Common Opened Up About Being Molested As A Child Because ‘As A Black Man, Many Men Have Hidden That’

Common

Common Opened Up About Being Molested As A Child Because ‘As A Black Man, Many Men Have Hidden That’

Common is explaining why he opened up about being molested as a child in his new memoir. He says,

I talked about being molested because, as a Black man, many men have hidden that. Many people have hidden that. And you carry that weight with you. But at some point, you’ve got to let it go.

He adds,

I hope being open about my childhood trauma can give others the strength to do the same and help them on their healing journeys. We all have experienced pain and suffering. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.

As previously reported, in Common’s memoir “Let Love Have the Last Word”,  he reveals that he had buried a traumatic incident from his childhood so deeply that he did not remember it until working with his friend – actress Laura Dern. In the book, he shared:

“One day, while talking through the script with Laura, old memories surprisingly flashed in my mind. I caught my breath and just kept looping the memories over and over, like rewinding an old VHS tape. I said ‘Laura, I think I was abused.’”

He continued:

“I just pushed the whole thing out of my head. Maybe it’s a matter of survival—even now, two years after that flash resurgence of memories, as I’m writing, I’m still working through all of this in myself and with my therapist.”

The following details Common’s graphic account of being molested at nine-years-old. He wrote:

“I was excited for a road trip I was about to take with my family. My mother; my godmother, Barbara; her son and my godbrother Skeet; and his relative, who I’ll call Brandon…At some point I felt Brandon’s hand on me. I pushed him away. I don’t remember saying a whole lot besides ‘No, no, no.’ He kept saying ‘It’s okay, It’s okay,’ as he pulled down my shorts and molested me. After he stopped he kept asking me to perform it on him. I kept repeating ‘No’ and pushing him away. I felt a deep and sudden shame for what happened.”

Common appeared on “Good Morning America” with Robin Roberts to promote the intimate memoir.

“Let Love Have the Last Word” by Common is available where books are sold. 

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