Testimony that Awareness is Creating a Conversation for Our Children

God Blessed my heart yesterday with a testimony! I was on the metro and ran into someone who attended my book signing and panel discussion on child abuse.  The mother has been reading the book. In the process, her teenage daughter remembered the sudden changes that are often present when someone has been abused. Her daughter came to her with the concern of the sudden changes and she prompted her daughter to talk to the young lady. Now I am not proud that there are sudden changes in any child, but it is proof that awareness is starting the conversation. Our panel addressed the older children as well about signs to look for in their friends. Awareness is important because early detection can help a friend or loved one get help before a situation gets worse. The mother expressed to me that she wished I would host the same type of panel discussion in schools with parents and children old enough to comprehend. God is working!

On another related note, yesterday my former high school classmate and Nia-Imani co-founder & sister, Tracee Wilkins of NBC4 News, posted an article yesterday that relates to the subject of guilt I discuss in the book  when children come forward. It was a story about a Prince George's County police officer and his wife who had been sexually abusing a relative since she was 13 years old in 2008 and ended last year. Children are subject to authority figures and when ready to come forward in an effort to stop being violated, they are coerced into keeping silent. Children should not have to suffer in silence because someone is uncomfortable with this subject matter or fears embarrassment. Not only does the child need help, but so do the abusers. Many times the abusers were once the abused. Stop the cycle! Your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, godchild, etc should not have to suffer because you don't want to deal with this subject. Don't make your fear more important than their safety.


P.S. I hope to see you this Sunday, November 10th at Barnes & Noble at the Avenue in White Marsh in Maryland from 4pm-8pm.