7/31/2019 Essence Magazine's article, "I, Janet" revamp
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5e z z e n j e . j g a
e z z e n j e a h o h t k n ea h { 2 6 8 2
_gaen mhye h mhr` pkae vrgjezzkno vhkn. Hp lehzp K `g.
K pen` pg zpu kp, gr `en{ kp, gr `eh`en kp b{ wgrckno pgg
mhr`
hn` pgg lgno. Bup Ka jmhnokno. Ka lggckno gr mehlpm{ wh{z pg
vrgjezz vhkn. K `g kp b{ zmhrkno wkpm rken`z pme zkavle prupm
g
wmere Kye been, wmere K ha hn` wmere K whnp pg og.
A{ dgurne{ mhz been ahrce` b{ pwkzpz hn` purnz. Pme `rhah
mhz been knpenze. A{ jmhllenoe, lkce pmhp g zg ahn{ g uz, kz
ngp pg du`oe a{zel. K pen` pg phce pme blhae gr hn{pmkno
pmhp
ogez wrgno. Ka h mhrzm hn` jruel zel!jrkpkj. K lgno pg prehp
a{zel oenpl{, bup bejhuze Kye mh` vrkykleoez kn a{ lke, K
`gnp
pmknc Ka enpkple` pg hjcngwle`oe vhkn gr lgzz. P mhp nhzp{
jrkpkjknzk`e ae zeez pmhp hz wmknkno. Hz pme {gunoezp `huomper g
h
hakl{ zpeeve` kn zmgw buzknezz, Ka e}vejpe` pg zakle.
Rh`khpe
mhvvknezz. E}u`e gvpkakza hn` dg{. Pmhpz h vrezzure K bgpm
hjjevp hn` rezkzp. K belkeye K whz bgrn pg enperphkn. Pmhpz
pme
vublkj Dhnep. Pme vrkyhpe Dhnep kz hngpmer ahpper.
Pme vrkyhpe Dhnep lkcez pg lkzpen agre pmhn phlc. K K og pg
jlubz
wkpm rken`z, K oep pgg eabhrrhzze` pg `hnje. K `gnp pmknc K
aehzure uv pg pme gpmer `hnjerz gn pme ggr. K zph{ mgae wkpm
a{ `goz, aunjm gn zprhwberrkez hn` jreha, lkzpen pg dhtt. Hz
h
lkpple okrl, K jluno jlgzel{ pg a{ agpmer. Agpmer whz a{
reuoe,
a{ wgrl`. A{ ehrlkezp aeagrkez hre g whkpkno gr a{ brgpmerz
pg repurn rga pgur. K akzze` pmea perrkbl{. _men K whz 5,
pme
Dhjczgn 5 were hp pmekr mekomp, pme wgrl`z agzp vgvulhr bg{
bhn`. Hlgno wkpm eyer{gne elze, K whpjme` pmea gn PY, zhw
pmea purne` knpg jhrpggn jmhrhjperz, lgye` pmea, eyen
k`glkte`
pmea, bup knperhjpe` wkpm pmea knrexuenpl{. _e were hlwh{z
hvhrp. Pme orehp `kzphnje bepween uz mhz neyer been brk`oe`.
Pme jgnjern gr hakl{ kz pmere, {ep pme kzphnje reahknz. Pg
pmkz
`h{, we mhyenp xukpe jhuomp uv wkpm gne hngpmer. Pme ngnzpgv
`eahn`z g zmgw buzknezz pmrew uz kn `kerenp `krejpkgnz.
K whz jlgze pg Akjmhel bejhuze g mkz zenzkpkykp{. Mkz
zweepnezz.
Pme wh{ me zhno hn` `hnje`, pme oenplenezz g mkz zgul, mh`
hn engraguz knuenje gn ae. Me ohye ae mkz hppenpkgn. Kn mkz
relhpkgnzmkv pg gur hpmer!!kn mkz ierje rezkzphnje pg
hupmgrkp{!!K
zhw pme grezmh`gwkno g a{ gwn relhpkgnzmkv wkpm pme ahn we
jhll Dgzevm. Pme Akjmhel K cnew bezp whz peenhoe Akjmhel. Me
knzvkre` ae. Hz h`ulpz, we r hrel{ aeep, bup wmen we `g, kpz
ngp
hz zprhnoerz, bup hz h lgykno brgpmer hn` zkzper wmgze
cngwle`oe
g ehjm gpmer kz rggpe` kn pme vhzp, ngp pme vrezenp. _e
jmerkzm`ehr aeagrkez3 we z{avhpmkte gyer pme zknole akzzkno
eleaenp
g gur jmkl`mgg`!!pme hjp p mhp gur jmkl`mgg` neyer e}kzpe`.
