Juntos Podemos*

Tanasia Barbosa-White
Massachusetts

Last night…I had a dream
Yeah... it’s kind of cliché but I must say
that to my slumber’s delight, I saw a world so bright
that it shone, sparked and gleamed.
Listen…
There were no sucked teeth or rolled eyes
stomped feet or sad cries heard for miles
cuz, check it out, in mi barrio*, all decked out
the girls were nothing but smiles.
We were connecting, conversing, recollecting
and reimbursing each other with the TIME
that we spend yelling ‘puta’* and running wildly after each other’s man
laughing
cuz he can never hold us down or be around like only a real sister can
Estabamos bailando*, counting the beats of our feet
not hating or anticipating fighting in the street
there were so many faces and styles
but every face wore a smile.
As we sat down together in a world SO much better
where there was laughter and love
and colored lights from above
and… and…

Then I woke up.

Although now it’s not reality
we can make it an actuality.
If we decrease the crimes in girlhood
we can increase the rate of sisterhood.
And when I say all I know I mean US.
We got to work together to build trust
that will achieve unity and to believe in this female community.
So, sisters, ninas, todas las chicas*
sisterhood, what matters the most
recuerda*, juntos podemos!!!

*Juntos podemos: together we can do it
*Mi barrio: my neighborhood
*Puta: slut
*Estabamos bailando: we were dancing
*Ninas, todas las chicas: sisters, all the girls
*Recuerda: remember

No Longer a Target for Bullies

Gabby Wilson-Sealy
Massachusetts

I’ve seen many girls being bullied by other girls. I have also been a victim of bullying myself. It’s impossible for me to tell you the meanest thing I've seen or heard because I’ve seen and heard so many nasty things. It always seems like girls go after other girls because they like it, or it makes them feel better about themselves. But I think it’s pure jealousy: jealousy of another girl’s looks, personality, or lifestyle. The bully is unhappy with some part of her own life, and she takes this unhappiness out on another girl.

Whatever the reason, girls have always seemed to be very good at getting under my skin and making me feel really bad about myself. Strangely, I used to find myself trying to befriend the bully girl. I guess I thought if I could get on her good side and make her realize how great a person I am, she would stop bullying me. This plan used to work for me, but I would feel out of place as the bully’s friend and mad at myself for surrendering to her.

The way girls bully is very different from the ways guys bully; I am always more frightened by the girls. Boys usually just punch you, or maybe call you some dirty names, but then it's over: quick and painless. They rarely bring their guy friends into it. Girls seem to make bullying a kind of game, where the longer you play, the more you are tortured. They also love to manipulate the other girls around them, spreading rumors, talking behind their backs.

But you know what? It doesn’t make a difference if a girl calls you names like “slut” or “whore.” They're just doing it to get a reaction out of you. I think I am a beautiful, brilliant, talented girl, and have been all my life, and I don't believe that anyone can tell me differently¾and that is what keeps me bully-free now. I didn't always believe this about myself and I think that’s what made me an easy target for bullying. I had to know myself before I could prevent others from hurting me.

Now I am willing to stand up for myself, and if I come across girls bullying other girls, I always try to stand up for the victims. In many instances, some of my very close friends have made fun of other girls, and although it wasn’t easy for me to do, I told them to knock it off, because what they were saying and doing just wasn't right. Many times, they didn't even realize what they were doing, or how mean they were being, because no one had ever told them. In the end, the only way not to be bullied is to trust that you have nothing to be bullied for. You must have confidence in yourself, and stand up for those who haven't found their confidence yet.

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