Singhs have a great role to play in helping to empower women and supporting their Kaur sisters. Some do a wonderful job in working for equality, while others hurt the cause. Kirty Kaur Singh wrote a poem to those men who hold Kaurs down.
Sikh. Punjabi. Feminist. by Kirty Kaur Singh
Sikh. Punjabi. Feminist.
Those words
are labels
to MY
self spoken identity
Ones that call for my faith
my culture
and my beliefs in
a righteous world
But then Brother,
why do you hold so much malice for me,
when these three words
are stringed together?
Why do i sense fear?
Are you afraid?
Afraid to speak your mind?
So much,
that you wouldn’t want to
offend
the sisters
that fight daily against oppression,
ones against our faith ,
against our homeland
But
as soon as You
are called out
on your Privilege
That YOU
might encompass
the role as a oppressor
You hold your tongue,
not because
it has the power
to destroy your sisters,
but because
your Ego can’t stand
to see itself
be wrong.
it blocks your vision
and you
are not a brother,
someone that protects
and upholds
your sisters, Kaurs,
but someone
that is a
timid bigot
that hold his tongue
out of fear
of criticisms
that he cannot take
and will not change
Dear Brother,
if you feel
violated
when us sisters speak out mind
Maybe YOU,
are the problem
and YOUR words
cause us hurt
Hurt that
you will not
acknowledge
and that saddens me
You
are a Singh
You are
Punjabi
But you have failed
to uphold
Equality for your sisters
the ones dictated by
our Gurus
Our birthright
which You fail to see
how you are NOT apart of
the solution
but the Problem
as you take
Our cry for help
Our need for you to be there
as your personal crucifixion
So yes,
I am a SIKH.
Punjabi.
Feminist.
One that will not hold tyranny
against my people and all people
Even if its YOU,
Brother
