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Women Break the Cycle of Domestic Violence By Tia Carol Jones
law enforcement. She said they threat,” she said. had come together to bring a Among the programs Marlow sense of uniformity in the way wants to see implemented are When L.Y. Marlow's 23-year- domestic violence victims and stricter restraining order policies, old daughter told her the father survivors are treated. more rights for victim's families of her daughter threatened her “She's using her own personal to intervene on behalf of a viclife, and the life of their child, story, her own personal pain to tim, a domestic violence assessshe knew something had to be push forward,” Davis-Nickens ment unit coupled with further done. Out of her frustration said about Marlow. training for law enforcement with law enforcement's handling Davis-Nickens said anyone agencies, a Child's Life Protecof the situation, she decided to who reads Marlow's book will tion Act and mandatory counselstart the Saving Promise cam- “get it.” She said she “puts the ing for batterers. Majora thein Baird inside the National of Natural paign. Carter addresses a packed house at case suchAuditorium a way, the average “IfMuseum we are ever goingHistory to eradion “It Jan.seems 18. /Photo of David Whettstone to becourtesy a vicious cycle M.person can get it.” She said at the cate domestic violence, we must that won't turn my family end of the day, the book will look at both sides of the coin. loose,” Marlow said. Marlow help people begin to have a dia- We need to address both the vicshared her story with the audi- logue about domestic violence. tim and the batterer,” Marlow ence at the District Heights Also present at the event was said. Domestic Violence Symposium Mildred Muhammad, the exMarlow would also like to see on May 7 at the District Heights wife of John Allen Muhammad, programs designed to raise Municipal Center. The sympo- who was sentenced to six consec- awareness among children in sium was sponsored by the her utiveMaster life terms without and private development: schools. She of Fine Arts inparole 1997 public and community By David M. Whettstone Family and Youth Services by a Maryland jury for his role in feels children need to be educatfrom New York University, the One is gentrification that “plans WI Contributing Center of the cityWriter of District the Beltway Sniper attacks in ed about domestic violence. professional was forced to to make places Heights and the National Hook- young 2002. Mildred Muhammad is “We have to really stop nice, beingpushpasto her parents’ home due ing poor people out,” Carter said. woman changed the face return UpOne of Black Women. the founder of After the Trauma, sive-aggressive with poor chilWhile walking her dog of Marlow her neighborhood she to has written and a book, an debt. organization that helps the dren aboutreflects domestic violence,” The other, planning that the Bronx River waterfront urged to take control “Colorothers Me Butterfly,” which isofa along survivors of domestic violence Marlow assumes said. certain neighborhoods a large industrial area story communities about four generations of she their during a proand noticed their children. Marlow to break “will alwayshasbeworked poor and then domestic violence. book is that gram in honor of The a man who “I had livedturned in fearinto for asixdump. years. Six the cycle of abuse in her family, only issupplied inspired her own experiences, years Carter experienced epiphain fear is a long an time. It is and confidentexclusively the policieswith she stood forby change. heavily subsidized housing.” and those of her grandmother, not an easy thing to come out ny. is pushing for will start that That’s the message Majora Carher mother and her and daughter. Carter offered an alternative. said. what is the oppo- process. thought ter, eco-entrepreneur urban of,”“Ishe She said every time shestressed reads siteMildred Muhammad said “I plan towant take to these to “Parents seepolicies their own of a dump? If we can transrevitalization strategist, excerpts from her book, she still form who want help a Congress andthe implore them to we cantotransform kids doing transforming. during the Anacostia Communi- peoplea dump, can not believe ththe words came thinking violence must change our laws,” Marlow said. the victim community. ty Museum’s 28 Annual Martin domestic about People really want to know that from her. “Color Me Butterfly” be careful of how they go into “I will not stop until these poliPeople from inside our neighbor- they Luther King Jr. program on Jan. don’t have to move out of won the 2007 National “Best the victim's life, and understand cies are passed.” can believe in it as well as 18. Carter, a MacArthur Fellow, hood neighborhood have Books” Award. that she may be in “survival their Tiaown Carol Jones can be to reached implored house at the people “I was the justpacked 16-years-old when mode”. from the outside,” Carter at tiacaroljones@sbcglobal.net a better one. They want a secure Bairdeye Auditorium of the and Nationmy first blackened my said. “Before you get to 'I'm going hometown,” she said. change and al Museum of Natural History to to Carter lips bled,” Marlow said. kill you,'sought it started as a verbal WI Carter’s speech inspired Sariteamed up with neighbors – pristay in their neighborhoods and Elaine Davis-Nickens, presiane Leigh, 35, the publisher of dent of more the National become assertive.Hook-Up marily youth and busy mothers. of “I Black Women, saidKing therewould is no She said they started with $10,000 the blog, Anacostia Yogi. don’t think Dr. consistency in the way domestic “I’ve followed Majora Carter be particularly pleased with the seed money from the U.S.D.A. violence issues dealt with by Forest Service program in 1998 for years. She has given us practiway things haveareturned out recently: Communities are now and eventually secured more than cal tools [that include] building alracially segregated and not eco- $3 million in 2006. liances, and project-based develAn abundance of “green jobs” opment. If the Bronx can do it, nomically diverse,” said Carter, 46. “One of the unintended and new technology job train- so can we,” she said with a smile. consequences of the civil rights ing quickly spread throughout Others agreed. movement and integration ... is the neighborhood. For examJames Larry Frazier, 64, chair ple, storm water management, reduced economic diversity.” of Anacostia Community Muse“Big changes came in the ’70s, healthy recreation centers, green um’s advisory board applauded cities lost lots of manufacturing roofing, furniture from recycled jobs,” she said. “People and busi- materials, stores, and greenways Carter. nesses [left].” “Majora Carter’s speech is confor pedestrians and bikers lined Carter, who hails from the the streets. The efforts revitalized firmation of the existence of the South Bronx, fought the “bright the once-blighted community. museum and its mission, an affirflight” that she and other youth Carter’s community is not un- mation of its current exhibit, ‘Refaced while growing up. “We like many neighborhoods in the claiming the Edge: Urban Waterwere told to measure success by District. She calls them “hinge ways and Civic Engagement.’ It how far one could get away from areas,” neighborhoods ripe for purposes and Marlow the neighborhood we were born gentrification and targeted for helps promote the L.Y. ideals of community – that of in,” she said. development that doesn’t serve nurture and support – not only However, after graduating longtime residents. from Wesleyan University in MidWith help from neighbors, she for Anacostia but for the region dletown, Conn., and obtaining combats two types of real estate and the nation.” WI WI Staff Writer
Neighborhood Revitalization on the Waterfront
4 / May 15 - 21, 2008 The Washington Informer / www.washingtoninformer.com The Washington Informer
4 Jan. 31, 2013 - Feb. 6, 2013
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We have to stop being passive-aggressive with poor children about domestic violence. I plan to take these policies to Congress and implore them to change our laws. I will not stop until these policies are passed.
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around the around the region
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