The statistics are ugly – but the effects of physical abuse (and the victims impacted by it) are just as hidious.
Every 60 seconds 20 people are physically abused by a partner in the United States, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Black Enterprise reported.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and four businesswomen giants recently joined forces to share their stories to touch on this critical topic that women and men far too often handle alone. One-third of all women and 40% of Black women will face some form of domestic violence during their lifetime, according to the article.
On October 16, Ellie Diop, Arnita Johnson-Hall, Koereyelle Dubose, and Tonya Rapley hope to change that trajectory with a live discussion in Atlanta at The Women Who Thrive: Rebuilding After Abuse event in Atlanta, Georgia, the business magazine reported. The event will be live-streamed on Youtube to show women worldwide what could happen after abuse is no longer in the picture.
The teamwork to put this event together was one that did not happen in a silo, but through many multi-faceted connections to draw attention to the fact that in the Black community domestic violence does not “have a face,” according to Black Enterprise.
“Many people fall into abuse because they don’t know enough about how to identify the early signs,” according to the article. “By coming together, the women hope to save women from experiencing abuse and give others the strength to walk away from abusive relationships, Ellie Diop, the event host, a business coach said.
Diop, the founder of the Ellievated agency and the person behind the social media platform “Ellie Talks Money” is a mother of four who took her stimulus check to build a multiple seven-figure business after being fired from her corporate job, according to the magazine article.
During a Black Enterprise interview, Diop spoke on putting the event together.
“When you’re in an abusive relationship, whether it’s physical, mental, or financial abuse, you begin to question your worth and what you’re capable of. I want women to
know that someone’s treatment of you is not a reflection of who you are and what you deserve,” Diop said in the article. “You can still rebuild and become successful even after someone has done everything that they can to tear you down. You have the power to determine what your future looks like.” Arnita Johnson-Hall, a credit expert and the founder of AMB Credit and Luxurious Credit, is a mother of five and the owner of multiple excelling businesses. In a recent Business Insider article, Johnson-Hall shared that she is a domestic violence survivor and that tough period in her life prompted her to dig deep and change her financial narrative.
“Sometimes, we don’t share because we feel alone or that no one can relate. I’m blessed to be alive to share my story. I’m hoping that it will save someone and give them strength to overcome,” Johnson-Hall told Black Enterprise. Koereyelle Dubose an empowerment guru, is passionate about giving women of color the resources they need. Dubose is the founder of the online trade school, WERK University.
“I’m always willing to share my experience because I know that someone else’s life can change just by sharing my story. Sometimes when we go through things, we blame ourselves because we don’t know anyone else who has been in similar situations. So I am open to every opportunity that allows me to share the pain that led to my purpose,” she said in the article. Tonya Rapley is a millennial money expert, author, and the creator of the award-winning site My Fab Finance. Despite all of her well-lauded success, there was a time when Rapley didn’t have it all together. She had to leave an abusive relationship and spent years rebuilding her finances. Rapley later founded My Fab Finance and has since helped thousands of women improve their money.
“I think the culture needs to see our faces because they have a stereotype about what a survivor looks like. They also need to see what it can look like on the other side of abuse,” Rapley told Black Enterprise.
For more information about domestic violence, whether you are in an abusive relationship or want to help someone who is, visit www.thehotline.org.
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