I miss wielding the “power of the
pen” as Ida B. Wells, an African-American leader, journalist,
newspaper editor, suffragist, and newspaper owner along with her husband
Ferdinand L. Barnett, potently declared during the early stages of the civil
rights movement. I love the creative
energy of all forms of writing from poetry to blogging to the journalistic
prowess of interviewing local Black entrepreneurs and community leaders in the
city of Philadelphia. When Empress Phile,
the Founder of the National Million Women’s Movement asked me to join forces
with her as she celebrates the Sweet 16 Reunion of the Million Women’s March
and to address the victimization of women as a “rage against the machine,” I humbly accepted.
As most of you know, I am a survivor of childhood sexual abuse;
particularly, female on female incest.
So, of course, I would write about sexual victimization against women,
particularly, because it ties directly into my curriculum titled, Demystifying Sexuality & The Impact of
Trauma: An 8-session Holistic Psycho-educational Curriculum About the Impact of
Trauma on Sexuality, and the work my husband, William, and I do on the affects of sexual victimization within Black heterosexual relationships. William’s ability to connect the theories
derived from Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome and
identify and communicate the appropriate language to what Black men
experience in intimate relationships when their partners are triggered,
distrustful, fearful, hurtful, defensive, unaware, emotionless, emotional,
irrational, cold, disheartened, shamed, dishonored, dishonorable, disrespected,
disrespectful, etc. is reflective and enlightening. Furthermore, as I obey the 4 aspects of the
Universal Law of Value, according to the 12
Universal Laws of Success by Herbert Harris, I consciously value my time,
thoughts, actions, and money. In other
words, if my actions, endeavors, friendships, partnerships, etc. do not align
with my purpose, then I opt out. Thus, I
accepted with gratitude Empress’ consideration of me as a rage against the
machine through wielding power through my pen.
Candidly, wielding the power of the
pen as a rage against the machine
seemed daunting initially. However, the
sleeping giant within me awakened and the Google
search began. My research led me to an unfamiliar
concept of “rape culture.” Although, the
term’s first use dates back to the 1970s, I never heard of its definition or
ideological context. Further goggling,
led me to read Marshall University’s definition of rape culture, which is “an
environment in which rape is prevalent and in which sexual violence against
women is normalized and excused in the media and popular culture. Rape culture is perpetuated through the use
of misogynistic language, the objectification of women’s bodies, and the glamorization
of sexual violence, thereby creating a society that disregards women’s rights
and safety”. After I read this definition, I decided while
I was wielding and raging that I also
needed to re-frame my paradigm of sexual victimization of women. Aligning my wielding and raging with Empress’
vision of the Sweet 16 Reunion allowed me to broaden my scope of sexual
victimization from a micro, personal experience to macro, cultural phenomena.
Thus, I extend my first invitation to you to follow my weekly blog
posts every Thursday on the Greatness page. Next, I invite you to wield, rage, and re-frame with
me as I continue to Google, interview others, and comment about the rape culture interwoven in the fabrics of
our world, which is apparent to some and inconspicuous to others.
Wielding, raging, re-framing…
Dr. Latisha Webb
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