Shattering the silence one revelation at a time

  Football player Laveranues Coles recently revealed that he was molested as a young boy and his story shows that sexual abuse of children remains a living reality in the Black community.  The New York Jets wide receiver appeared on the Aug. 17 Oprah Winfrey show and shared that from the ages of 10-14 he had been sexually violated at gunpoint by his stepfather, usually while his mother was working nights and away from home.

Now 29 and considered to be one of the top receivers in the National Football League,  Coles decided to break his silence to help others who may be going through the same agony and torture he did during his pre-teen years.  His courageous move also emphasizes the continued need for mothers, and guardians, to exercise extreme caution in their choice of caregivers for their children.  It should not automatically be assumed that a near relative – even a father or stepfather – is best qualified to be put in that position of trust just because they are “family.” 

In today’s world, all guardians of children should recognize that as many precautions as possible need to be taken in order to protect young lives, their sexual innocence and right to grow up in peace.  It is the very least that can and should be done for individuals who are here on the earth through no choice of their own yet deserve to be nurtured and protected so that they have a better chance of growing up to become mentally balanced,
productive members of society.

Much respect goes to Laveranues Coles for being yet another to break the silence, a step which was not only necessary for his own healing but also stressed the need in the collective Black community for continued  awareness and prevention campaigns focusing on SEXUAL ABUSE.

- Adeeba Folami -

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