Body Soiree

                  "Do NOT feed the fears" I have been called "unrealistic." I have been called "Polly Anna." I have been told to face reality, though this reality that I was told to face wasn't mine. But, when I speak the truth, I have also been called a cynic, so there's that(make up your minds!).  I have always found it funny those that call me or those like me, unrealistic. As a Black Woman in America, I get reality checks daily. It is all around me. On the internet, television, spoken of and passed through the DNA. The trauma is real. I don't need reminders or validation from others regarding the trauma, it's there. This is what I call the "Trauma Culture." This isn't people wanting to discuss the trauma, whatever it is, and then heal. No! This is let's roll in the trauma. Let's constantly mire ourselves in it until we can't think or act! Until we can't think about healing because we are so focused on the...

In the present environment with all of the sexual harassment and sexual assault cases flying about, I decided to write this. Some people would say that sexual harassment is the same for all. It isn't! But after reading or listening to some of these stories; the one thing most of us do have in common is the silence after we have been harassed/assaulted. I remember being hemmed up in a stairwell, fighting this "man" who was bound and determined to rip my pants off. A co-worker he was married with children. We both worked third shift. I was on break and decided to take the stairs that led downstairs to the vending machines. He followed. Anyone who has ever had to fight to not be assaulted knows the terror and adrenaline that is running through your body when this happens. Fight or flight has totally kicked in, and you are incredulous that it is happening to you. Since that long ago time I have been accosted either verbally or physically again and again. I use to ask myself ...