In Search of a Sister

We are looking for a good sister.
We are looking for a righteous sister. A real righteous sister.

Not one of those teary-eyed girls watching General Hospital who

thinks the only love worth striving
for occurs at first sight and will

be breathless with passion
by the second commercial.
choices about the future they can have together.

We are looking for a real righteous
sister who embraces passion
and wisdom.

We are looking for a righteous
sister who knows how to give unconditional love -- not just demand it.

We are looking for a righteous sister who will communicate without

screaming or accusing, who will listen without trying to think of

snappy replies, and who will not
perpetuate female stereotypes by
using hormonal imbalances as an excuse to act ugly.

We are looking for a real righteous sister.

ain't scared of honesty,
and knows it's time to save the race righteous sister.
A good mother,
good wife, good lover, good worker,
strong supporter, intelligent,
innovative righteous sister.

A righteous sister who realizes Nintendo is not
a mother, BET is not awife,
and Fabio is not herhusband.

And accept equal responsibility for the relationship
righteous sister...and ask
how a brother's day was
righteous sister.

And generate some sympathy for
a brother when he's down
righteous sister...a righteous sister
who knows how to tell a good
joke, and how to take one.

A righteous sister who is confident enough about her
looks that she doesn't have to be two hours late for every
appointment because she was primping in the mirror.

A righteous sister who realizes that if she's beautiful
inside, tidy outside, and healthy, then $400 worth of makeup,
jewels, and esigner fashions are just covering up her real oveliness.

A righteous sister who doesn't compare every brother she's
never met to that last immature fool on Oprah.

A righteous sister who is an example to all around her of
what a black woman should be in times like these.

A righteous sister whose soul is pure, mind is keen, heart
is warm, and body is reserved for the one and only person she will spend
her entire life with.

A righteous sister looking for a man of comparable qualities.

A righteous sister who will encourage such a man's
interest in her, insteadof cast him aside for the nearest crotch-grabbing,
illiterate convict who just happens to have a Corvette, a credit
card, and a Billy Dee Williams smile.

A read a book and sing a tune righteous sister...a
righteous sister who loves black men
and protects black children.

A righteous sister who doesn't
dog her man -- especially in public.

And turn Melrose off, put down Denzel's latest Ebony cover,
put away the shallow, sugary Harlequin romances, and let's talk
instead and build some tender, realistic love that will stand the test
of time righteous sister.

And tell your man -- instead of just your homegirls --
when you're hurting righteous sister.

And "I realize you aren't a mind reader, so I'll tell you
what I want" righteous sister.

A sister who is open.

A sister who can move toward her goals and toward her man's and toward heaven.

A sister who is not intimidated or confused when a man
opens a door for her, or pulls out a chair for her, or shows her old-fashioned respect.

We are looking for a righteous sister.

We used to call her "a good sister."

A sister who loves her people.

A sister who doesn't take advantage of a gentleman by hitting or slapping him when she knows he wouldn't dream of retaliating.

A sister who doesn't make wild, abusive comments when she knows how hurtful they are.

A sister who knows that time and tenderness with her man are more important than the latest gossip on the phone.

A sister who says:"I made him feel good.I showed him how much I love and cherish him."

A sister who is caring and sweet.
A sister who realizes that gentleness and femininity
didn't have to die with women's liberation, no more than chivalry had to die with Sir Galahad.

A sister who says: "I made him feel so accepted and happy and free that hefell asleep in my arms and his heartbeat sounded like the ocean after a storm ..."

We are looking for a real good sister.

We are looking for a sister who will turn the ships around.

A sister who will go into the schoolhouse, the church, the home, and the social centers, and turn the ships around.

A sister who will go to the places where it is open season on our children and turn the ships around.

A sister who will hear the whimper of babies born with AIDS or addicted to crack and turn the ships around.

A sister who will see the people sleeping on the street and turn the ships around.

A sister who will support the marches in the street,
and the protests at city hall and the school board, and who will turn the ships around.

A sister who will remember how freedom feels and turn the ships around.

A sister who will gather with the warriors and march
--if only to cheer the warriors on -- down to the edge of the sea and
turn the ships around...turn the ships around...
turn the ships around...and this time, turn the ships around...

Author Unknown