I work at a clothing store that caters to a primarily heterosexual, cisgender mainstream American demographic. The girls wear heels with their dresses instead of boots and the boys wear flannel shirts that fit them. Why do I work at this store? I needed a job.

The other day, after mentioning how the neon colors of a blouse I was hanging up reminded me of M.I.A., a girl I work with told me she’d never heard of the rapper. Earlier today, this occurrence inspired me to blast Arular and Kala while I was getting ready to go in for another shift.

M.I.A. represents the true rebel of our generation. Whenever I feel especially marginalized or unusual, M.I.A. is always there to hold up her middle finger and shout “Fuck you” with me. She is not as much a musician or a rapper or whatever as much as she is an anthem for those of us shoved into and silenced by the margins of the world.