Ladies, have you ever been walking the streets alone, minding your own business and a strange man or group of men pester you for your number? Do ever feel nervous when strange men follow you around the way a lion stalks its prey in the wild? If you answered yes to these questions then you've come to the right place.
Here are a few safety tips to help you take precaution when you find yourself in these situations:
1. Surround yourself with good people.
When you're going out at night always travel with a friend. Remember there's power in numbers so when it comes to being safe in these streets, the more people the safer. Whenever I go out at night I always find a companion to walk me to my car. If you're stepping out by yourself, let a friend or family member know where you are so if anything happens they can back you up. If you feel threatened in the streets always go to a public place like the nearest store or restaurant for solace.
2. Don't be afraid to say no.
A couple of weeks ago, a man kept calling me from across the gas station with his friends. I looked over and yelled, "What do you want?!" He shouted back, "Yo come over here." I went inside to pay for my gas and thought he left because his car was gone. As I'm putting in the gas I look over and he's there in front of me in his car staring. He proceeded to ask for my number and I shouted, "No! I have a boyfriend!" And he finally left. I tried to be as direct as possible to let him know I'm not interested and if anything were to pop off, everyone around me would know too. Side note: fellas if a girl shouts things like "leave me alone" "go away" or "what do you want" she's really not interested and you should move on. Ladies, some men are really hard headed so sometimes you have to really put your foot down.
3. Be occupied.
A trick that I always use is being on the phone when I sense myself in danger. When I'm out by myself I'll have my headphones in my ears with music playing, signaling that I'm unavailable to speak at the moment. If I feel worried or anxious I call a friend and stay on the phone with them until I'm in a safer part of town. If I see a stranger approaching me in the streets and I don't feel comfortable, I'll pretend I'm on the phone sometimes just to turn them away without having to say anything. Try not to be too distracted on your phone though, you still want to be aware of your surroundings.
4. Stay in your lane.
If you're in a sketchy neighborhood park as close as you can to your destination. If you don't know the area, don't be a Dora the Explorer like I once was. (Going on adventures in the hood got me into some scary situations.) Use your car to get everywhere. Your car is going to be your best friend. Seriously. Whatever you do, do NOT walk through a rough city at night by yourself.
It's one thing to be smart, but being street smart can save lives.
