WVON Radio Feature: Incest In America
with Nubia DuVall Wilson and Cleopatra Draper
This post mentions incest abuse. If you’re seeking resources, head over to Incest AWARE or Sibling Sexual Trauma. Thank you to Nubia DuVall Wilson for promoting our work together!
Did anyone read that Atlantic Article titled "DNA Tests Are Uncovering the True Prevalence of Incest" by Sarah Zhang? Basically, incest, which often involves child sexual abuse, is a lot more prevalent than you'd think, but because it's such a taboo topic, people don't talk about it.
Well, thank you WVON 1690 AM, a talk radio station that caters to the Black community, for taking this very important discussion with Incest AWARE founder Josephine A. Lauren, Nubia DuVall Wilson, and host Cleopatra Draper, MSW.
Cleopatra starts by sharing this stat: according to the Child Welfare Library, the prevalence of incest is 4.3% - 21% of all women in the US. Jo. shares a number of important facts, including reclaiming and uncovering the history of the anti-incest movement from the 1800s to today — every time survivors come forward there is a backlash that forces us back into silence. We need social support and allies to contribute to our efforts to expand awareness and launch prevention programs.
In addition, Nubia discusses being a Black woman managing the cultural challenges of disclosing her abuse and saying these words out loud to describe what happened to her — it took decades to disclose her abuse and then many years thereafter to say the word incest. If we do not face these realities, we cannot heal and it can take multiple generations to heal trauma in our families.
Please, listen to this interview here and if you are a survivor, do not hesitate to reach out to Jo. or me via DM and we will welcome you into our community at Incest AWARE (start at min 14:30 - 32:00).