Revolutionary Woman

Revolutionary Dreams

Nikki Giovanni

I used to dream militant dreams
of taking over america to show
these white folks
how it should be done

I used to dream radical dreams
of blowing everyone away
with my perceptive powers
of correct analysis

I even used to think I'd be the one
to stop the riot and
negotiate the peace

then I awoke and dug
that if I dreamed natural
dreams of being a natural
woman doing what a woman
does when she's natural
I would have a revolution.

I have loved this poem since I first discovered it in middle school. Clearly the poem has some radical elements in it, and I'm not trying to make a statement about race. What I love about the poem is the idea, that sometimes we have these dreams of doing crazy outlandish things to accomplish "our vision." And then at some point we realize that it's not about seeking out the unconventional for the sake of making a statement, but that if we live our lives as ordinary people, THAT is the revolution.

For moms and dads who are raising Jesus loving kids in today's society-that's revolutionary.

For singles not shacking up and committing to purity-that's revolutionary.

For those who go to work everyday and are hard workers-that's revolutionary.

I've been thinking a lot lately about what I believe and what I say my life is about versus what my life actually looks like. It's easy for me to get off track and think I need to do something crazy, and offbeat to show that yes, I do really believe in X because I did Y. Then I remembered this poem and was reminded that sometimes the revolution happens in the everydayness of life. By being faithful to pray and simply take the next step of what God has planned for you, that's revolutionary.