Writer no longer silent

Surviving the Silence author is still trying to find people willing to talk

Sixty chairs were set up in Carnegie Root Room, but the 30 people present chose primarily to crowd in the back.

"Would you move forward, please. I don't care if you leave early, but this way I won't feel alone."

With these words given by Charlotte Pierce-Baker, the 30 people physically distanced from what they were about to hear moved forward to gain a more intimate position for the lecture and discussion on the very personal subject of rape.

Pierce-Baker, scholar, activist and rape survivor, spoke Tuesday on her recently published book, Surviving the Silence: Black Women's Stories of Rape. Pierce-Baker's narrative is one amongst 16 other stories of black women and men compiled to end the silence of sexual violence against women. "It is a book of voices, black women's voices, speaking for the first time publicly about their rapes," said Pierce-Baker.

Pierce-Baker compiled the book when she realized there was under- representation of support for black female rape survivors. "I couldn't find anyone like me. The national statistics say one in four women are sexually assaulted. Where are the black women survivors? Where are their numbers? I needed to find people like me," she said.

"As a recent survivor, I am inside and outside this text. After many years of silence I am able to say 'I am a rape survivor. I am a black woman.' It may seem simple to say, but only after many years do I say it," she said and proceeds to say as she continues to accept the idea of having told her story. "I'm still getting used to the fact that the book is out in the world - that it has all these secrets."

Pierce-Baker spoke of her need to voice the concerns of those who choose to remain silent. "Many women choose to live in secrecy to protect their families, themselves and [the ones who hurt them]," she said.

Many black women also find it difficult to come forward with their stories due to the fear of promoting racial stereotypes of African Americans. Surviving the Silence serves to contest the stereotype of the black male rapist by including a men's chapter entitled "The Other Silence: Men's stories about the women they love who have been raped."

"How could we possibly tell the world that black men raped us? Rape by a black man is one thing. All black men are rapists is another. Black men in this book are a part of the counter myth," she said. "Rape is an issue that affects all of us, men and women."

She also raised her concern about women who were discredited or turned away when they attempted to speak about their assaults. During her own assault trial, other female witnesses stepped forward to testify against the assailant but were not given the opportunity to speak, nor were they granted their own trial due to insufficient evidence.

"Some women are not guaranteed a trial date in life," she said. "My hope is that the book will be a gift for those who stayed in the valley where we could not pray."

Speaking out: Charlotte Pierce-Baker addresses her crowd about rape within the black community. (photo by Beth O'Brien)