The Blueprint

by Rae Giana Rashad

“It’s just a body. Nothing special.” If that were true, why did they want it? Why couldn’t it belong to me?

You can’t have freedom while lying in the bed of a man who writes laws to oppress you.”

THE COUNCILMEN SAID A NATION WAS only as strong as its hold on its women. They had to squeeze the life out of women’s liberations movements, give it no air, they said. It begins at home with the wives.

“He’s a good man,” I said brusquely. “Oh? Tell me exactly how he’s different from the other tyrants and racists.”

Those who gave everything and lost, withheld everything and still lost, would hear our voice and find truth in the dark. They would understand me, her, us. The descendants of survivors.

Darkness always leaves a side door open. That’s what I would tell my daughter. Be loud. If you make yourself too small and soft, you would slip your own chains around your wrists without noticing.