Symone. Self-Aware. Relentless. Employed.
When I sat down with Symone, she was in her softball uniform. She dons more than one. Between work, school, volleyball, and softball Symone has a full schedule but always has time to speak her mind and call it like it is.
What inspires you?
My family because I see a lot of strong women, and weak ones too. They equal out, I am more motivated to become like the strong women in my family. Being surrounded by strong women is essential.
How does your self-identified gender role (or lack thereof) contradict what society expects from you?
Ex: I work with a bunch of men. I'm one of three women. What they expect is for me to be submissive. They’re surprised . When I'm work, I want to work. I change the oil, which is kind of hard and they say stuff like, 'You're good at this for a girl'.
Do you feel empowered as a woman?
By yourself?
Oh yes! This year, it was like OH SHIT, DAMN I’m very self aware, I know my boundaries, I know what I want, and how I get it.
By your peers?
No. As an individual, sure, They know how strong I am. But when I listen to the conversations about women in general, I know I don’t fall into those categories, but as a woman I do and it's disgusting.
I always ask my brother, “Would you like this if someone did it to me?”
What comes, first race or gender?
Gender. Until we don't use terms like “The female Eric Garner”.
*Jasir walks up, You just said that in my interview. Symone retorts, "Damn right! I care about it so I'm squeezing it in wherever I can"*
Read Symone's Op-Ed on the #BlackLivesMatter Movement
Also, Why do i have to add the “black” to feminist so people know what I’m talking about?
How do our peers treat us?
Black young men.
Black young men respect me, because I make sure I’m respected, I feel like a lot of people I’ve dated don’t know how to treat someone like me. They didn’t know how to treat me as a black woman.
Black women
Directly, sure, but indirectly no. I feel like it’s our job to carry ourselves in a certain decorum. How are we gonna get respect? It's disrespectful to me when you see a group of black women acting a fool.
Words of advice for freshman young ladies
The earlier you get to know yourself, the better. I wish I would’ve known myself earlier. Surround yourself with people who respect you. Demand respect.
Do you feel invisible?
Sometimes, if I don’t speak on how I feel, people will never know. If you want something you should say it. All this stuff we're talking about, I don’t hear people talking about it. The more we are silent about how we feel, it more it gets pushed to the side.
You wrote an Op-Ed about Women in the #BlackLivesMatter Movement.
I work 4-5 days a week, 2 days a week, I play sports. I have to keep myself moving, because when I don’t, I think too much. I balance it by letting it rock. I have to play sports because I enjoy it. I have to work because I like supporting myself. School has always been first priority.
What inspires you?
My family because I see a lot of strong women, and weak ones too. They equal out, I am more motivated to become like the strong women in my family. Being surrounded by strong women is essential.
How does your self-identified gender role (or lack thereof) contradict what society expects from you?
Ex: I work with a bunch of men. I'm one of three women. What they expect is for me to be submissive. They’re surprised . When I'm work, I want to work. I change the oil, which is kind of hard and they say stuff like, 'You're good at this for a girl'.
Do you feel empowered as a woman?
By yourself?
Oh yes! This year, it was like OH SHIT, DAMN I’m very self aware, I know my boundaries, I know what I want, and how I get it.
By your peers?
No. As an individual, sure, They know how strong I am. But when I listen to the conversations about women in general, I know I don’t fall into those categories, but as a woman I do and it's disgusting.
I always ask my brother, “Would you like this if someone did it to me?”
What comes, first race or gender?
Gender. Until we don't use terms like “The female Eric Garner”.
*Jasir walks up, You just said that in my interview. Symone retorts, "Damn right! I care about it so I'm squeezing it in wherever I can"*
Read Symone's Op-Ed on the #BlackLivesMatter Movement
Also, Why do i have to add the “black” to feminist so people know what I’m talking about?
How do our peers treat us?
Black young men.
Black young men respect me, because I make sure I’m respected, I feel like a lot of people I’ve dated don’t know how to treat someone like me. They didn’t know how to treat me as a black woman.
Black women
Directly, sure, but indirectly no. I feel like it’s our job to carry ourselves in a certain decorum. How are we gonna get respect? It's disrespectful to me when you see a group of black women acting a fool.
Words of advice for freshman young ladies
The earlier you get to know yourself, the better. I wish I would’ve known myself earlier. Surround yourself with people who respect you. Demand respect.
Do you feel invisible?
Sometimes, if I don’t speak on how I feel, people will never know. If you want something you should say it. All this stuff we're talking about, I don’t hear people talking about it. The more we are silent about how we feel, it more it gets pushed to the side.
You wrote an Op-Ed about Women in the #BlackLivesMatter Movement.
- To my unborn daughter
- I don’t want them to allow someone to have the authority to make you change the way you feel about yourself. Don’t let someone little your worth. If you have a graduated sense of self, you’re fine.
I work 4-5 days a week, 2 days a week, I play sports. I have to keep myself moving, because when I don’t, I think too much. I balance it by letting it rock. I have to play sports because I enjoy it. I have to work because I like supporting myself. School has always been first priority.