Hello My People was created through an invitation to contribute to the MN Herstory initiative.
MN Herstory is a community initiative to celebrate and honor the beauty, power, and strength of Hmong women through the unique lens of their story.
MN Herstory started out as an urgency to create a visible platform, safe space, and supportive community for everyday Hmong girls and women to share their stories. This project is a community initiative to bring awareness, educate, and learn about the true fabric of Hmong girls and women in the Twin Cities. Make herstory together by growing, celebrating, and honoring the beauty, strength, and power of Hmong girls and women.
Hello My People was inspired by and created for the amazing women in my life.
My sisters, mothers, daughters and lovers who, despite violence brought onto them by men, endure with strength and resilience to love constantly, deeply, and fiercely.
This piece is also inspired by and created for the amazing men in my life.
My brothers, fathers, sons and lovers who seek growth and accountability. Who do not fear love, and instead harness it to reach, teach and breathe.
lyrics
Hello My People
Hello my sisters, hello my mothers
Hello my daughters, hello my lovers
I know i could be, I know i should be, i know i will be
So much better
I think about you, I think about love
We got the chemistry, the memories we’re bound to
I think about love, I think about you
I know I could be so much better than I’ve been to you
I live around you but I really don’t live with you
I live with your truth but I really don’t live your truth
I’ve been as good as average when I thought I stay true
It’s never too late but the lateness ain’t the issue
I’ve been complicit
Got offended when I should’ve have listened
Resort to violence, pushed your limits
Tried to keep you twisted
I tried to silence you and threaten your existence
Whether be physical or mental, I’ve been hitting you
I’ve been abusive and I know that I been hateful
When yes is no turning back then I’ve raped you
It’s not your body, clothes attitude or make up
It’s not that I don’t love you or that I hate you
Mind, body, soul and emotions turn to evil
When all of those who I look up to behave so rude
Make no mistake ‘cause I dont say this as an excuse
When all I’ve known is to be better than the worse
Then all I’ve known is to carry forward the hurt
It’s not that I don’t understand what I’m seeing
It’s just that now I understand how I’ve been
You coexist within this system as my equal
AND
It’s not fair that I am here with a voice to
Say I’m sorry for the choices that I’ve made to you
It’s not fair that I am here getting praised for
Apologizing for the wrong that I’ve did to you
It’s when I’m broken that I finally come and seek the cure
I’m only one man and I know that I don’t speak for all
I don’t deserve forgiveness nor your patience
Just here to thank you and show you I’m a changing man
I’m a changed man
Hello my brothers, hello my fathers
Hello my sons, hello my lovers
I know we could be, I know we should be, i know we will be
So much better
I think about you, I think about love
We got the chemistry, the memories we’re bound to
I think about love, I think about you
I know I could be so much better than I’ve been to you
See I ain’t perfect but perfection is an attitude
With open mind, open arms and open eyes to view
Evolving every single day and giving grattitude
That’s the way I live and can’t nobody crack this dude
The brotherhood is the crew but my tribe is huge
On top of that I’m open hearted so there’s plenty of room
TO love, respect and honor all of the women too
Sisters, mothers, daughters and lovers who
Raised us through the thick and thin, until we grew
Gave a fool another chance to be cool, huh
It’s always me who needs a lesson or two, but
Brother if you follow then this is meant for you
My brother, violence didn’t begin with you
My brother, violence isn’t the only choice
My brother, silence sabotages the truth
Oh brother, speak up and stand for what’s right
Actions speak louder than words but words do matter
Matter of fact actions held accountable shatter
Disrupt the cycle, the final spin of the pattern
Validate our women, our realities connected
I know it’s never easy to ease the tension
Never easy to please the ego when it’s risen
Never easy to bring peace to war torn system
The strength in us is the strength for all who’s giving
The strength in you is the strength for all who’s living
The strength in men is the strength for all our children
There’s many ways for us to uplift our village
Beginning with the ways we can show up for our women
Show love to our women
credits
Written and arranged by Fres Thao
Produced by Yondo
I am a Hmong American poet, Hip Hop artist, multidisciplinary artist, activist and educator. My life long love of poetry,
Hip Hop and storytelling has spawned eight albums, including Illegoalien’s ‘Blank Canvas’ and a vinyl release of my ‘Mind Full Of’ album, and one book, Lullabies for Happiness, A Manual for Love and Peace....more