We conclude this current series on domestic abuse in the Afrikan community by continuing the discussion started in the previous show.

Some of the things we have established during the series  include:

• African-Caribbean communities suffer gender-based violence “more greatly than other ethnic groups.” (1)

• NSPCC “research established that abuse was under reported and that African-Caribbean women wanted to protect black men from the authorities.” (2)

• Another factor in non-reporting is  pressure from family or other community formation (e.g. religious, political), i.e. putting the “interests” of the family/community ahead of the abused. (3)

• Even when the abuse is reported, it’s more likely than not that the perpertrator will be acquitted.  For example, the alleged perpetrators of more than 98 per cent of rapes reported to the police are allowed to go free. (4)

• There is a shortage of culturally appropriate support resources for Afrikan women.

• There a need to challenge the disproportionate emphasis on the survivors, as one advocacy organisation put it: “Policy makers need to stop thinking ‘why doesn’t she leave?’ and start asking ‘why doesn’t he stop?’” (5)

• Some Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programmes can bring about change in men’s behaviour, assuming that the men want to change, particularly if they include group work including peer challenging and self-reflection. (6)

While guests on the programme, Sistah Space, a community based initiative that supports African heritage women and girls, commended Afrika Speaks for addressing this issue that is too often sidestepped in the community (https://www.mixcloud.com/AfrikaSpeaks/domestic-abuse-how-widespread-is-it-08072019/).  This lack of open discussion can result in a profound lack of comprehension of the scope and impact of domestic abuse.

One response to the abuse of Afrikan women is to associate the behaviour with Europeans.  While it is the case that, as Bobby E Wright argues, that the “pyschopathic racial personality” of Europeans provides a context for their sexual violence, there is still a need to address and rectify its incidence within our own community. (7)

Excoriating European culture alone, is clearly an insufficient response to domestic abuse in the Afrikan community.  As was highlighted, the solutions do exist within Afrikan culture – if they are resolutely applied.  Moreover, these solutions should ideally  not include the victim blaming, denial or hyper-defensiveness that can surface in discussions (https://www.mixcloud.com/AfrikaSpeaks/domestic-abuse-pt-3-why-do-afrikan-men-abuse-afrikan-women-220719/).

Rites of passage has been lauded to address  a range of community issues and the goodwill shown towards initiatives like Origin, Akua and the Manhood and Womanhood Academies is encouraging.  But to attain the outcomes we say we want, a community wide process, nationally, is essential.  This was something  advocated by the interim National Afrikan Peoples Parliament (iNAPP) this their manifesto. (8)

However, even if today we all undertook to establish this process, it would be some time before it was fully operational, not least because we would first need to establish the communal value system, including codes of conduct and accountability  that underpin it.

In the meantime we need to develop effective, practical responses to the incidence of abuse.  When we look at the atrocities suffered by the likes of Valerie Forde, Sian Blake and Malorie Bantala, and offer guidance on how to try and identify signs of abuse and abusers, rhetorical retorts are rather less useful than practical initiatives.  (9)

Our traditional culture and even current programmes  are showing signs of success in changing abusive behaviour.  (10) Therefore, men need to challenge men who are engaging in “cultural betrayal,” violating  this (intra)cultural trust. (11)  Given where the level of the discussion in the community appears to be, such challenges may take a while to proliferate.

(1) Estelle Catherine Munro (2014) A study of domestic violence and the African-Caribbean community in Preston and surrounding areas. Diffusion: the UCLan Journal of Undergraduate Research Volume 7 Issue 2.

(2)  Ibid.

(3) Ibid.

(4) Lizzie Dearden (25/04/19) Only 1.7% of reported rapes prosecuted in England and Wales, new figures show. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/rape-prosecution-england-wales-victims-court-cps-police-a8885961.html

(5) Safe Lives (2019) The Pyschopathic Racial Personality and Other Essays. Third World Press. p. 6-7

(6) Liz Kelly and Nicole Westmarland (2017) Steps Towards Change: Domestic Violence Perpetrator Programmes. Durham University. https://www.dur.ac.uk/resources/criva/ProjectMirabalfinalreport.pdf. p. 45-6

(7) Bobby E Wright  (1984) Our Alternative White Paper on Domestic Abuse.  http://safelives.org.uk/sites/default/files/resources/Our%20Alternative%20White%20Paper%20on%20Domestic%20Abuse.pdf

(8) iNAPP Interim National Organising Committee (28/11/15) MANIFESTO:  Working Draft For Community Consultation.  interim National Afrikan Peoples Parliament.

(9)  Afrika Speaks with Alkebu-Lan on Galaxy Radio (08/07/19) Domestic Abuse: How widespread is it? https://www.alkebulan.org/2019/07/08/afrika-speaks-with-alkebu-lan-on-galaxy-radio-08-07-19-domestic-abuse-how-widespread-is-it/

(10) Jomo Kenyatta (1961) Facing Mount Kenya. Martin Secker & Warburg Ltd. p. 2-3

(11) Jennifer M. Gómez (13/05/19) The unique harm of sexual abuse in the black community.  http://theconversation.com/the-unique-harm-of-sexual-abuse-in-the-black-community-114948

we ask the question:

Domestic Abuse Pt. 4: Why do Afrikan men Abuse Afrikan women? (Contd.)

1) Are men too defensive when discussing abuse?

2) Do men hold abusive men to account enough?

3) What strategies should we emplloy to stem the tide of abuse?

4) Do we really comprehend the effect of abuse on our community?

5) How can we establish a communal value system, including codes of conduct and accountability?

Our Special Guests:

Bro. David Mullings: is the CEO Father Figure Children & Family Services – Specialist Family Support Consultant who’s main areas of interest are Supporting Fathers, Early Family Intervention,  Family Court Advocacy and Co Parenting.  He has amalgamated his own experiences as a father with over a decade of professional development to create a number of bespoke and unique interventions to support families, with a specialism for supporting and engaging fathers. Bro. David has considerable experience delivering group intervention to male perpetrators of domestic violence.  90% of local authority referrals for his organisation have a domestic violence element.

Sis. Patricia Blaze: has spent over 30 years of her professional career, working with children and families to ensure that they are fully functioning caring and providing the emotional and social support that they need.  She is a qualified Independent Domestic Violence Advisor (IDVA).  Sis. Patricia is a freelance Parenting Practitioner offering Parenting Seminars workshops and courses, including running programmes in prison. She also offers talking sessions to young people at risk of Social Exclusions, Exclusion from school, self harming depression, school refusers amongst other challenges.  Sis. Patricia is the presenter for ‘The Let’s Talk Show’ Chalkhill Community Radio Station.