My experience with education has always been straightforward schooling wise, but at home, I was given so many lessons that the world never even gave me an expedited warning about.
My mom, a single parent raising 3 children on one paycheck, housing any cousins that needed it, all whilst keeping us all in check, needed a relief in her life. She needed support and stability, just like everyone else in this world, but in my mind, I never thought she needed it. I viewed her as my Wonder Woman! I gazed upon her collections of memorabilia, countless pins, book bags, anything you could think of! She was my Wonder Woman. The day she asked me if it was okay to meet her Superman, I couldn’t have been more excited! A new edition to our ever-expanding family.
For the first few months, this man was brilliant, a diamond in the rough. Until it all started. Every day, atrocious, arrogant things were said to me and my Wonder Woman, “You can’t do anything right!”, “You’re a whore!”, “You are worth nothing!”. Every single waking moment in his presence quickly became completely hellacious. Wondering if today was a happy day, or a bitter one.
On bitter days, I expected my Wonder Woman to be brave, just like in the movies. But after about three months I realized, my mother was just a human, a human that was just like me. She wasn’t any different, she wasn’t from Themyscira, and she definitely didn’t have the Lasso of Truth!
Finally, my pain ended, he was gone, for good this time. A year passed, I couldn’t do anything but wonder why my mother chose a man over me — over her family. Until I realized, this is her first time being alive, just like me, just like anyone else in this world. This system wasn’t built for anyone. I was taught the lesson that life throws boulders at anybody, even the people you look up to.
I was given the realization that not many are given. This was a moment of growth. This was one of the many tribulations I will face in this lifetime. Something that builds me, just another brick in the wall.
Author’s Note:
I was inspired to write this piece because I think verbal abuse is not something that is spoken about enough. There’s nowhere near enough awareness for these type of situations and no type of accountability for the abusers. Victims are completely ignored and told it’s “not that serious” but it is, the emotional trauma is real and I can’t sit here while it’s constantly ignored.
Kamilah Robinson | 14 | Trenton, NJ
