JulieHeadshot Julie Mansfield almost had a perfectly normal childhood. Days in St. Thomas, Jamaica, were spent running barefoot across the rich soil and clay caked terrain, climbing trees to pick the sweet fruit, and playing with handmade toys with the neighborhood kids.
In retrospect, Mansfield had a childhood that was sweet and innocent, but at the age of 8 that purity was ripped away when her uncle began to sexually abuse her. For a child growing up with little access to the outside world, the concept of sex was foreign. It wasn’t exactly a conversation that was discussed between adults and prepubescent children. Despite not being able to fully comprehend the seriousness of the situation, Mansfield told her mother about the incident, but it wasn’t until the second occurrence that her mom actually took the matter to the rest of the family.
“It was bizarre and really quite confusing because I didn’t understand why I had to tell my mother more than once before she even approached her parent,” Mansfield recalls. “When she confronted them it was met with disbelief, and they called me a liar and literally threw me out the house.”
Throughout the course of her childhood, she continued to be abused by not just one, but four of the eight uncles that frequented her household. For Mansfield it was a rude awakening, and she’s not the only one. Often these children are victims of repeat offenders — predators devouring their innocence and feeding off the hopes and dreams that often are stripped from their victims. It’s not uncommon for a child to enter into a world of confusion and engage in self-destructive behaviors such as drugs and promiscuity, that in turn become morphine for painful memories.
“I don’t know how I didn’t end up on a street corner somewhere or drugged out or an alcoholic. I think there must have been some divine intervention and somebody looking out for me because I was promiscuous. I didn’t care who I slept with, and just had no self-love. I was looking for love in all of the wrong places. Anytime I had a good relationship I would sabotage it because I didn’t feel worthy and didn’t think that was how I should be treated by a guy, because all of the men in my life were just abusers,” Mansfield says.
Hurt and broken, Mansfield decided that enough was enough, and that she was no longer going to let the guilt and the shame consume her. After almost 30 years of hiding her secret from friends and family, she finally sought help through therapists, but eventually found solace in journaling. Her then husband encouraged her to publish a book, which was later titled Maybe God Was Busy, in an effort to help others going through similar situations. She was hesitant at first, until she discovered that her brother-in-law stole the innocence of her own 11-year-old daughter.
Mansfield began writing about her abuse, speaking out to the public about child sexual abuse, and even informed family members to keep their daughters away from her four uncles. When the uncles received word that Mansfield was writing a book about her experience, their response was less than apologetic.
“One actually called me up and asked me not to say anything, and I was like I cannot not say anything because then I’m complacent with you in my own abuse. When he found out that I was writing a book he sent word that he had his lawyers ready. So I sent word back saying yeah I got them too so go ahead. Another uncle said that he would get someone to come kill me. I’m still waiting for that.”
Although Mansfield has been able to cope with her own situation, she still can’t quite understand why four out of the eight uncles are known abusers. “We’re dealing with an epidemic just within the family. When I decided to turn my diary into a book, I started calling up cousins and sisters and shockingly everyone was saying it happened to them too. I had cousins who were impregnated by their own fathers,” she says.
Despite the threats and the unanswered questions, Mansfield continues to fearlessly speak out against child sexual abuse, and inspire those who have lived through such tragedy to release their pain in a less self-destructive manner. She has made it her personal mission to expose the horrors of the crime and reassign the shame and the darkness that often accompanies abuse to the predators who commit the crime. She challenges those who haven’t experienced child sexual abuse to remain sensitive to the subject, and to take any child who is brave enough to speak out about their abuse seriously.
“We need to put people’s faces, people’s experiences, and people’s pain along with those statistics to show that we’re human beings with hearts and brains and souls that matter; we’re not just numbers,” she says.
As for Mansfield, she still hasn’t quite overcome the pain of her childhood. Although she has been in healthy and loving relationships, she still struggles with the abuse.
“I still sometimes question where was God when I was going through that, and then I think, he saved me from the stripper pole and he saved me from the street corner. Maybe he’s there after all, and he was preparing me for something greater than me. I strongly believe that.”
