COMMENTARY
From The Publisher’s Desk...
HAVE THE POWER TO END THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE
Released in time for Domestic Violence Awareness Month this October, a new study
shows that African-American women are at far greater risk of experiencing one of
the most egregious forms of domestic violence than other groups. A recent report by
the The Violence Policy Center (VPC) in Washington, D.C. found that black women
are about three times more likely to die at the hands of a current or ex-partner than
members of other racial backgrounds.
VPC, a national organization working to end gun deaths, reported that 94 percent of
the black women killed knew their killers. More than half were killed by gunfire. And
64 percent of black victims
who knew their offenders
were wives, ex-wives or
girlfriends of the killers.
The sad reality is that
women are nearly always
murdered by someone
they know. Already,
many elected officials
and community leaders
are working tirelessly to
reduce the toll of domestic
violence. Yet despite these
efforts, the numbers remain
unacceptably high.
For black women, the rate
of intimate partner violence
leading to death is the most
startling.
Advocates working to end domestic violence state that having resources to escape
abusive relationships is critical. For black women, these resources are extra-vital, as
the domestic violence rate is disproportionately higher in our community.
Figures from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Women’s
Health show that 25 percent of women in the U.S. will become victims of domestic
violence in their lifetime. But nearly 30 percent of African-American women have been
subject to intimate partner violence, which includes rape, physical assault, or stalking.
But, experts involved in the VPC report said the situation might not improve for black
women without deep interventions due to the negative social issues disproportionately
affecting African-Americans — particularly poor women.
Leaders in the African-American community must employ strategies that take into
account the reality of African-American women’s lives, particularly African-American
women of lower socioeconomic status, who tend to be exposed to increased chronic
stressors such as homelessness and exposure to community violence.
More importantly, prevention strategies must include addressing the high rates of early
childhood sexual abuse, as this reality places African-American women at greater risk
for intimate partner violence.
It is crucial that we not only open safe havens, but also provide wrap around services,
empowerment programs that are inclusive of education, extensive counseling,
individual and group, and financial literacy courses necessary to live independently,
and abuse free.
While we have made
tremendous strides to raise
awareness and eradicate
domestic violence, we
must create innovative
programs and strategies
that will empower victims
and survivors, hold
batterers accountable,
and ensure that children
grow up in healthy, loving
environments in order to
eradicate the vicious cycles
of generational violence.
Awareness of these
cycles is the first step
towards breaking them.
This Domestic Violence
Awareness Month, take this
message to heart as we all
work towards reducing intimate partner violence in our communities.
If you are suffering from domestic violence or other abuses, call the National Domestic
Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-6564673 right away. The National Sexual Assault Online Hotline is also available to help.
You are not alone, and have the power to end the cycle of violence. (www.thegrio.com)
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