Updated on 4/11/22 from 7/14/2016I now know why my Granny, Grandma Monroe, Aunt, and Mama encouraged me to get quiet when a storm rolled in. &nbs
I now know why my Granny, Grandma Monroe, Aunt, and Mama encouraged me to get quiet when a storm rolled in.
When I was a girl, we had to turn off all the electricity, even if we were doing homework. We had to get still. I hated it. Until I didn’t.
At some point, I came to be fascinated by it. I would actually sit on the front porch. They would say, “Watch God work.” That is exactly what I did.
Watch the storm came rolling in. Observe the behavior of the animals, the trees, and the insects.
Usually, I respond to the storm. The social storms. That is the activist in me. Sometimes I must force myself to sit back and observe.
Silence Has Rewards
So, when a celebrity is accused of sexual violence, I have force myself to observe the storm.
Okay, I wasn’t always successful. But sometimes I was. And, because I was, I could see and hear quite a bit.
I was able to see that there were certain phrases being repeated over and over towards victims.
Here they are:
24 Phrases People Use to Try to Silence Survivors of Sexual Violence Compiled by Tonya GJ Prince
·
“Don’t speak ill of the dead.”
·
“It was
a long time ago. Let it go.”
·
“Touch
not God’s anointed one.”
·
“He was
about to do big things. This “accusation” is just a way of creating an
obstacle.”
·
“I know
him. He is a good father. I have even
seen him with his children. Good fathers
don’t do this kind of thing.”
·
“He
wouldn’t do that. I know him.”
·
“Those
women just want fame, attention or money.”
·
“People
just want to take down a good man in the community.”
·
“Oh,
women don’t do these type of things. Women don’t rape.”
·
“It was innocent child exploration not abuse. Get
your mind out of the gutter.”
·
“He doesn’t have to rape anybody. Look at her.
Who would rape her?”
·
“I don’t believe her. Why would anyone take so
long to come forward?”
·
Why did she take the money? She was looking for
a payday.”
·
“You should just forgive. Forgive and move on.”
·
“Men don’t get raped.”
·
“That woman has mental issues. I don’t believe
her.”
·
“She knew what she was getting into when she
went to his room.”
·
“Come on, having sex with a teacher is every
teenage boy’s fantasy.”
·
“Why are we still talking about this?”
·
“He goes to church.”
·
“His legacy is far more important than these
accusations.”
Feel free to add your own and discuss them in the comment section.