“One actually called me up and asked me not to say anything”
That one sentence was repulsive and bring on flashbacks! That bastard still believes he can control her free will and thought that his grooming of her would still be in effect. Nasty demon!
As for the one sending the death threat…Once upon a time victims like me have man who would answer such a threat and grant him him wish!
Ms. Mansfield…keep the faith and keep on fighting this war- you have backative worldwide. Selah
A quote from yesterday article:
“In a society where women are by and large still dependent on men for financial support, poverty and lack of employment opportunities are also driving sexual exploitation of teenage girls; sometimes their parents are even complicit, seeing sex as a legitimate way for a young girl to earn her keep.”
This behavior will continue, just look at the poverty in rural and inner City Jamaica.
That mi disagree with to some extent…women are working now in Jamaica than before
Met the unemployment rate is very high (some) mothers are having a hard time providing for their children their are those who continue to perpetrate this behavior….not to mention young girls who are on their own they are dependent on older men to “mine dem”
I wonder how she dealt with her daughters abuse and the abuser? I can’t imagine been abused by a stranger much less four of my uncles. And now her own child. She’s a strong woman.
Thanks HoneyBee and Met for the video. I enjoyed it although a part caused me to skip a bit leading up to the Indian Lady pursuing a case.
The lady at 21:44 is aware…which brings me to the little girl in the CISCOA office. For starters, the mother should not be in the interview. Such an interview should have a female, clinical social worker present.
The damn mother beat the daughter the night prior to the man getting beat up in the morning. NO child not telling parent (s) anything especially when dem aggressive towards them, the hand on chin isn’t reassuring it’s taken as a negative. The officer was actually talking to the mother.
CDA is worthless! and that lady talking isn’t too determine base on her damn smirk. She a talk fawt and should have her damn people assigned to police stations and schools and money spent on a damn database. CDA and ORC should be one agency and centralized.
The campaign wasn’t well thought out. It’s lacking in signage as Ms. Mansfield pointed out, representatives (foot soldiers).
The child fi get the beating cause memba di man never tek it by force she go sleep wid di man following her friends and fi get tings so a little beating and talk to could be the right prescription…CDA in Jamaica is shameful u hear mi !
Me write things that people take offense to, but I want people to keep in mind that it’s my opinion, few times it comes from anger and frustration BUT it’s my honest opinion and feelings. If you offended I really can’t soothe you, but I am open to discuss if the tone is right.
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NOW…I believe in abortion and sterilization if need be. This thing about god mandating that women must “have out their lot” is nonsense. Jamaican females living in poverty should NOT be having children they cannot take care of. Look at the pitiful sight of that room with the mumma stand up wid belly, and two young gal pickney dem have pickney inna lap, one a the daughter not even stop suck finga!
The one who beat up the daughter then the man the next morning claims to have 6 or 7! and then she says she is mother and father?! Then she have the gall to say “me hurt, him hurt me”……if I eva!
But PP she having those children never give the man or the little girl permission fi have sex. We have to give everyone their own portion..The fact that she bus di man ass and went to the CDA is commendable
Had a long day.Met me know a long hours ago me no ansa. But, you know better that that is not my position.
The mother and others like her living hand to mouth with a bunch of fatherless children (fatherless not because of death) creates stress for the children. Some women are just self centered and damn selfish in their act of procreation. When you can’t feed 1 or 2 dem fi top and don’t carry them here to suffer.
She beat the little girl and I don’t like that. Kudos for attacking the man and have the community assist her, but she isn’t scoring points with me because she beat her.
I haven’t heard her refer to the child as a victim. She the mother say she hurt, him hurt her- it’s not about her is the daughter hurt.
Some women aren’t, weren’t or really ready for children and if the children aren’t going to get their full 100 then they shouldn’t have them.
The 2 youth doing the street interview are aware like the woman in the red tshirt.
You know what’s really weird to me? I’m American married to a Jamaican and stay in Jamaica about 6 months out of the year anytime I go to Jamaica I get in a least 10 arguement or debates with people there that I don’t know because of something dealing with my child. It can be the smallest of things ie. the babies crying why don’t you do something to quite him or you shouldn’t flip your child he/she can fall and break their back like wtf!!! So you mean to tell me Jamaicans can sit and watch me on how I interact with my kids, but won’t do anything about sexual predators?! I mean they’re always in my business and worrying about what I’m doing with my kids, but don’t protect their own. Like seriously the more I learn about Jamaicans the more disgusted I get.
