R-E-S-P-E-C-T

I’m walking back to my dorm at 11pm after a full night of studying in the library. As I get to the circle, I see a group of men. Per usual, I walk up and all I hear is “Say love” multiple times. As I ignore it, they start walking my way, and stop me and attempt to speak their piece. Yet when I tell the men that I, in fact, have a man, they then choose to curse me out…like I’ve disrespected them…
Have you ever felt uncomfortable going to the back alone as a woman, having all those men breathing down your back saying derogatory things to you? 
We as women go through a lot. We are constantly looked at as a type of item, it’s something we cannot shake. Black women in general are targeted as a whole. We are constantly being put down for being ratchet or ghetto compared to other races who try to do the exact same thing. Black women just can’t catch a break whether it’s being targeted or being knocked down.
We, as a student body, have to do better. There are better ways to approach someone or get their attention and that is not how y’all mothers taught y’all.
I am not targeting men, but I am speaking up for the women who think their voice doesn’t matter. There are some true gentlemen out there who know how to approach and talk to a woman with respect. If that is you, then you were taught right, but this is for this is for your friend with the reckless mouth and the other men and women who don’t have manners.
Yes, men do get targeted too, verbal abuse is real and it happens to all people. We need to teach the younger generations how to treat and talk to folks because if not, it’s going to continue. Disrespect will be non-stop and the problems will grow and become worse. Treat people how you want to be treated, and talk to people with respect because you never know who you are dealing with.