Legendary musician and feminist Alicia Keys has a revelation!
Undoubtedly, Alicia Keys is a woman of many attributes; immaculate beauty, high standards, and extreme talent. It’s hard to believe that a woman of such grace had struggles coming into a woman, but she shares her story on a recent blog post and it’s absolutely moving. The mother of two explains how she struggled with acceptance, and the battle of finding herself at a young age. A story that millions of young woman are experiencing today.
I definitely started hiding when I got old enough to walk down my NY streets alone. I started to notice a drastic difference in how men would relate to me if I had on jeans, or if I had on a skirt, or if my hair was done pretty. I could tell the difference, I could feel the animal instinct in them and it scared me. I didn’t want to be talked to in that way, looked at in that way, whistled after, followed. And so I started hiding. I chose the baggy jeans and timbs, I chose the ponytail and hat, I chose no makeup, no bright color lipstick or pretty dresses. I chose to hide. Pieces at a time. Less trouble that way.
Keys expressed that still to this today she hides from excessive attention. Hiding her beauty, her figure, and her voice at times because that’s how she’s dealt with it for years. This stifles us women, when we hide the very assets that God has blessed us with. To belittle ourselves and hold back those very distinct characteristics that set us apart from everyone else. In the blog post, Alicia explains the moment that she came to grips with who she is and she chooses not to hide any longer.
You are allowed to be smart
You are allowed to be beautiful
You are allowed to be radical and have strong thoughts that others might not agree with
You are allowed to be tough
You are allowed to be sexy
You are allowed to be bold
You are allowed to be shapely
You are allowed to be kind
You are allowed to be yourself!!
Keys encourages every woman to live out there 28,000 days like there is no tomorrow. Embrace who you are and live your life vibrantly. Read her full article here.
By Tia Long (@Bytialong)
