The Beloved author’s refusal to conform made her a hero to many – and the only black female writer to have won a Nobel prize in literature

Police search for more possible victims of Jacques Leveugle, whose alleged crimes span many countries and date back to 1960s

Not Your Inspiration, Not Your Tragedy

One of the most useful & empowering realisations Over 15 years ago I had a rude awakening Already 5 years into a justice process I was thinking of myself as a victim Who wouldn’t when dealing with betrayal & post-separation lawfare? Then some information & learning from experts in Family Violence helped me see myself as part of a much bigger picture As part of a historic process Not as an individual visited by misfortune But part of a whole universe of connections rooted in social, cultural & economic power structures I was not in an isolated unit with my partner but was part of his Family universe and their history. We inherit a history which then plays out in a new context with different factors. On the surface it is easy to judge The people with tick boxes look at externals That’s when a chain of Violence remains untouched. It’s the same in political Life and Power structures If We just tweak and rebrand it is no surprise that the same Issues continue to be perpetuated We deal in symptoms and short-term “cures” But in the longer-term the roots remain There’s much shouting and consternation about Powerful men but many were warning (and had facts) 15 years ago but the conservative approach of superficial changes were already in motion Nobody dared speak the full Truth Everyone was content with a sanitised version of the political economy of abuse and its widespread nature Thinking the Unthinkable is the only real road to getting to the roots of an issue Institutional symptom muffling and short-termism brought us The Church The Post Office Grenfell The Blood Scandal The Family Court The Royal Family We inherit chains of Violence in homes, community & institutions Violence is a learned Power Passed down generations Choose carefully who you build home with Choose carefully who you build institution with You think you are on solid land The symptoms will simply not go away They keep reoccurring in varied guises The root causes are just too unthinkable Sometimes the unthinkable is inconvenient for people’s career plans Sometimes the unthinkable is too challenging to swallow It’s a moral dilemma when you see the bigger picture It’s a gift It’s a curse You may find there are those who will stop at nothing to remain comfortable They will deny abuse in their Family to protect a facade They will ignore abuse of a leader or manager to protect a facade They will say 2 + 2 = 5 If necessary,as Orwell warned us at a time when blinkered short-termism & Cognitive Dissonance were leading the World into War. Have the times changed? Of course not The same structures remained intact & the same money-driven power games & patronage are taking societies to the brink Why? Because selective storytelling doesn’t work Performative good doesn’t fix issues Brutal truths have to be faced You may find yourself in this position one day You are not a troublemaker You are not a rebel You are not a revolutionary You are Chain breaker Cord cutter