_mhp hakl{ kznp `{zunjpkgnhl7 _mhp hakl{ kznp jgavgze`
g jrht{ `rehaz hn` `eahn`z vhzze` gn!!gr kavgze`!!rga
vhrenp pg jmkl`7 K zee pmgze `rehaz hz okpz. _kpmgup pmea,
K`
oep ngwmere. @eahn`z hn` ezkre jgaaknole` kn gur mguzemgl`.
B{ `ezkre, K aehn `rkye!!pme nee` pg zujjee` hp hn{ mehlpm{
jgzp. Bup ehrl{ gn K hlzg cnew pmhp, okyen zg aujm
`{zunjpkgn,
K whnpe` gup!!gup g a{ hakl{ hn` pg be gn a{ gwn. K ahrrke`
wmen, gr hll vrhjpkjhl vurvgzez, K whz zpkll h jmkl`, duzp 8=
{ehrz
gl`. K whznp reh`{. K whpjme` a{ irzp muzbhn`, Dhaez
@eBhroe,
wrezple wkpm mkz `eagnz. K elp mkz vhkn3 K un`erzpgg` mkz
vhkn,
bup K `k`np un`erzphn` pme kavhjp g mkz vhkn gn mkz
bemhykgr.
K wgun` uv kn pme ak``le g h mgrrgr agyke. Brgcenmehrpe`,
`kzklluzkgne`, K pmrew a{zel knpg wgrc, knpg h jhreer pmhp,
hp
irzp, whz zpkll pke` pg a{ hpmer. K brgce pmhp pke kn pme nhae
g
Jgnprgl, a{ pmkr` hlbua. Pmhp whz kn 8;=9, wmen K whz zpkll
ngp
{ep 28. Jgnprgl kz h wgn`erul pmkno. Bup jgnprgl kz hn
klluzkgn.
Ng gne bup Og` kz kn jgnprgl. Pmhp pggc ae h lgno
pkae!!hngpmer
80 {ehrz!!pg lehrn. Pme agre we jlkno pg pme ngpkgn pmhp we
hre
kn jgnprgl, pme orehper gur `eluzkgn.
K h`akp kp3 K whz `elu`e`. K ahrrke` hohkn, pmkz pkae kn
zejrep
pg Rene Elktgn`g, Dr., jgnyknje` pmhp vrkyhj{ wgul` vrgpejp
pme zhnjpkp{ g gur bgn`. Hz h wke, K rehzgne` pmhp pme
vrkyhpe
Dhnep wgul` mhye h bepper jmhnje pmhn pme vublkj Dhnep. L
ezzgnz
lehrne` hp a{ agpmerz cnee were zubjgnzjkguzl{ h vhrp g a{
yer{ bekno4 Zpkjc b{ {gur ahn3 lg{hlp{ kz unxuezpkgne` hn`
hbzglupe3 neyer hbhn`gn, neyer okye uv3 pglerhpe wmhp nee`z pgbe
pglerhpe`3 wgrc kp gup3 un`erzphn`3 lep lgye zee {gu pmrguom.
Kp
pggc ae agre pmhn h ejh`e pg zee pme prupm hbgup a{
relhpkgnzmkv
wkpm Rene, hn` kp mhvvene` gn hn eyenkno wmen K pmguomp K
whz
ogkno blkn`.
K whz kn L{gn, Irhnje, kn 8;;= gn pme Yelyep Rgve pgur. Kn
pwg zevhrhpe hjjk`enpz!!gne knyglye` a{ `go hn` pme gpmer h
ahohtkne pmhp orhte` a{ e{e!!a{ jgrnehz mh` been zjrhpjme`.
Zgaemgw K ah`e kp pmrguom pme zmgw, bup hperwhr` a{ e{ez
were burnkno zg bh`l{ pmhp eyen pme lkompz gn pme `hzmbghr`
elp
lkce `hooerz. Pme pmrgbbkno whz e}jrujkhpkno. _e wenp
lggckno
gr h mgzvkphl!!kp whz vhzp ak`nkomp!!wmere hn kavhpkenp
nurze
hvvlke` h zhlye pmhp gnl{ ah`e kp wgrze. Bhjc hp pme mgpel,
a{
e{elk`z were zwgllen pg pme zkte g lkvzpkjc venjklz. K jrke`
hll
nkomp. _men agrnkno jhae, K jgul`np zee. Bup wmere a{ e{ez
hkle`, a{ mehrp zhw wkpm h jlhrkp{ K mh` neyer begre cngwn4
K zhw a{ ahrrkhoe gr wmhp kp whz. Kp whz pmhp zkavle. A{
muzbhn`z jgnjern whz elzewmere. Gpmer pmknoz `gaknhpe` mkz
hppenpkgn, zejrep pmknoz K mh` hkle` gr reuze` pg rejgonkte.
