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"And The Truth Will Set You Free"

Published:
9/17/2014 4:46:59 PM
Towana C. Daniels, Author & Self Publisher of black girlz dont cut& !o" #reen, at the
book signing of Towanas newl" released book.

By Beverly Gadson-Birch
Sometimes your plans are not just your plans. As writers, we are driven to
share information that enlightens and oftentimes transforms lives. Towana
has done just that in her new boo !blac girl" don#t cut$.
%n wae of the recent domestic violence by Baltimore &aven &ay &ice that
has replayed itself out over the airwaves, many voices that have been
silent for years are coming forward to acnowledge their abuse and share
their stories on how the abuse changed their lives.
Abuse taes on many forms'child or spousal abuse'se(ual, physical and
or mental. %n the case of &ay &ice and his girlfriend, )anay, whom he has
since married, his behavior is a total disrespect for all women. Anyone
viewing the tape can only imagine, why did &ay tae his abuse so far* %t
was a noc out drag out assault. +hat could possibly drive &ice to the
point of nocing his wife out* And, even after nocing her out, he
dragged her out of the elevator instead of picing her up. There is just no
way to e(plain &ice#s action. % am sure some may say !she had it coming$
or !she hit him first$. %t doesn#t matter what precipitated the assault
because that#s just what it was, it is never acceptable to strie a woman
,or man-.
.n Sunday, % had the occasion to attend Towana#s boo signing of her life#s
story !blac girl" don#t cut$. This was a very special moment for me
because Towana and % grew up in the same neighborhood. Although we are
eons apart, whenever % visited my old neighborhood and saw her, she
always had a beautiful smile encased by the most beautiful dimples % have
ever seen. %t was recently that % learned there was another side of Towana.
/er boo !blac girl" don#t cut$ is about the se(ual abuse she suffered at
the hands of family members beginning at the age of seven and continuing
through age 01.
At the signing, Towana shared some painful reminders of her past. At
times, attendees were seen wiping away tears. Although many of us in the
room felt Towana#s pains, % couldn#t help but wonder how many !Towanas$
were in the room recalling their hidden past. The thought that Towana was
robbed of her childhood at such an early age was gut wrenching for me. %
couldn#t help but thin how many other young ladies that are e(periencing
abused but do not now how to brea free. The boo is a form of healing
for Towana.
As the se(ual abuse continued and feeling unprotected, Towana continued
the self-mutilation biting, tearing and cutting herself until she bled. % had
heard about white girls# self-mutilation but was not aware that blac girls
did so as well. %t was an eye opener for me. 2ven after surviving se(ual
abuse, Towana went on to marry an abusive man. !blac girl" don#t cut$ is
a myth3 they do. Towana did but she has gone from adversity to
adversary. She is an overcomer. % salute Towana#s bravery and candid
account that further placed a strain on family relationships but it was a
necessary step in the healing process.
According to the 4ew 5or 6aga"ine, one in five women has been raped. %f
you want to now more about Towana#s story, chec out Ama"on. Towana
is available for speaing engagements to help other young girls brea their
silence and come forward to report the abusers. %t is time to put a stop to
abuse and !Brea 2very 7hain, Brea 2very 7hain.$

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