MY WOMEN MY EVERYTHING...
At the tender age of 8, I idolized Donald Trump. Yap go ahead and judge me, or is it, dad, that you should judge I don't know, he paid for DSTV, not me. Before you troll and drag me as is the case in this digital era, I need you to understand that I enjoyed watching The Apprentice. The fact that this young white, serious, plump man with blonde hair could tell say “YOU ARE FIRED” on someone's faces awed me. Don't get me started on the melodramatic tunes that were played after this ball was dropped. I wanted to be like Trump, own Trump towers and at the same time fire people in a snap. I also wanted to be like Tyra banks. I mean we both fall into the tall dark and runway-ready category. Only that she made it to the actual runway and I did not. Aunty Oprah was next on my list. “You get a car”, “you get a car” “you get a car”. Who wouldn't want to spit wisdom like Oprah?
Rice Condoleeza the first black secretary of state in the white house I could be her, I thought as I watched her interview on CNN. Benazir Bhutto, the first female prime minister in Pakistan and since I am good at communication then I could as well take over after Caroline Mutoko the Queen of radio. Mine, as you can see, was a childhood full of people I could look up to. I wanted to be just like them, Flip my hair like Tyra and fire people just like Trump. Of course, you grow up and realize that things are not always as they seem Trump's true colors surface, he is racist and islamophobic, now who would want that combination? not this black hijabi.
I don't have a role model not because I lacked one. I lack a role model because there's no one person who is perfect. My opinions and stand on different things does not allow me to only look up to one individual. Hence my cocktail of expertise, prowess, professional women, enjoy. I like Oprah, her prowess, professionalism, and sagacity. From her intriguing insight on relationships to her informed questions on politics. Oprah not only knows but also owns who she is. Her successes and failures and for that I applaud.
Pakistan the fifth most populous country in the world, is known for a few things. It’s the home of both Malala Yousef Zhai among the youngest Nobel laureate and Benazir Bhutto the first woman to hold a democratic office in a Muslim majority country. Benazir fought the Islamic dominated. Becoming the first female prime minister of Pakistan, She fought the male-dominated political world in the 80s. Her tenacity, determination, and passion for a different Pakistan is something to write home about.
When the world was busy criticizing President Bush on his administration's invasion of Iran. One black woman had his ear. I don't know how privileged you’ve been?, but I doubt you’ve sat in the oval office an interacted one on one with the 43rd president of the USA. That is Condoleezza Rice for you. A powerhouse, and “Condi” as her friends refer to her, deserves to go down in the history books.
Diana Princess of Wales defied most if not all of the ridiculous royal rules. From embracing people living with HIV/AIDS to divorcing Prince Charles. The Princess Of Wales did the most, with her statement “I would like a monarch that has contact with its people” she changed the face of the British monarch. Her fight for the destruction of landmine worldwide and raising awareness on leprosy. The people's princess lives on.
The unbowed Nobel laureate Professor Wangari Mathai was definitely on my radar. I might not have understood her fight for the environment then as I do now but her resilience is unmatched. She single-handedly fought for Uhuru Park when a “private developer” wanted to grab it. She was insulted and nicknamed a divorcee by misogynists of her time but she still rose to be iron lady we celebrate to date.
“My mother was my first country, the first place I ever lived”~ Nayyirah Waheed. Finally to you mum. The woman who introduced me to all these beautiful women. Who showed me that there's much more than being someone's wife. That as a woman, I should always aspire to be the best I can ever be. Thank you, mama. I am because you are.
Happy international women day to all the amazing women, who make it worthwhile for us on earth.