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Miss Black Georgia was a Victim of Domestic Violence
by Adrienne Donnell
Special to the NNPA from the Atlanta Voice
ATLANTA (NNPA) -- After surviving two years of domestic violence, Bessie Winn, the recently crowned Miss Black Georgia, is using her story as a testimony to help other victims of intimate partner violence overcome their fears and build their self-esteem.
According to a special report by the Bureau of Justice statistics, African-American women experience more domestic violence than White women in the age group of 20-24. However, the study also showed that Black and White women experience the same level of victimization in all other age categories.
“During the time that I was in the[abusive] relationship, I was extremely caught up in the hip-hop culture,” said Winn of her former relationship.
“Not to say that hip-hop is generally bad, but the type of hip-hop that I was into did not value relationships. It was very male-dominating.”
Because of her fascination with the world of hip-hop at the time, Winn allowed herself to be subjected to a physically, sexually and mentally abusive relationship for two years. It wasn’t until her final physical encounter with her ex-boyfriend that she realized she deserved better.
“He beat me so, so bad that when I finally made it back to my dorm room, I looked at myself in the mirror and I said, ‘Oh my God, this is not who I am,” she recollected.
“I had two black eyes, my nose was swollen, my lip was busted and my whole face was bruised up. That’s when I said, ‘From this day forward, this is the first day of the rest of my life. I’m not turning back!’”
Winn said it was her relationship with God and other survivors’ testimonies that gave her the strength to get out of her abusive situation.
Misogyny in hip-hop music is an issue that continues to be addressed by many music journalists, professors and authors. Rap lyrics that promote hatred and exploitation of women are believed to be subconsciously embedded into the mind of young men while the young women begin to accept being sexually objectified.
Dr. Michael Rich, a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital Boston and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics’ Media Matters campaign, expressed his concerns about misogynistic lyrics in hip-hop and domestic violence in an article posted on Tolerance.org.
“The music portrays this kind of dating violence and coercion around sexual activity as normal relationships,” Dr. Rich stated.
Not only are women being victimized verbally, sexually and physically in domestic relationships, but also apparently in the workplace. The Source Magazine, which has been referred to as the “bible of hip-hop,” is currently being sued by Kimberly Osario, the magazine’s first female editor. Osario, who was fired last year, claims that she was verbally abused, sexually harassed and physically threatened.
According to the New York Daily News, she reportedly referred to her former place of employment as a “workplace that was unfriendly to women employees.”
The Source’s Attorney Mercedes Colwin inadvertently blames Osorio for willingly choosing to work for a publication known for “raunchy language, profane lyrics and scantily clad women.”
That’s not the case with Winn.
“I see myself as a role model to young women primarily because I am a walking testimony,” said Winn.
“I have been where many young women are currently at right now. I have overcome low self-esteem, depression, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and nearly losing my life to a young man who thought my life was worthless.”
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