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By Zoe Burris

Discussing sexual abuse in the black community, although it is quite widespread, has ever been taboo. While many may point the finger at a particular gender or type of person, the reality is that the abuser and the abused can be a man, woman or a child. “Sexual abuse is actually reported more in low income areas where a high number of blacks live” (Stone). Still, there are many undocumented cases because many victims, either do not tell anyone due to fear or shame, or they tell their parents or guardians and the incident goes unreported to the authorities. In the areas where sexual abuse is widely reported, it’s mostly because families “tend to be more in contact (for a variety of reasons) with public agencies like the U.S. Department of Welfare and the Department of Health  and Human Services, etc, where they are more closely observed” (Stone).

With the release of the novel Push by Sapphire and the subsequent, recently released major motion picture Precious, the realities of sexual abuse in the African-American home were made all too real. If the subject had been ignored before, this story of a barely literate teenaged girl, with two children, conceived through sexual intercourse with her biological father, made it even more a part of reality. A reviewer on Amazon.com stated that “I was a little uncomfortable with the narrative perspective because it was so blunt in its descriptions.” Perhaps this is the type of discourse necessary to get the point across as to the severity of the problem. One of the most compelling part of this story was when people outside of her home life actually took a moment and did what was necessary to help save her from the recurring sexual abuse, from both her mother and father, both physically and sexually. Reporting abuse can actually contribute to recovery from being a victim of such a traumatic act. Children and adults who were sexually abused as children have indicated that family support, extra-familial support, high self-esteem, and spirituality were helpful in their recovery from the abuse (APA.org).

It’s obvious that sexual abuse is quite prevalent within the African-American community. Research done in the last decade shows that the problem is not going anywhere. Many victims, especially those who go untreated end up perpetuating the abuse, perhaps through violence, sexual abuse of someone else, promiscuity or some form of criminal activity. The following statistics from the American Psychological Association provide the proof that there is a serious need for discussion and information about sexual abuse in the African-American community.

●     1 in 4 women and 1 in 6 men report they were sexually abused as children. Of that statistic, 3.3 million African-American women have been sexually abused and 1.9 million African-American men have been sexually abused.

●     Family members and acquaintances account for 93% of predators.

●     66% of pregnant teens report a history of abuse.

●     66% of all prostitutes were abused as children by a father or father figure.

●     Incestuous abuse of blacks was more than three times more likely to be “very severe” (involving oral, anal or vaginal intercourse) compared with that of Whites…and involve force or physical violence and verbal threats.

●     Men who have been abused are more commonly seen in the criminal justice system than in clinical mental health settings.

●     Some men even feel societal pressure to be proud of early sexual activity (no matter how unwanted it may have been at the time).

References

American Psychological Association: http://www.apa.org/releases/sexabuse/homepage.html

Stone, R. No Secrets No Lies: How Black Families Can Heal from Sexual Abuse.