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An overheard, ignorant statement inspired the profound performance above by Pages Matam at the 2013 National Poetry Slam in August. While riding the bus Matam overheard a man say to woman, "you're too ugly to be raped." In the poem, Matam asks the man he overheard to tell the one rape victim out of every five women in this country that they are beautiful, and that their four counterparts are ugly. He addresses the sexual assault crisis within the military. He asks if Elizabeth Frizel's beauty constituted the rape, imprisonment, physical and sexually abuse by her father.
In three minutes Matam paints a gritty picture with his extreme words that's hard to ignore the rest of the day.
The sad part is that 97% of rapists will never see a day in jail.
This subject is finally getting the commentary it deserves. I have many neighborhood female friends that don't like to walking around Downtown or Fourth Avenue alone at night for fear of being sexually assaulted.
One friend pulled up a crime app and showed me some of the police reports in the area, and I would have never know how legitimate her concern was until I saw the events pinpointed on a GPS. I guess I'm one of the lucky "ugly" ones that might never have to endure what these unfortunate souls have to live with every day. My heart goes out to the ones that do.
Click here if you're interested in seeing what other words of wisdom Pages Matam might have to offer. If slam poetry is your thing, check out the Button Poetry YouTube channel.
(via upworthy)
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