I Will Survive: The African-American Guide to Healing from Sexual Assault and Abuse [Paperback]

Lori S. Robinson (Author), Julia A. Boyd (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 25, 2003

In I Will Survive Lori Robinson has created a valuable resource for African-American survivors of sexual assault (as well as their families, friends, and communities), incorporating personal stories, civil rights history, and a call for community activism. An award-winning journalist and a rape survivor herself, Robinson walks readers through the ways survivors can experience emotional, physical, sexual, and spiritual healing, offering her firsthand knowledge on the particular difficulties African-Americans face on their journey toward recovery. She also explores why black women are more likely to experience sexual crimes—an insightful discussion framed in the context of the American slave system and modern institutionalized racism. This groundbreaking guide for African Americans contains an abundance of culturally specific and compassionate advice and information that includes accessible instruction on navigating police, health care, and legal systems, as well as an extensive resources section. The book’s sympathetic, informative, and ultimately hopeful advice will resonate with African-American survivors and all those who wish to support them.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lori Robinson is a journalist and educator currently teaching media at Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Quito, Ecuador. A former editor and columnist at Emerge: Black America's Newsmagazine, her honors and awards include the National Association of Black Journalists Award, the Unity Award in Media, and the International Black Women's Congress Inspirational Award. She is the founding editor of the Black Women Today website. Lori is a rape survivor herself. Her powerful story of surving an attack was first published in the May 1997 issue of Emerge magazine. She lives in Silver Spring, MD.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Seal Press (February 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580050808
• ISBN-13: 978-1580050807
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #456,653 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lori S. Robinson is the author of I Will Survive: The African-American Guide to Healing from Sexual Assault and Abuse, published in March 2003 by Seal Press. Since then, she has been speaking at colleges, community organizations and churches across the country and abroad about sexual violence.

Robinson is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the Washington Post, Essence, the Detroit Free Press, The Crisis, Heart & Soul and The Source, among other publications. Also an educator, most recently she taught media at Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. A former editor at Emerge magazine, her honors include National Association of Black Journalists awards and Unity Award in Media prizes.

She has also been recognized by women's organizations and service provider groups. Robinson received a 2006 Visionary Award from the D.C. Rape Crisis Center, the 2005 Champion for Change Award in Media and the Arts from the Boston Area Rape Crisis Center, a 2004 Fruit of Her Hands Award from the Black Church and Domestic Violence Institute, and the 1997 Inspirational Award from the International Black Women's Congress.

In February 2004, she was selected to serve as one of five judges for the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma's national Award for Excellence in Reporting on Victims of Violence. She has been interviewed by CBS Evening News, the Los Angeles Times, The Houston Chronicle and the Washington Post about sexual violence.

Robinson earned a master's degree in journalism from New York University in 1994. She graduated from Spelman College with a bachelor's degree in English and Spanish in 1990. She is blessed to be married to an extraordinary husband, Ollie Johnson.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN CAN HEAL, October 10, 2005

By 

Ms. J. E. Drew "J. DREW" (UNITED KINGDOM) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I Will Survive: The African-American Guide to Healing from Sexual Assault and Abuse (Paperback)

This book is long overdue, for years the sexual abuse of African-American women and girls has been largely ignored by white and black communities. Sexual abuse and racism go hand-in-hand, yet myths persist that sexually abused African-American women and girls are traitors to black men and boys if they refuse to accept black male sexual abuse is acceptable, because black males experience racism. Sexual abuse is not separate from racism it is interlinked and this book shows African-American women and girls how they can seek help and heal from the devasation of sexual abuse. It is about African-American women and girls who refuse to be victims but are survivors. A must read for all who are involved in challenging male sexual violence perpetrated upon women and girls of all ethnicities and cultures.