Poem Vondell Green

ABUSED BY EXPOSURE VONDELL GREEN

ABUSED THROUGH EXPOSURE: I DID NOT NEED TO SEE THAT

At the age of 7 while hanging under the arm of my father, caught in the middle of a shoot out

I didn’t need to see that

My brother being shot by the hands of the one who carried him in the womb I didn’t need to see that Watching my dad call my mother over just to hawk spit in her face I didn’t need to see that

At age 8 or 9, that skin flick

I didn’t need to see that

Dad climbing the balcony in rage saying “B, so you going to lock me out”

I didn’t need to see that

Joints burning in the ashtray and coolers filled with weed

Your trap house, that baby bottle cooking that yack, that white powder that filled that sack

I didn’t need to see that The aggression, the violence and looks of disdain

The pain in mom’s eyes that to this day still remains

Abused through exposure I can go on and on but I must move on Although there are so many things that I wish I could un-see

I refuse to let those experiences turn into a vicious cycle for my seeds

7

BY MALCOLM GREEN PASS OFF

Sometimes I drift into memories or maybe they are emotional scars

Honestly asking myself is there was really a bond

Even though you abused me you was my moms, I had “MAD love” for you when pops said he was gone

8 Only seven years old looking for answers from God

As time passed the truth hit me low and caught me off guard

See this was back in 89’ when you was in between jobs and you used to come home and beat us down cause things was so hard

We still got the marks on our chest from them curtain rods You use to cuff us to the banister like we was some dogs I remember being butt naked tied like a hog As your youngest son you shattered my world and cut me with the shards

My grand mom up in Pennsylvania used to send us stuff She didn’t know when Christmas came you were crapping on us

I’m not lashing out to you, I’m just spitting the facts Took twenty years to pass off what was holding me back

You was living out Maryland, I was staying in D.C age thirteen wilding out straight robing the streets

Clutching the heat, learning what the criminals teach, you tried to preach, you knew that I was out of your reach This aint love, love you know what, it still baffles me, made straight A’s in school and you said it came naturally

Damn I love you Von, I can’t believe it’s been that long since we was young-ins riding bikes in Anacostia park

Sometimes we used to stick fight in the back of the yard playing He-Man and Skeletor with magical swords

We used to shoot our slingshots from off the bike shop roof and watch pops cook up crack when we was out Southview

Smelling incense and refer smoke listening to Steel Bill singing “aint no sunshine when she’s gone”

It’s still real .

9

Domestic violence (also called intimate partner violence (IPV), domestic abuse or relationship abuse) is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship.

Domestic violence can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or socio-economic status. Domestic violence can occur between married individuals, those who live together and those in intimate relationships. Forms of domestic abuse includes physical harm, verbal abuse, intimidation, sexual violence, and economic deprivation.

In the beginning, you may not even realize that you are in a domestic abuse situation as sometimes the warning signs are overlooked. Some signs that indicate the presence of domestic abuse within your relationship include a partner who:

•Shows extreme jealously when you are away from them •Keeps you from or discourages you from spending time with family and friends •Makes you feel like you cannot do anything right •Pressures you to have sex and do sexual acts that make you feel uncomfortable •Threatens to harm you physically •Destroys your property •Prevents you from working or attending school •Tells you, you are a bad parents and threatens to harm or take away your children

No one deserves to be subject to domestic abuse. Experiencing one or two of the signs may be red flags and an indication that you are experiencing domestic violence within your relationship. If you have, concerns about your relationship and domestic violence do not ignore the sign and seek help.

There is life and hope after experiencing domestic abuse. We had the opportunity to catch up with domestic abuse survivor turned author and advocate Adriene Odom. Below she shares with us about her experience overcoming and healing from domestic abuse and what inspired her to write the book, The Making of A Soldier.

AG: Adriene, share with our readers about yourself and what drives you

10

Breaking the Silence of Domestic Violence

AO: I am a mother, author, disabled veteran, and domestic abuse survivor, and advocate as well at the founder of the non-profit Career Growth after Domestic Violence Abuse. After completing one tour to Afghanistan with the U.S Army, I began to come to realize who I was and what I was put here on earth to do which was, become a soldier not just in the U.S Army but for battered and abused women and men who are too afraid to speak out for themselves.

What drives me most is my children and my family as well as my passion for supporting others who are in an abusive situation or in recovery. I am also driven by my faith and stand firm on what the bible says in Matthews 6:6 “But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you”.

AG: You are the author of the book The Making of a Soldier, what inspired you to write this book?

AO: The Making of A Soldier is my story of survival of obstacles that many women have to face daily. I had to rely solely on my faith in God to carry me from a state of brokenness as a teenage mother, and domestic abuse survivor to becoming a soldier in the US Army and now a disabled veteran, author and advocate for domestic violence.

I was inspired to write this book so that I would no longer live in bondage, guilt, and shame. I wanted to become free of things that once haunted me. I had to come to realize that there is no real growth without true transparency. I had to become transparent and tell my truths to help heals others through my story. In my book, I expose my darkest and most intimate secrets in hopes to inspire others to tell their stories so they like myself would no longer have to live in bondage and become free by their own words.

AG: What advice would you give someone living in an abusive situation afraid to leave?

Adriene Streater-Career

the vulnerability, the abuse, ball it all up and use it as your strength to fight to become stronger and wiser than you were before all of these traumatic events happened. Fight to become free from things that were never yours to carry.

AG: Have you found that speaking and sharing your testimony and encouragement with others has helped you to continue to heal?

AO: Yes, I have. For me speaking gives me the strength I need to continue to fight battles that I still face daily. Knowing that I have people who are looking to me for strength and God chose me to be a voice and support to men and women who have suffered abuse at the hands of someone who was supposed to protect them definitely helps me through my continued journey to heal and give hope to others.

Adriene Odom’s book The Making of A Soldier can be found on Amazon FB: Adriene Streater-Career Growth After Domestic Violence Email: adrienestreater@gmail.com

If you find yourself in a relationship where domestic violence is present and are looking for support,

The National Domestic Violence Hotline can help, they can be reached at 1-800 799- SAFE (7273) / 1-800 787-3224 (TTY).