Sarah Baartman

     
Diminished her character till she didn’t have no character no more. Disrespected her appearance but

emulated it as form of beauty. Stripped her away from her homeland just to laugh and make mockery of

her. Took all the pride she once had and just threw it down in the pond of broken spirits. Made her cry

every day but could easily cheer up seeing her go through the pain. Treated like a zoo animal just so they

could get a payment. Took her away from her lineage just so they could laugh in her face. Completely

destroyed her womanhood till she couldn’t even reproduce. Lied to her. Humiliated her. Laughed at her.

Just so they could make a profit. Saw her curves as a joke but were choking themselves with corsets till

they couldn’t breathe. Told her they loved her but shamed her each night. All the courage she had

destroyed. Worked her to the point of exhaustion. Gave her no breaks just so the money could keep

coming in. Emotionally hurt her till she couldn’t feel no pain. Stripped her name from her just so they

could attract a broader audience. Labeled her as a savage beast so they would fear her. Put her on a

leash so she knew they was in control. Put fear in her heart so she would never leave. Was once a

woman. Made her an ape. Didn’t even care about her personal health. Told her she would be going

back to Africa just to shut her up. Created relationships with her just so she would have someone to

love. Told her she wasn’t a part of the human species to ruin her soul. Continued to hurt her even from

the grave. Put her body on display at a museum so she wouldn’t have any dignity. Gave her diseases just

so they could study her after death. Put her through distress just so they could enjoy a good laugh. 

Broke every promise they promised her. Hide her pain out of the fear of unknown. Tears flooded her

spirits like never before. Shattered her dreams and aspirations as if they could never be a reality.

Pushed her deep into depression till she couldn’t function. Suppressed her feelings till the hurt made her

numb. Told her she didn’t have any family just so she wouldn’t miss home. Inappropriately touched her.

Displayed her in front of a congress naked so they could study her like an experiment. Put on a show

every night to keep them entertained. Treated her less than a c***roach. Labeled her as a freak show

performer because they were jealous of the features naturally given to her.

Tear after tear. Day after day. She hoped to make an escape.

Sarah Baartman a hero who changed the views of cultural appropriation and how cultures should be

respected. A true South African hero that will continue to inspire.