Stop Child Abuse Now (SCAN) - 2906

Tonight's special guest is Darlene J Clark from Tennessee, a child abuse survivor, author, NAASCA family member, volunteer and an activist. She's experienced just about all forms of abuse; sexual, physical, mental, monetary, psychological, domestic, and spiritual, and was abused by people in power who did not protect her. Her two books, 'Shattered Innocence' and 'Born In A Living Hell', are largely autobiographical. Darlene was born into a toxic and violent military family. "I was first neglected since birth," she says, "I was physically abused, abandoned, and sexually abused as well. I knew by age two it was useless to cry for help or even to speak in front of my parents." By 14 years of age, Darlene's father, Daddy Charles, had an accident at work from which he did not recover. "I chose to stay with my evil stepmother," Darlene explains, "instead of going to live in a world of prostitution with 'Mom Hilda'. Stepmom Sue use to drag me around by my hair among other violent behaviors and actions." She goes on, "I married to escape after hearing Momma Sue, Mae and Bart speaking of 'getting rid of me'. I was 18, a 12th grader, and now a housewife. Our marriage never grew because he was abusive." After 18 yrs, Darlene ran away to New York. "I felt like if I would have ran anywhere close, they would try to institutionalize me. I distrusted the law since they came and said he could hit me all he liked as long as he did not kill me." Now, besides her two books, Darlene stays active with NAASCA and has own radio program called 'FROM TEARS TO TRIUMPH' on BlogTalkRadio. "I will be involved in a telethon taking place in October against Human Trafficking."