In February we observed Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. Oftentimes people do not include teen dating violence (TDV) under abuse or interpersonal violence, which is why it is important to recognize that TDV is a serious issue and impacts many individuals. According to DoSomething.org (a youth empowering online platform), in the past year 1.5 million high school students have reported to have been a victim of intentional violence perpetrated by someone they are romantically involved with. Students who are sexually abused are six times more likely to contact an sexually transmitted disease. Teen dating violence affects a lot more people than we think it does, and it is often not talked about.
On February 25, Monsoon’s Violence Prevention Program addressed the issue of teen dating violence during an event at the Des Moines Art Center. About 14 students came out -- an increase in attendance -- to learn about teen dating violence from youth advocates Kristy Nguyen, Sirena Backham, Kalen Truong and Manali Jama and pottery by Racheal Jackson, the. The presentation, which included an infograph and facilitated discussion, taught teens how to report dating violence, how to tackle the sensitive issue with families and loved ones, and challenged some of the myths of reporting. For example, a mandatory reporter is a person who is required by contract and law to report to authorities such as the police or the Department of Human Services if they know that a minor is being harmed or may be harmed. All Des Moines Public Schools administrators are mandatory reporters and many students do not know this. If students disclose to a mandatory reporter, they might be unwillingly placed in a process and in contact with authority figures, such as the police. Students also should be aware that there are advocates in organizations whom are not mandatory reporters and can provide confidential assistance. It is important that students know these facts in order for their choices to be informed. And because so many students and teens experience some sort of dating violence, they also need to know what resources they can access. Students also discussed the complexity of disclosing to families, especially immigrant family members where language and cultural differences are barriers making these conversations uncomfortable. One participant said that as they grew older, it became easier for them to talk to their parents; however, many teens cannot wait for that moment when the need is immediate. People’s ignorance of teen dating violence is a form of interpersonal violence. When people ignore violence, they are participating in the role of the perpetrator. That is also another reason why providing resources and educating about teen dating violence is important. If people do not think that teen dating violence is a form of abuse, then there would never be a step to fix it. Every year, Monsoon’s Violence Prevention Program holds an event to spread awareness on this important issue. To hear about what two students in the Des Moines area have to say about it, stay tuned for our podcast by Kalen coming soon. You can find this on Monsoon’s SoundCloud (https://soundcloud.com/monsooniowa).
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By Manali Jama Until recently Marvel Studio, home of the incredibly successful “Iron Man” and “Avenger” franchises, have concentrated on white heroes and white narratives. “Black Panther” has changed everything.
The movie introduces Wakanda, an imaginary country in Africa where most of the story takes place. Wakanda is beautiful and likely the richest and most technologically advanced society in the world: this is a total opposite of the images of Africa today. Most people think of Africa as a famine and poverty-stricken continent, which is not always true. Due to rich reserves of “vibranium,” Wakanda could be one of the most powerful countries but they instead choose to be low-key. Rather than imperialize or colonize, Wakanda hides and as a result other world powers do not know the amount of power Wakanda possesses and consider it a third world country. “Black Panther” not only does a great job in removing the stigma associated with Africa, it also beautifully and appropriately represents different African cultures by presenting various tribes and bringing them all together to show how united Africa can be. The character Shuri is a black female who is very talented when it comes to technology. She designs many brilliant inventions that helps Wakanda as a whole be a better country. She is a great representation of black women in science and technology fields. Although the movie is very empowering, it also shows some very hard truths. Erik Killmonger, who is portrayed by Michael B Jordan, is a great example of the hardships that many Black Americans face. Although his father is a Wakandian prince, others view him as very different since he grew up in America. He had a difficult childhood and struggled a lot growing up. Killmonger’s character showcases the moral failings of not only Wakanda but Black people in power who are not helping their own people. The king of Wakanda had a lot of power and resources but wasn't willing to share to help out other Blacks in need. The king was just used to keep things the way they were; in a world where Wakanda didn't get involved with other countries and maintained its privilege through isolation. Killmonger, who grew up in poverty and understood the struggles of the black community, was so determined to share Wakanda’s power and resources to empower these struggling communities of color. Overall, “Black Panther” had a very strong message behind it. It was a movie dedicated to Black excellence as well as bringing light to Black issues. The movie did a great job in allowing people to finally see Africa through a different lens. Source: http://wallpaperdp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Black-Panther-2018-Movie-HD-Image.jpg |
AuthorSirena Backham Archives
March 2018
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