Fletcher Reflections - Christine Munson

In the fall of 2021, I wrote the poem “Justice Bell” as part of a series of poems for my final assignment in Professor Kimberly Theidon and PhD candidate Dipali Anumol’s  Gender Theory and Praxis course. Inspired by the fight for gender equality, “Justice Bell” highlights one of the most underrated forms of self-care: celebration. We should celebrate how far we have come. That is not to say that we have arrived, but rather that we should appreciate where we are and let that excitement fuel the rest of our journey. Positivity and celebration can, and should, be turned into power.

Justice Bell

Ring the bell sister
Ring it loud
And when they tell you to stop
Ring it harder

Ring it for those before you
Whose struggle handed you the rope

Ring it for those coming
Who will wake to its sound filling the air

And ring it for you
Who came and saw and knew the injustice
Who fought for change
Who cried for loss
Who mourned for wronged
Who taught the unknowing
 
Ring it for you sister
And I will ring it too

Christine Munson (she/her) is a second-year MALD student. While at Fletcher, she has focused on gender and intersectional analysis in human security and humanitarian affairs. Last year she served as co-chair of the 2022 Fletcher Conference on Gender and International Affairs. Currently she serves as the student liaison for the Fletcher Women's Network and as a member of Fletcher's student council.