One of the best things about Twitter is that it makes it easy to connect with people speaking out against street harassment, like musician Damian Washington. He recently wrote a great song about street harassment, S T F U! (Anti-catcalling Anthem). Lyrics are found at the bottom of the post.
When we moved to e-mail, I asked him what inspired the song. He said:
“I’ve been making hip hop music for over a decade and one day my wife, who has inspired many of my songs, said I should pen a tune about street harassment. I was up to the challenge of making something that covered as much of the issue as possible within three minutes that didn’t pull any punches, yet wasn’t overwhelmingly negative. Just as black people didn’t get rights until white people got involved, nor gay people without the help of straight people, women need men to actively participate in the struggle for gender equality.
It’s been great seeing the conversation the song has started among my friends on social media and, ultimately, the song and video serve to expand the dialogue on what is socially acceptable and aims to contribute to the evolution of gender dynamics.”
Thank you, Damian! We do need men like you to speak out and create a culture where street harassment is unacceptable.
Learn more about Damian and his work:
Damian attended the LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts (the school depicted in the movie Fame) while doing some theater, voiceovers and commercials along the way. After getting a B.A. in Theater and Eastern Asian Religions from Middlebury College, and acting for a few years in New York City, he moved to Los Angeles. He continues to perform in commercials and is working toward television and film appearances. www.damianwashington.com
_______________________________________________________
LYRICS:
this type of story happens every day
men think they macks but they just harass
think it’s clever or make her day a little better
but for real she’s fed up and wish you’d shut up
it pours when it rains the commentary range
from ‘hey, pretty lady’ to straight profane
with the only confidence they only givin’ complements
but how you gonna pull a woman talkin’ that nonsense?
like “lemmie them numbers to dial”
“You put the U in beautiful, girl, you should smile”
“Got cake for days, Ma. Nice legs!”
“You serve up fries to go with all that shake?”
every day rain or shine cold or hot
the tale of any female soon as she step on the block
think this don’t apply to you, Smooth, let me explain ya
your is words like candy
can’t take ’em from strangers
way too deep for just a song
when you holla in the street you’re wrong
be a man and understand
she give a damn what you think, dude
s.t.f.u!
just tryin’ to get to work, jerk!
s.t.f.u!!
just tryin’ to get home, homles
s.t.f.u!!
who me? yes, you!
ya heard? f.u.
just do the world a favor, man,
s.t.f.u
the peanut gallery pushes women to the brink
it’s harassment, G, no matter what you think
and when she say that much some quick to flip the script
like “Whatever, you ain’t that fly no way, bitch”
whoa, that was your boo just seconds ago
oh, your feelings hurt so a tantrum ya throw?
just told ya, Casanova, it’s disrespectful and gross
and if she had her way today would stick your head on a post
and hang it at the town gate to show the fate
of all misogynists and type preposterous when folks say
“don’t want attention wear, girl, something different”
the whole point you missin’ and blaming the victim!
she stays safe with a swift pace movin’ in silence
don’t know who’s being rude or who could be violent
put cats on blast to make this crap the past
all men ain’t gentlemen but do better than that
for real
way too deep for just a song
when you holla in the street you’re wrong
be a man and understand
she give a damn what you think, dude
s.t.f.u!
just tryin’ to get to work, jerk!
s.t.f.u!!
just tryin’ to get home, homles
s.t.f.u!!
who me? yes you!
ya heard? f.u.
For real, c’mon, son, S.T.F.U.
