wage! Equal pay and a living wage!
                   Raise your voice and march with me!

I am the daughter of Karen Silkwood
                   who spoke out against wrongdoing and hazards
                   at the nuclear plant where she worked
                   who poisoned by her job, documentation in hand
                   she left to meet with a reporter
                   and died along the road where the documentation disappeared

I say that we are worth more than your charity baskets
                   we are worth more than pats on the head
                   we make our own choices, we are our own voice

Regulation and standards! Our jobs should not kill us!
                   Raise your voice and march with me!

I am the sister of Karen Lewis
                   who leads the teachers in Chicago
                   who currently shake the town
                   who demand fairer standards of evaluation
                   so teachers don't get punished for the poverty
            and  I am the sister of the Hilton housekeepers
                   who were asked to clean more rooms
                   than physically possible
                   who risked physical injury
                   all for piecemeal rates and not benefits.

I say that we are worth more than your charity baskets
                   we are worth more than pats on the head
                   we make our own choices, we are our own voice

Fair standards and living wages! Fair standards and living wages!
                   Raise your voice and march with me!

I am the women of Arizona
                   who may have to prove to employers
                   that their birth control is for health not contraceptive
            and  I am the women of Texas
                   who have to endure detailed fetal descriptions
                   who must watch the ultrasound
                   even if abortion is required to save the mother's life.
            and  I can choose my own partner, be it husband or wife,
                   children of my body should also be a choice.

I say that we are worth more than your charity baskets
                   we are worth more than pats on the head
                   we make our own choices, we are our own voice

Our bodies our choice! Our bodies our choice!
                   Raise your voice and march with me!


References:

Bessie Abramowitz
Bread and Roses
Crystal Lee Sutton
Karen Silkwood
Ultrasound law
Arizona birth control law

Comments

[untonuggan]

I really like what you've done with the repeat stanzas, and with alluding to different historical periods. Good job! (Pain day, otherwise would comment more.)

[raze]

Ooh, I love this! You took it from the labor movement and the past to the broader issues of feminism in the present - well done, plus I found the structure of it very appealing. Thanks for sharing and sorry it took me a couple of days to comment.