Sitting on the floor a coupleof Sundays ago listening to some records — Curtis Mayfield, Jimmy Hendricks andsome Betty Wright, my mind started to drift, thinking about the lyrics theywere saying in their songs. Betty Wright in particular. Everybody that wasraised on old school has heard the song “Clean-Up Woman.”
This song made me think abouthow this is still true in society today. We hear all the time about howbrothers need to praise their women, but it is not often that you hear peopletalking about women praising their men.
Has society become so one sidedthat women don’t care about recognizing when they have a brother that is on topof his duties?
Well I tell you, if this has infact become the case then my sisters need to realize that somewhere out thereis a “clean-up woman” and you better believe that she is watching your man.
She sees all the things he doesfor you, as well as the things she can get him to do for her. She hears how hetalks to his friends about you and wouldn’t mind it being her instead. She isjust waiting for you to mess-up, treat him badly and then she will step in andjust like that you have been “cleaned.”
Now I already know what mysisters are thinking, “If that’s the case then she can have him.” Am I right?”He wasn’t all that anyway!” Right?
Now sisters, lets be honest. Ifthis were the case then you wouldn’t be wasting your time with this brother, soobviously there had to be a reason why he didn’t remain just a plutonic friend.There had to be something about this man that made you invest time intobuilding a relationship.
I have two principles that haveserved me well in life: “anything worth having is worth working for” and “mamadidn’t raise no fools.”
I think that these can serve mysister as well, but remember even though mama didn’t raise no fools, she didn’thave you by herself. There is nothing wrong with having interdependency in arelationship… do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Praise your men, embrace thefact that you have one that is about something, educated, strong and hopefullyspiritual. Because of these things you two have chosen to be together, and themoment that you forget to show him that he is needed… don’t be mad because thatclean-up woman taps you on the shoulder and calls for your substitution.
So ladies keep your game tightand quit making it so easy for the clean-up woman.
Peace.
