“Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor;
it must be demanded by the oppressed.”
—Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

It would be easy—well, common place—to mount great anger and even blame against a society and its individuals who perpetuate values based on appearance rather than authenticity, denial rather than exploration, and the maintenance of systems, no matter how archaic, that favor a false safety in lieu of empowerment. But when that outrage has served its purpose it is few who evolve to a place where they not only reach out to those who have shared a similar plight, but also reach back to the “oppressor,” the person or persons who have played that vital role in our becoming. [...]

This story, In Silence I Speak, is written in the genre of creative nonfiction—an artfully crafted true story. The names and physical descriptions of some people have been changed. Internet addresses given in this book were accurate at the time of publication.
I self-identify as a Psychiatric Survivor and am part of the movement for social change. [...]