Joy Jeremiah

“His talent proceeds the tragedy. She was supposedly born into it. I did not come into existence when he harmed me. 'She found her voice!' I had a voice, he stripped it, left me groping around blind for a bit, but I always had it. I just used it like I never had to use it before. I do not owe him my success, my becoming, he did not create me. The only credit Brock can take is for assaulting me, and he could never even admit to that.”
― Chanel Miller, Know My Name

“Victims receive heat when given any sum. Few acknowledge that healing is costly. That we should be allocating more funds for victims, for therapy, extra security, potential moving costs, getting back on their feet, buying something as simple as court clothes.”
― Chanel Miller, Know My Name

“I thought of mothers who had commented, 'My daughters would never...' which made me sad because comments like that did not make her daughter any safer, just ensured that if the daughter was raped, she'd likely have one less person to go to.”
― Chanel Miller, Know My Name

“When a woman is assaulted, one of the first questions people ask is, 'Did you say no?' The question assumes the answer is always yes, and that it is her job to revoke the agreement. To defuse the bomb she was given. But why are they allowed to touch us until we physically fight them off? Why is the door open until we have to slam it shut?”
― Chanel Miller, Know My Name