(ThyBlackMan.com) For many blacks abuse is often swept under the rug when it’s put into the spotlight. Why do so many black people cover up abuse among themselves? That’s a question that keeps getting asked with no kind of real conclusive answer. Yet the cycle of abuse is pretty prevalent among African-Americans with how so many are abused physically, psychologically, emotionally, and financially. We have this code of silence where we are covering up abuse for various reasons and even more turning a blind eye towards the wrongful acts of abuse committed within a single family.
Blacks are conditioned to say nothing when abuse is going on because of the fear of being ostracized for speaking out. What has failed in the black community is the inability to hold someone or somebody accountable meaning they bring forth the abuser(s) and make them known for what they did to whomever. Yet we don’t say
anything we just look away and sweep it under the rug with an out of sight, out of mind attitude.
It’s how blacks look at abuse that has allowed the abuser(s) to continue what they do which has had dire consequences on the victims. Many victims experience sexual dysfunction and even experimenting with different lifestyles including homosexuality. Emotional abuse is the most noticeable of abuse factors within the black community and it’s tied into bullying. You will have a single member(s) of a family who will pick their victims usually it’s the weakest one who does not speak up and will maintain silence towards the abuse. It’s not just young, but you will have elderly family who are just as abusive.
We use all kinds of excuses to cover for an abuser(s) behavior citing from “they’re a good person” to the old “Why are you making problems?”, How is speaking out about abuse creating drama and static? This is the approach that black people take to avoid facing the truth about abuse and those who are guilty of doing this. We as black people don’t like facing the truth about something serious as abuse because we’re in fear of creating “situations” that could cause someone problems. Not saying anything creates problems and actually makes abuse worse when it’s not addressed. Silence does not solve abuse…..speaking out does.
When we don’t speak out about abuse we are actually telling the abuser(s) that they’re OK to continue doing this and not being held accountable for their behavior and actions. Nobody should have to be afraid to expose an abuser(s) for how they treat others. Intimidation is the tool for keeping an abuse victim silent so they can’t speak out about the abuse within the family.
When there’s silence the abuse is allowed to continue and victims should not be afraid to speak out even if family members will accuse you of causing problems. Abuse is something many victims are often threatened and manipulated into for their silence and in the black community it’s absolute and adhered to. Abuse is a common problem in the black community and until we stop covering up for abusers family or not the problem will never go away.
Staff Writer; Nafeesah Abdullah