Throughout the day I’ve seen Instagram and Facebook posts honoring women in recognition of International Women’s Day. It is truly beautiful.

Normally, I’m not one to add my two cents on social media because it’s not worth much yet. I feel it is so much more powerful to backup events such as today with real action. Currently, I have no action backing up my beliefs on this topic. So, I had no intention to chime in on the chatter until…

After visiting with a friend, I was driving home when “I Used To Love H.E.R.” by Common came on.

I love Hip Hop. Like, I looooooooooove it! Shoutout to my older sister for introducing it to me. It moves my soul. Not rap. Nope. Not that stuff that talks about money, bitches, and whatever other bull shit. But, the stuff with a jazzy background and hand-written lyrics, which shed light on life. Real life; the hard times, the great times, when we fall in love, the heartbreaks, and the mundane.

When I heard this song about THIS woman, I understood, a little better, the value of women.

At the end of the song, Common reveals that he is talking about Hip Hop. An incredible, dare I say timeless, extended metaphor. He compares the growth and life of a woman to the evolution of Hip Hop.

During my senior year of college, I had the opportunity to write my final paper on any topic I wanted. I chose Hip Hop. So, in my research, I discovered the political climate that spurred the birth Hip Hop. It allowed the freedom for youth in poor/urban/diminished communities to speak. They used their voices instead of violence. They used a pen instead of a syringe. They became united instead of divided.

Kinda like the love of a good woman would do. I know this may be a stretch. Chill. Let’s talk about it.

The woman in Common’s song is strong, independent, versatile, open-minded, adaptable, among many other fascinating qualities. She hit him in the heart, in a way she inspired him to be the man that he is. “In a method that was leisurely,” she taught him about his people and showed him purpose. But, she continually grew and matured into different versions of herself. “And you could tell, by how her titties hung.” This woman was free to be exactly who she wanted to be.

Like any tragic love story, one of them fell. “Once the man got to her, he altered her native. Told her if she got an image and a gimmick that she could make money, and she did it like a dummy.” He saw her allowing herself to be used and abused by men that did not respect her being. That’s where the “used to” came in for Common.

“But, Ima take her back hoping that this shit stops.” I love seeing the changes happening for women, IN MY LIFETIME! We are free to be unique; not wear bras, enjoy intense workouts, cook amazing meals, create businesses, know how to knit, coo at babies, work in male-dominated fields, and protest against idiots that think they can just grab our lady bits. However, I also see so many women demeaning themselves in my lifetime. As if their purpose is to be a firm butt. Literally, all you see in their pictures are their butts, not even their face! So I’m taking this back.

You, my queen, are so much more. Post those selfies if it makes you feel good. But, also know that you, like Hip Hop, have the power to change a generation. The power to unite and influence not just women but men to be sources of positivity. Our world is in SO much turmoil and confusion. Let us use our congenital power to be the change we want to see in the world. Because we can.