I am one of those people who has an appreciation for music. Not just any music! I am talking good old music which embodies so much depth in it that a song you have listened to before can in one moment become so profound that you wonder to yourself if you really ever got the meaning before.

Today, as I listened to Guilty by Gladys Knight. I thought to myself: I can relate, Amen to that! Then I proceeded to Google for the lyrics but was unlucky with my search 🙁 . My motivation for Googling for the lyrics was that I finally found the words that describe me being a black liberal feminist. That is, I duly accept that I shall remain black and female. Therefore, all that I can ever do is to challenge myself to lead a life that is liberated in thought. A life where if I can think it then I can do it with God’s help and those that believe in me. And a life where I need not feel apologetic for declaring myself as a feminist because indeed I am!

Below are the stanzas that talked to my heart:

Yes, I am guilty of so many things. I have been desperate for the love and joy that I know life should bring.

I am guilty, yes I am guilty! Guilty of doing without social acceptance, proper respect and the essence of what life is all about.
I am guilty of being at war in a world where riches determine your worth not the measure of ones character, as it should be down here on earth.

So go on and sentence me and set me free because I know you cannot see that I am guilty for just being me. I am guilty of love and hating, just the same as anyone else. …

Its two strikes against me when I come out to bat; one strike for being female and one strike for being black. So I stand tall through it all! My Helper [this] because I know I will be female and black till the day I die! ….

As you can see from the last quoted stanza, being a black liberal feminist means I literally have a single shot otherwise its game over for me – or as they say: “strike three and I am out” !