K
wgnp zh{ wmhp pmknoz bejhuze pme{ hre ngp a kne pg reyehl.
_e`
been enznhre` kn h zh`, zkjc `hnje. Pme `hnje knyglye` mgurz
g pmerhv{ bup yer{ lkpple zknjerkp{. Pme zkjcnezz whz zubple.
_e
mh` ew hrouaenpz3 pmere whz ng vm{zkjhl hbuze. Bup `guble
lkyez were bekno le`3 mk``en hoen`hz were bekno vurzue`. Hn`
K whz zeekno wmhp K mh` neyer whnpe` pg zee. Gr h`akp. K
`kzlkce
h`akppkno kp mere.
K` been vlh{e`. Akllkgnz g wgaen mhye ogne pmrguom pmkz. Zg
wm{ kz kp zg mhr` pg h`akp pmhp Ka hagno pmea7 Pme vublkj
Dhnep
eelz gblkohpe` pg vrgdejp vgzkpkye ykbez. Pme vrkyhpe Dhnep
eelz
gblkohpe` pg phce pme blhae. K eel K zmgul` mhye cngwn
bepper,zeen kp jgakno, been wkzer, zahrper, zmrew`er. Bup {gu
lehrn
wmhp {gu lehrn wmen {gu lehrn kp. Pme jmhknz g jg`even`enj{!
!wmere eogz hre aeroe` hn` k`enpkpkez jgnuze`!!hre zprgno.
Pg
brehc pmea rexukrez rehl eperaknhpkgn. Pmgze jmhknz mhye
been
bkn`kno uz gr oenerhpkgnz. Gur vhrenpz vhppernz, knmerkpe`
rga
pmekr vhrenpz, jhn mhunp uz gr h lkepkae. Ka orhpeul pmhp a{
e{ez were inhll{ gvene` hn` a{ mehrp, pmguom brgcen, kz gn
pme
aen`.
K jhll a{ lhpezp relehze Hll gr [gu. Pme [gu kz a{ hnz,
wmgye
zph{e` wkpm ae hn` whpjme` ae orgw3 pme [gu kz pme
a{zperkguz
grje g lgye pmhpz pme zgurje g jrehpkykp{3 hn` pme [gu kz
hlzg
ae. Hll gr [gu kz h zukpe g zgnoz pmhp melve` ae agye rga
gne eagpkgnhl leyel pg hngpmer. Ka pme ckn` g hrpkzp wmg mhz
ng jmgkje bup pg wrkpe wmhp K eel. Yelyep Rgve pggc ae
knzk`e
a{ ehrz hn` ruzprhpkgnz. Hll gr [gu mhz brguomp ae gupzk`e,
mhvv{ gn h nhpurhl mkom, jgnyknje` pmhp K rehll{ jhn e}vrezz
dg{
kn pme hje g vhkn. A{ agg`z hre eyer!jmhnokno. K {gu lkzpen
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7/31/2019 Essence Magazine's article, "I, Janet" revamp
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a{ orgwpm. Pg ae, orgwpm kz eyer{pmkno. Hz hn hrpkzp, hz hn
enperphkner, hz h Blhjc wgahn, Ka knperezpe` kn ahckno
zprk`ez,
phckno jmhnjez, in`kno a{ gwn wh{ kn a{ gwn pkae.
K `g cngw pmhp rhjkza zpkll e}kzpz. Ah{be kp hlwh{z wkll. Lkce
zg
ahn{ Blhjc vegvle, K mhye a{ gwn zpgrkez g bekno vrgile`!!g
bekno zpgvve`, zehrjme` hn` rkzce` pwkje kn pme zhae agnpm
b{ jgvz zcevpkjhl hbgup h Blhjc wgahn rkykno h hnj{ jhr. Hn`
{gu mhye pg pmknc, k pme jgvz zpgv ae, mgw aujm wgrze auzp
kp
be gr gpmerz7 [ep we og gn. _e og pg gur dgbz. _e g wmhp
nee`z
pg be `gne. _e zpruoole pg bepper gurzelyez. Irga a{ vegvle,
rga a{ vhrenpz, K jmerkzm a{ vrkjelezz knmerkphnje!!pme enero{pg
wgrc.
