The Code of Silence: Dirty Little Family Secrets

As a small child, I was shamed into silence in an effort to conceal the crimes of those who would abuse, abandon and neglect me. Asking for help has never come easy for me as an adult. As a child asking for help seemed to always fall on deaf ears. I pondered on the idea of asking for help in completing a project that goes directly against "The Code of Silence" in the African American Community. I could hear that faint voice, " What goes on in this house stays in this house." African American women like myself have been the gatekeeper's for childhood abuse, molestation, incest and rape in our communities. We have worn the pain of our Great-Great Grandmother's, Grandmother's for generations to come before us. We have been paralyzed by the guilt, shame and vague remorse of the very people who were supposed to protect us.60% of black girls have experienced sexual abuse at the hands of black men before reaching the age of 18, according to an ongoing study conducted by Black Women's Blueprint.1 in 4 black girls will be sexually abused before the age of 18. (Stone, R.D., No Secrets, No Lies: How Black Families Can Heal from Sexual Abuse, 2004)30% of black women with documented histories of childhood sexual abuse were sexually assaulted in adulthood. (Siegel & Williams, Risk Factors for Sexual Victimization of Women, Violence Against Women 9, 2003)For every black woman who reports a rape, at least 15 do not report (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2009)If you gather 10 African American women in a room, it is likely that at least nine have been victims of pedophilia, street harassment, and/or sexual assault; or they have a friend, cousin, sister, aunt, mother, or grandmother who has been victimized.Yes, just about all of us, and for me, both cases are true. I speak for the voiceless not to tell their story, but to tell mine; and in-so-doing, I encourage you to tell yours. Some people simply need a little inspiration to stand up and be heard.

Terricina L. Jackson a self-published author of the book entitled "Manifest Your Magic: Learn How To Daily Transcend Your Personal and Professional Life To Enter the Infinite, Unlimited Part Of Your Being" as well as "Single in the City: The Single Mom's Ultimate Guide to Entrepreneurship" both available on Amazon. With over a decade of advocating for childhood sexual abuse victims, mental health, addiction and alcoholism, Terricina has a uniquely raw voice that pierces through the readers heart in her newest upcoming best seller "The Code of Silence: Dirty Little Family Secrets." Terricina has a Life & Purpose Certification, Certified Mandated Child Sexual Abuse Advocate, Certified HOPE Prison Re-Entry Advocate, MBA in Public Administration, and Dual BA in Business Administration & Management. Terricina tells a riveting story of domestic violence, addiction, sexual exploitation, and mental health in the African American Community.

Author, Motivation Speaker, Spiritual Advisor, Life & Wellness Coach, Ghostwriter & Writing Consultant Craig Samuels is a native son and current resident of Flint, Michigan. He is a husband, the father of one daughter and grandfather of four handsome grandsons. He brings to his listeners and followers a straight forward message that sometimes cuts like a razor, but as he says, it is done in an effort to get down to the bone of a matter so he can help the client identify the cause of their issue. He is the author of the book - My Mother's Guilt, My Father's Sin: The Death of Innocence - which is available on Amazon in both hard copy and eBook formats. In addition to being an author, Craig is also a speaker/lecturer, ghostwriter, blogger, writing coach and a healing and relationship advisor who deals with the causes and effects of dysfunctional behavior that stems from traumatic experiences. He is also the co-founder and administrator of the S.E.E.D.S. organization for men. The acronym stands for Spiritual Enhancement Exchange and Development System. This organization gives Black men an outlet to express themselves with regard to what they go through on a daily basis being Black in this society. This is a place where they can articulate how they feel to other men without being ridiculed, shamed, embarrassed or humiliated. Craig is an advocate for the underdog who lends his powerful voice to the voiceless and his strength to the weak for the purpose of encouraging a people to believe in themselves and empowering them with the courage and confidence to confront their pain, tell their story and become liberated from the mental and emotional chains of the past.