“My perpetrator’s words are the deepest, most insidious part of my abuse."

[MrScorpio]

joyfulheartinspired:

“My perpetrator’s words are the deepest, most insidious part of my abuse.

I wrote them down, I read them, I saw them in black and white on the paper. And I saw them reflected in the looks on the faces of people in the street that day.

For the first time, I got those words off of me and out of me. It loosened my grip on the lie—the lie that somehow all of this was my fault, that somehow, at five years old, I caused it.

I held that sign, I bore its weight and I walked away lighter.” - Maile Zambuto in her introduction to Grace Brown; Joyful Revolution Gala 2012

Googling yourself while still in your pajamas at four-thirty pm on your birthday (this project is no longer run by a teenager!) is perhaps the lamest thing you can do. And I usually abstain from posting anything other than portraits on the website. However, Maile’s story about being photographed portrays exactly why I do this & I really wanted to share this one with you guys.

Also, side note: about a year ago, I was graduating from high school. It’s amazing to me how much has changed in a year. Thanks for your continued support of both the project and of the survivors who participate. I can’t tell you what it means to me to see everyone come together.

Grace

http://projectunbreakable.tumblr.com/

[intaglio]

1. Powerful, Frightening

How can abusers be so lacking simple empathy???

[BlueIris]

2. They're abusers.

They are subhuman monsters and do not change.

[handmade34]

3. extremely painful

for those of us that have suffered abuse...

[LiberalAndProud]

4. That is an amazing project.

Every sign projects and simultaneously rejects the power of those words.

[center][font size="1"]Yell if you want to. Nobody's coming for you.[/center][/font]

Thank you for sharing, MrScorpio.

[siligut]

5. Exposing the abusers is the first step

Secrecy is their protection.

[Zanzoobar]

6. This is the sort of thing that makes me want to believe in hell

And a vengeful and jealous god.