K uze` pg pmknc zujm wgrc aehnp gnl{ vm{zkjhl phzcz4 zknokno
hn`
`hnjkno hn` vuppkno gn h zmgw. Bup ngw K rehlkte pmhp pme
wgrc
epmkj hvvlkez pg zvkrkpuhl phzcz hz well. Pme dgb g
`kzjgyerkno
wmg {gu hre, kn`even`enp g hn{gne gr hn{pmkno, kz vermhvz
pme
mhr`ezp wgrc g hll. Pmhpz pme wgrc pmhp knperezpz ae agzp,
pme
wgrc pmhp, wkpm Og`z melv, kz brknokno ae h `eever zenze g
zhpkzhjpkgn. Ngw K zee pmhp pme vhkn kz wgrpm kp. Pme vhkn
kz
nejezzhr{. Zgaepkaez vhkn kz pme pehjmer we rexukre, h
mk``en
okp g mehlkno hn` mgve.
K munoer igr vhzzkgn.
pg pme J@, {gull mehr wmhp Ka ogkno pmrguom. Pmerez hnoer,
murp, reorep, eyen pmhp haklkhr yekn g zeyere zel!jrkpkjkza
K
jhnp xukpe zmhce. -K zpkll jhnp zphn` zeekno hn{ g a{ agykez
gr
jgnjerp phvez3 K zpkll jrknoe wmen K whpjm a{zel hjp gr
`hnje.+
[ep pmerez hlzg jgni`enje. K mgve pmkz geznp zgun`
eogpkzpkjhl,
bup pmkz pkae K zpgg` hlgne hn` jrhpe` a{ hrp hjjgr`kno pg
a{ mehrp. K eel ree, hn` pmerez ngpmkno agre wgn`erul pmhn
ree`ga.
Iree`ga aehnz jmgkjez. K jmgze pg e}vlgre pme zenzuhl zk`e g
a{ verzgnhlkp{ bejhuze pmhpz hn ezzenpkhl vhrp g wmg K ha. K
pme zgnoz hre pgg e}vlkjkp gr zgae, hll K jhn zh{ kz pmhp Ka
beknomgnezp hbgup a{ gwn ze}uhlkp{. K munoer gr vhzzkgn.
Ka zgaepkaez hzce` k K a kn` bekno jhlle` oh{. A{ hnzwer kz
ng.
Pg hnzwer gpmerwkze kz pg knzulp oh{ vegvle. K eel agzp
vegvlez
ze}uhlkp{ kz engraguzl{ jgavlkjhpe`. Pmhpz wmhp kp aehnz pg
be muahn. _gul`np kp be orehp k we mgngre` pmhp jgavle}kp{
rhpmer pmhn purn kp knpg ogzzkv gr rk`kjule7 _gul`np kp be
orehp
k we hjjevpe` ze}uhl `kyerzkp{, kn gurzelyez hn` gpmerz,
wkpmgup
jgn`eankno kp7 A{ jlgzezp rken`z hre wgaen. A{ jlgzezp
rken`z hre aen. A{ jlgzezp rken`z mhye zeen ae pmrguom pme
jmhllenoez g pmeze vhzp {ehrz. P me{ mhye bejgae a{ hakl{.
K lgye aen. Ka `hpkno gr pme irzp pkae, hn` Ka ngp
ezvejkhll{
ogg` hp kp. Ah{be kpz bejhuze K mhrbgr pme ehr pmhp mhunpz
zg
ahn{ g uz4 Ka hrhk` Kll be vlh{e` hohkn. Ka gch{ hlgne. Ka
endg{kno pme hbzenje g ahdgr rhah. K `gnp whnp pg zgun`
jgl`,
bup pme k`eh g lkykno wkpmgup h rgahnpkj relhpkgnzmkv `gez
ngp
rkompen ae. K jhn zee a{zel hz h zknole vhrenp. K jhn zee
a{zelmhn`lkno a{ lke gn a{ gwn. K zkavl{ whnp pg hjjevp Og`z
wkll.
Pme lhzp zgno gn Hll gr [gu kz jhlle` Bepper @h{z. Pme
blkn`gl`z g a{ e{ez, K zkno, hn` ngw hll K zee gr ae kz
bepper
`h{z. K eel pmhp wh{. K eel lkomp hn` hlagzp ok``{ hbgup
unp{kno
pme cngpz pmhp were jmgckno ae, rezprhknkno ae, vreyenpkno
?9
e zz en j e. jg a e zz e nj e .j ga
e z z e n j e a h o h t k n e e z z e n j e a ho h t k n ea h {
2 6 8 2a h { 2 6 8 2
