It’s certainly been the week of emotional and heartfelt speeches. The other day, Gabourey Sidibe inspired many with her moving speech about believing in yourself. Now Amy Schumer gives it a shot and totally nails it.
The full speech can be read over at Vulture and it paints a picture of Schumer’s battles with her image and the self-reflection involved due to the words people throw at us daily. Here’s a snippet:
Now I feel strong and beautiful. I walk proudly down the streets of Manhattan. The people I love, love me. I make the funniest people in the country laugh, and they are my friends. I am a great friend and an even better sister. I have fought my way through harsh criticism and death threats for speaking my mind. I am alive, like the strong women in this room before me. I am a hot-blooded fighter and I am fearless. But I did morning radio last week, and a DJ asked, “Have you gained weight? You seem chunkier to me. You should strike while the iron is hot, Amy.” And it’s all gone. In an instant, it’s all stripped away.
I wrote an article for Men’s Health and was so proud, until I saw instead of using my photo, they used one of a 16-year-old model wearing a clown nose, to show that she’s hilarious. But those are my words. What about who I am, and what I have to say?
I can be reduced to that lost college freshman so quickly sometimes, I want to quit. Not performing, but being a woman altogether. I want to throw my hands in the air, after reading a mean Twitter comment, and say, “All right! You got it. You figured me out. I’m not pretty. I’m not thin. I do not deserve to use my voice. I’ll start wearing a burqa and start waiting tables at a pancake house. All my self-worth is based on what you can see.” But then I think, Fuck that. I am not laying in that freshman year bed anymore ever again. I am a woman with thoughts and questions and shit to say. I say if I’m beautiful. I say if I’m strong. You will not determine my story — I will. I will speak and share and fuck and love and I will never apologize to the frightened millions who resent that they never had it in them to do it. I stand here and I am amazing, for you. Not because of you. I am not who I sleep with. I am not my weight. I am not my mother. I am myself. And I am all of you, and I thank you.
I never really thought about Amy Schumer beyond her comedy, but this speech shows another side that’s really cool and confident. The last thing anyone wants to do is constantly battle with insecurity because of the actions of others, so it’s inspiring to have someone like Amy Schumer or Gabourey Sidibe speak out.
It’s an inspiring speech and the full thing is a great read. If you’ve ever felt unworthy for one reason or the other, you owe yourself a peek.
(Via Vulture)