Divorce the husband and dont go back to jamaica is the solution
Why would I divorce him we just don’t have to go back would be a smarter solution…. but if Jamaicans wanna turn a blind eye and mind their business when it comes to abuse of kids they should do the same when it comes to a lovely American mothering her kids…sometimes I just get the feeling they wanna talk to me and don’t know what to say so they bring up the most trivial thing to try to spark a conversation…you know what I’m saying LOL
Jamaica is Jamaica and America is America, leave our culture and its disgust to us. You are overstepping your bounds. Solutions are welcome for sure, but if you have a problem personally with Jamaicans and Jamaica dont do them then.
Sorry I love my husband but we already agreed that we won’t be going to Jamaica for a while anyway we’re renting out our house, so yeah thanks for your input but can u explain why they care about my kids so much and how I interact with them instead of caring about their own being molested/ sexual abused?
10-20 Jamaicans cannot possibly speak for a whole nation, whatever your grouse is please take it up with the people you interact with.
I have lived in America more than half of my life and I never have never felt its my right speak on on American issues. It is completely out of place. This our Jamaican children and the abuse they are suffering is a cultural issue and I dont mean to offend you but leave this discussion to us. Thank you
@2.32 pm
why don’t you take their views as constructive criticism instead of it being negative? If someone told you that your actions towards your child can cause physical injuries, why would you be offended? Please do not try and take liberty to insult Jamaica or its natural born citizens. If you are so offended ,please do not return because we will not miss the likes of you. You are also BRIGHT to insinuate bout the people dem probably want to speak to you so they open the conversation regarding something to do with your children. One thing I can tell you from slavery days, most Jamaicans are not frighten about a person status, whether occupation, wealth , colour or their country of birth, especially those from the Great US of A . We will not hesitate to Mud you up good and proper. So move your clawt several steps behind and know your place.
From what you are saying, it seems as if most of these being critical of your parental skills are random folks, my question to you is, how can so many different persons be saying the same thing in regarding the treatment of your children
It would not surprise me one bit that your parents are from Jamaica.
another one to hijack the rass post dem :think: .
PP
PP I also have similar views. Governments should also invest in sex education in schools and long term birth control like IUD, Nexplanon, etc. Children, especially girls, need sufficient attention and can not get so in a family who struggles to provide basic needs.
There are so many issues from this short film that needs to be taken cared of immediately that sticks out like a sore thumb. These include high levels of unemployment rates, poverty, more social services/programs for the youths, and the long list goes on. It’s so sad that these issues are just swept under the carpet, and just left there like that. As such, the Lady in the film is right when she said towards the end of it that “the government campaign for child abuse only sounds good, but it’s just lip service”.
Whether that 14 yo freely spread her legs wide open or forced, she is still a child who’s brain has not developed yet. That disgusting 46 yo male is a rapist, scum of the earth. He’s the adult, a him fi run har. STOP DI VICTIM BLAMING!!! Along time dis a gwan a Jamaica and being swept under di rug. I cried watching this video, l need to get my butt up and help, lord give me the strength!! I’m so disgusted by my Country, if we can’t protect our children we have no future. Ms. Mansfield you are an angel walking amongst us!!
I agree with PP to a certain extent my husband is Jamaican and his mother has eight kids with his father. His father has 16 kids all together but to just give a lil background my husband cannot read neither can any of his siblings. He is currently enrolled in Literacy program but he gets mad when I ask him why did your mother keep having kids with your father? Why didn’t she try to focus on the kids? His answer is always the same my mother loved us but she also loved my father. It’s kinda crazy because when we visited Jamaica for the first time everyone would ask him how many kids do you have? I didn’t get it at first but I think I understand now. is a beautiful place and I was showed nothin but ❤️❤️❤️❤️ And thank you Met for posting all these articles and videos on sexual abuse my mother was also molested so it is a global issue.