Terry Pheto was on the receiving end of a backlash after she pledged to donate 67 magazines disadvantaged girls for this year’s Mandela Day (READ STORY HERE). The actress is finally speaking out on the attack by black twitter. Terry Pheto baffled by ’67 Magazines’ backlash.
Speaking to Sowetan, Terry says this was done in an effort to inspire young girls through her story. “If a girl from Evaton could achieve what I have achieved, they can too. Through my story they will get to understand that growing up in a disadvantaged background does not stop you from dreaming,” she told Sowetan.
Pheto admitted she was confused by the how much people did not understand her intention, saying she pledged to donate the magazines because Destiny already has a similar initiative.
“The plan is to make them realise that hard work is the only thing that will deliver success to you. We need to preach a culture of independency to these girls,” she said.
The actress later took to her Instagram sharing Maya Angelou’s powerful poem, “Still I Rise”.
Still I Rise You may write me down in history With your bitter, twisted lies, You may tread me in the very dirt But still, like dust, I’ll rise. Does my sassiness upset you? Why are you beset with gloom? ‘Cause I walk like I’ve got oil wells Pumping in my living room. Just like moons and like suns, With the certainty of tides, Just like hopes springing high, Still I’ll rise. Did you want to see me broken? Bowed head and lowered eyes? Shoulders falling down like teardrops. Weakened by my soulful cries. Does my haughtiness offend you? Don’t you take it awful hard ‘Cause I laugh like I’ve got gold mines Diggin’ in my own back yard. You may shoot me with your words, You may cut me with your eyes, You may kill me with your hatefulness, But still, like air, I’ll rise. Does my sexiness upset you? Does it come as a surprise That I dance like I’ve got diamonds At the meeting of my thighs? Out of the huts of history’s shame I rise Up from a past that’s rooted in pain I rise I’m a black ocean, leaping and wide, Welling and swelling I bear in the tide. Leaving behind nights of terror and fear I rise Into a daybreak that’s wondrously clear I rise Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise. by Maya Angelou #DesignYourDestiny #DestinyAugustIssue
