Edna Freeman has enjoyed exploring many paths throughout her life. Born in Brazil, she moved to San Francisco in 2001 to become an author and have a better life. Over the past 20 years living in the United States, Edna Freeman has become dedicated to diversifying her horizons and has become a passionate activist and advocate for inclusivity and mental health. She has also become a College student and is working towards achieving her degree. Her newest work, a poem titled “My Voice,” explores her most profound thoughts about the expectations that society places on her and others like her.
Her experience working as a nanny for 15 years opened her eyes to how working women, particularly Latina women, are treated. The poem explores these feelings of being the “Other” and how this impacts how you live your life. Edna Freeman believes that classism is a highly prevalent issue in the United States and worldwide. She hopes to use her creative gifts to encourage the American people to open their eyes to this problem. She notes that, although she does not work as a nanny anymore, many people assume that she is a nanny when she goes out with her daughter. These stereotypes are what Edna Freeman hopes to draw people’s attention to and get them to reconsider.
Learning to love herself has been a vital part of Edna Freeman’s journey, and it is evident in her published works that she hopes to spread this love to others. As an advocate for inclusivity and equality, Edna Freeman’s message is more important than ever. She continues to develop her skills as an author and create progressive and engaging works for people of all ages and life experiences.
You can follow up with Edna Freeman at EdnaFreeman.com. Below is the poem:
“My voice”
Do you know what is interesting?
Some people only care about me or hear what I say when I am dead.
My words will be heard!
What I say won’t be considered crazy.
Some won’t remember
They ignored me whenever I spoke.
Many times attacked by judgmental people
An attack so big caused me to wonder about my existence.
I got numb!
They are called progressive.
Is it progress for you to feel good?
You show off pride on social media.
Is this about you or me?
Will one day be ever us?
Why attack me without asking me to explain why?
Can you show the truth within?
Do you know that I may didn’t know how to voice my voice smart enough?
Sure, it is not my language, so teach me.
Please be kind!
Please don’t make me feel worse than I already do—people in my kin have already done an excellent job with that.
Does making me feel bad to make you feel good?
Am I wrong?
Show me!
You may only see me as your nanny, house cleaner, gardener, delivery person, driver.
I’m so many things, you know.
If I make one mistake, you go online to blast me in your online circles.
Why do you want to cancel me?
You take my tip away because I made a mistake, in your opinion, but you never told me what I did wrong—you never asked me why I made that mistake.
Did I know I made a mistake?
I can do better.
Guide me!
I am so tired of seeing many crying or sharing about dead me.
Now that I am already dead, I give you the feeling of compassion.
I guess your post about my death makes you look like you care.
I bet you are a very nice person.
Do I need to be at the worst point in my life or death for you to hear me?
I am suffocating!
I guess you never listen.
Maybe when I die, you will pretend to hear me.
You will be seen as a good person and get praise from your friends.
Perhaps you can take a photo next to my body and post it online for more likes.
Can you see me when I am alive?
Do I stink for you?
Is my house smaller than yours?
Why is that?
I bet you know why!
You open your mouth to say how important I am.
You even say I am part of the family.
Do you treat me the same way as everyone else?
Oh, I see.
Did you invite me to that party?
Do you see me as equals?
Ok. I will stop here!
I hope next time you see me, you will celebrate me the same way you do when I die.
– Edna Freeman (Latina, ADHDer, Survivor, Activist, and Author)
