The Unconscious Community

AUTHOR: Patrice Griffin

Overcoming Trauma To Educate The Public On Sexual Abuse:

Author And Activists' Book Helps Heal Deep Wounds

By DARA MORMILE

Abuse victims will never erase the scars left behind from years of torture and cruelty.

For survivor, author, and advocate Patrice Griffin, the wounds of her past continue to affect her day-to-day life. However, her resilience, strength, and determination to change the world for children keeps her fighting for justice!

Griffin unabashedly shared with Preferred Health Magazine the grueling and healing aspects of writing her first novel released in 2020 - "The Unconscious Community." A raw, truthful, and horrific account of enduring sexual abuse as a child, the urban book debuted at #1 in the rap category. It tells the hopeful story of a 14-year-old who endures years of unimaginable torment.

The compassionate author revealed that she'd been sexually abused by a close family member when she was only eight years old. She was also abused later on in her teen years by an allegedly highly respected and popular group of rap artists in the music industry. With lawsuits pending and her wounds unhealed, she found strength years later not only to empower other victims but to change the laws when it comes to the statute of limitations on sexual predators and the time required for victims to come forward.

Notably, she advocated alongside Gary Greenberg, a former candidate for the New York State Senate, and the Child Victims Act was passed and signed into legislation in 2019.

Griffin admits that "The Unconscious Community" was a cathartic battle, as the 48-year-old told PHM that the detailed writing process, and reliving the experiences was painful and difficult at times.

"I remember feeling shame. I felt embarrassed and abandoned," she said, reflecting on the darkest years of her life. "I was depressed and had a very low self-esteem. I was barely passing my classes - and due to the trauma I was going through, I could barely make it through my days. What's sad was that I was abused by people I trusted - I looked up to them - they were adults who were like role models. You don't expect family and role models to force you into acts you don't want to do."

Griffin's heartbreaking and graphic story also reveals the strong emergence from an abusive world, her saviors along the way, and an uplifting journey of educating future generations.

"I knew the title I wanted for my book in 2014, but I only started to work on it when the Covid pandemic hit. There was nothing else to do and I knew I had to get this book going. So, I worked on it for four hours a day, and it took me six months to complete," she said humbly. "In a way, it empowered me, but I still had moments where it hurt to sort of relive the pain and agony that happened all of those years."

Griffin says her friends and loved ones cried - and were in shock - following the book's release. "A lot of people called me a warrior," she admitted. "So many people didn't know what I was going through and what happened. There were a lot of tears, and they wished I would have come forward while it was happening. So, I want to educate children to come forward and not be ashamed when they're being abused or experiencing this kind of behavior. Adults who commit these acts know they're doing wrong! We need to change the dynamics of how our children are loved and cared for. That's my long-term goal."

Prior to her courageous storytelling, Griffin had started a nonprofit - Patrice's Kids, a registered 501(c)3 organization in 2018 with a mission to educate the public on the prevention of child sexual abuse. After the Child Victims Act passed legislation, she received a Proclamation in 2021 from the Mayor of Houston, with a day dedicated to her on September 3rd for her tireless work.

Another critical message Griffin has for parents - which she relays in many of her public speaking forums - is to pay attention to who their children are spending time with/communicating with.

"It's your business to be in your child's business! 

Check their cell phones and pay attention to any changes in their behavior. They may be getting groomed slowly by a predator who has other motives. And if your child comes forward about something that happened, listen to them - don't just ignore or downplay what they're telling you. Love them, hug them, and appreciate them."

While the Texas resident is overcoming many emotional challenges through her advocacy, she still feels her healing is a lifelong process. "Sometimes I go through periods of depression, which takes me a while to get out of, and I go to therapy - something that was taboo when I was growing up."

Before starting her nonprofit Patrice's Kids, Griffin served in the US ARMY and worked as the first female engineer in the Brooklyn VA. She also received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Touro College in New York.

Griffin proclaims children and their voices to RISE from the depths of darkness and shame - instead of suffering in silence!  

"The Unconscious Community" is available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/2XZo3Sf