The video footage of Ray Rice, now a former Baltimore Ravens player, punching his fiance in the face and knocking her out has been all over the news.  The footage captured a February incident, but for some reason the Ravens just got around to letting Rice go. It is clear in the footage (see it here) that Rice didn’t evidence any remorse after the incident.

Rice and his fiance married a month after the incident.  Now the fiance is standing behind her man and outraged that the footage has resulted in Rice’s release from the Ravens.  She is placing blame on everyone else for this situation but Rice.  Some folks are shaking their heads and asking how she could be supporting him after that incident, but those who understand the dynamics of domestic violence know the sad reality of the battered.

I am reminded of Oak Morse’s  and Mystic Blu’s poems about domestic violence. Hands (Morse) and Mosaic (Blu) are both powerful spoken poetry pieces that deserve our attention.   I encourage New Forty readers to take a few minutes and check both videos out, but be advised there are some images in the videos that you may find unsettling.

Domestic violence is an ugly and disturbing issue that is too often hidden behind closed doors, well-crafted stories, and carefully applied makeup.  We sometimes forget about it as a society because we don’t see it the headlines every week.  But always the battered are out there living with their silent shame in a world that no one really wants to live in.  It is an ugly and penetrating wound when someone you love beats you and dehumanizes you.  It is hard to survive and even harder sometimes to break away from.

Watch the videos of the poems and say a prayer tonight for all those who are being battered.  Pray that they find the strength to get out of that situation. Pray that they understand that they can become a beautiful mosaic.