What is “Speak”?

Originally POSTED ON NOVEMBER 13, 2012 BY JUDE IVY 

 

Speak is a short documentary film produced, written, directed, and promoted by students of Texas Southern University school of communication.  This is a redemptive documentary that explores the lives of two young women who were sexually abused during their childhood. This film was first introduced to some students and faculty a year ago during the school’s annual “Communications Week”; the film was a hit.

Faculty and students alike, gave rave reviews about the transparency, courage, and strength of the films two main characters Kentra Gilbert 25, and Jude’ Ivy 26, and the necessity of the film. ” It was as if people were saying FINALLY, somebody is saying something about it.” said a student who wished to have his identity concealed.

The film touches on an all too familiar taboo, sexual abuse. The story gives details about the two ladies sexual abuse experiences with someone they both knew. Since the films first screening, the director and producer Stephanie Madrid, 22, and Krishunda Goodman 35, entered it into local and foreign film festivals. The short documentary garnered a REMI award,  the highest award of it’s category in the Houston World-Fest International Film Festival in 2011. It was also an official selection in the Mid-Atlantic Film Festival (2011). It is an official selection in  the Annual 20th African Diaspora International Film Festival in New York City (2012) and most recently the Hayti Heritage Center Film Festival in Durham, North Carolina (2012).

We are so proud of our fellow Texas Southern Tigers and wish them all the best in their efforts to speak out against sexual abuse.

If you or anyone you know has been or is being sexually abused please call The RAINN Hotline 1.800.656.-H.O.P.E.

 

“PV Pond Girl” ? : A Cry for help

Breah McClendon, the 18 yr old freshman at Prairie View A&M recently featured on World Star Hip Hop for dancing nude in a pond.

Took to popular social media site Instagram citing she was a victim of sexual abuse.  “…. I was molested by my dad when I was 11 that was the first time I gave oral sex it wasn’t consensual. The next year he raped me….” McClendon said.

I heard so many people talk about how nasty, trifling, and sad she is. How her attempt to defend herself sharing that she was molested and raped by her father and others was “just an excuse” or “didn’t excuse what she did”.

“I claimed to be a virgin…I didn’t wanna tell people how I lost my virginity at 12…after that I started getting sexually assaulted by people I went to school with…” she wrote.

It is my opinion that the effects of said abuse led to the video that’s now plastered all over the internet.

Excuse? I think not- many may feel that abuse wouldn’t make them personally do what she did.

But as a survivor of years of sexual abuse I am here to say that it could.

In the same manner that any other form of abuse (drug, physical, emotional) effects the mind, therefore one’s actions; sexual abuse effects this young lady and many like her.

This is deeper than the pictures of her performing oral sex, deeper than “twerking” nude. Her mind is re wired, and very damaged. Her hurt is her drug, her desire to please people specifically men is her drug, her sexual confusion is her drug.

And she needs help! Not people throwing stones, who only see the results of an experience she had no control over. In fact she still has no control, she is out of control. She needs someone to let her know that she can take control of herself now.
I personally want to meet and encourage her.
However, If I don’t get the pleasure to I hope she gets the support she needs. I am rooting for her come up and comeback! Not as the “PV Pond Girl” but as Breah McClendon [Insert Extraordinary title here.]

 

In Love,

Jude’