Say My Name
(Inspired by Destiny’s Child’s “Say My Name”)

Say my name, Say my name,
To remind me that I’m still here,
When the patriarchy wants my voice to disappear.

Will you say my name, say my name?
When being feminine means being victim,
When they tell me that my melanin is a sin.

But you don’t say my name, say my name,
When you tell me that you’re down for women’s rights,
But only when the woman is white,
Or straight,
Or cis.
Everyone else just gets dismissed.

Will you say my name, say my name
And tell me that you think I’m gorgeous,
Tell me that you think dark girls are beautiful too,
That beauty does not only look like you.

Why won’t you say my name, say my name.
Don’t call me your “chocolate princess,”
Know that black women still deserve respect.

Will you please say her name, say her name,
Sandra, Janisha, Natasha, Tanisha, Rekia

Would you say my name, say my name
If I’m the one who gets shot down.
If a bullet tries to take my crown.

“Say my name say my name
When no one is around you
Say baby I love you.”

—By Ugochi Egonu