I wrote the following after seeing media outlets and people on social media calling the woman in the Stanford sexual assault case a victim.
Quit that sh*t.
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She is anything but a victim.
She is a wildflower, impressive at withstanding heat and drought with her grace and resilience.
She is in between the cacophony of a bustling city sidewalk and the subdued whispers of patriarchal habits.
She is the Queen, the most powerful piece in the game of chess, using her unlimited potential she weaves her way to victory. The King, Bishops, Knights envy her skill.
She is the lotus flower, growing deep in the muddy waters, away from the sun, but overtime she reaches the light and transforms. We watch her rebirth.
She is the butterfly dancing effortlessly in the thick heat of the jungle.
She is a lighthouse, anchored and steady, her purpose; to shine and guide those around her.
She is the horizon of the rising sun, exchanging darkness with light, reminding us that every morning is a fresh start.
She should not be defined by what happened to her that day.
She is anything but a victim. Don’t you dare make her an afterthought.
~ Jodie Ortega
Twitter/Instagram: @dontrunbabygirl
TEDx talk “Breaking My Silence: Healing Thrives In Conversation.” http://youtu.be/J2xYSYLPuy4
