"Beautiful," a word often over-used, "the sky is beautiful," "that handbag is beautiful," "those shoes are beautiful," "you are beautiful," and then the dreaded "damn, beautiful how you doin?" Why, thank you I am beautiful, I am unique, I have my fathers nose and my mother's eyes... I am beautiful... but I don't need you to tell me that.

As a child I heard it from my relatives, as a teen I heard it from my relatives and you, and now as an adult I hear it from you more than anyone..when I don't want too. I want to hear it from the boy I love not from the man who sees me walking up 5th avenue. I want to hear it on my wedding day not everyday when I'm walking to work. I want to say it when I see my child for the first time and not think of you on the side of the street. I am beautiful, she is beautiful, we are beautiful; but you don't have to tell us that.

I am a young girl who doesn't want to be afraid to walk the streets. Who doesn't want to talk to those creepy men everyday. I've had enough with these comments, looks, and hollers. It's time to show you, all of you how hard it is for us. It's time for woman to be comfortable while walking down the street and not have to prepare themselves for the worst. Enough is enough.