By Freda Grant

In mid-September, a 24-year-old woman and her one-month old-infant along with one other person was shot in an Alabama church. The victim and her assailant were in the middle of custody dispute over the baby. It has also been reported that the couple had a history of domestic violence. Earlier last week, director Lee Daniels tried to use the race card to defend Terrence Howard from media backlash concerning Howard’s repeatedly beating his wives. Less than a month ago, Dr. Dre publically apologized to the “women he hurt” and blamed his abusive actions on being in his 20’s and drinking although his recent album is jampacked with misogyny and references to violence against women.

by Moiyattu Banya

One evening I struggled to put together my lecture for the following day’s class, and I couldn’t figure out why I was so conflicted. My teaching was supposed to focus on women’s health and reproductive rights, but I struggled with what my key points and messaging should be. I reflected on why it was so hard to get the words to come out right on the PowerPoint slides. Every other lecture had been easy, but this one on sexual health and reproductive rights in the United States came with struggle. I simply couldn’t get the words out. I stopped, took a break and asked myself what main points I wanted my students to walk away with.

by Marena Bridges

I didn’t know what to expect when I went into my first appointment with my therapist so long ago. As we walked to her office, she explained that she specialized in working with trauma survivors. Trauma survivors? Sure, I’d had my share of awful experiences just like anyone else, but I’d never thought of myself as a survivor. But, as I continued attending therapy sessions, I came to realize that I had a rather narrow view of exactly what it means to experience and survive trauma.

Silence in our community is not striking a blow at our enemies. In fact it just makes them stronger and more confident in their actions. Pretending to be heroes in the face of evil never helps anyone. We Black women are not superwomen. We are as vulnerable and as susceptible to violence as our white female counterparts (and maybe even more so). Sexual assault does not happen “out there”—outside the walls of our community. No, it occurs daily within our own borders right under our noses by those we trust the most.

Partner rape is not a myth and causes as much emotional and psychological damage as stranger rape, domestic abuse, incest and molestation. For many people the idea that your trusted husband, boyfriend or girlfriend could be your rapist is as much of a fable as is the Loch Ness monster; but it does exist.