Humanity is defined as the quality of being humane; the kind feelings, dispositions, and sympathies of man; especially, a disposition to relieve persons or animals in distress, and to treat all creatures with kindness and tenderness. Unfortunately, this ideal has yet to be normalized, especially in the arena of the rampant abuse of Women and Children across the globe. But fortunately, there are people in this world who are Warriors for change.
One particularly amazing Woman, Angela Shelton, has made a movie journeying into her past. Ironically, she originally planned to go on a different kind of journey all together. The miracle is that in embarking on her own unexpected journey, she blazes the trail for others to embark on their journey as well.

In Searching for Angela Shelton, filmmaker Angela Shelton sets out on a journey to meet every other Angela Shelton in America. Her original intent was to survey modern American women who shared her name. She found that she and the other Angelas had more in common than their names. In the process she discovered that, like herself, 24 out of 40 Angela Sheltons had been raped, beaten, or molested. The filmmaker's father is a child molester and brutalized her and her step-siblings for five years. The film and Shelton’s story first drew national attention in November of last year when she appeared on the “Oprah Winfrey Show.” Shelton was the subject of an hour-long “48 Hours Investigates” report on March 12, and she appeared on Lifetime’s “The Division” on March 14 to discuss child molestation. She also appeared before Congress on March 11 in support of the Violence Against Women Act. Even her Web site has a 'Tell your Story' forum created to give a place where survivors can talk to each other. Darkness to Light, a nonprofit organization, which works towards the prevention of child sexual abuse, will roll out the red carpet this fall in Charleston, South Carolina. The highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the 2004 Voice of Courage awards. This year they will honor CNN, Lifetime, Inc. and Angela Shelton.

I have never met her, but she and her movie are a touchstone for me and many others. She was not there as I was being molested and raped as a child, yet as I watch her movie, I know that she knows and understands exactly what I endured. This movie creates a collective communion of the souls of survivors.
By her exemplary strength, honesty, and artistic expression, she has inspired and enabled many survivors to transform their lives and heal their wounds. Myself included. Every Angela was a messenger of some sort. They all are angelic vehicles for catharsis. All the Angelas she speaks to create a domino effect of self realization and shared healing that lead her to the edge of her own pain. As Angela's journey continues, she meets many women who share elements of her past, there was even an Angela Shelton who tracked sexual predators and just happened to live in the same town as the filmmaker's father. She courageously confronts her father, on Father's Day, and it is unforgettable. As I watched this scene, I grew livid with his pathological denial and manipulation. Livid for her sake, and mine as well, as my father refuses to face what he did. Then I felt peace in the realization that we as survivors have a transcedent connection. One day I will confront my father, and I will do it on Christmas day, since that was the day he finally raped me. Her courage created a fertlie ground for the seeds my courage to blossom.

Because of the stifling silence enveloping this subject,it takes tremendous courage to face. Angela has done that. She has not only faced the most taboo subject in history, but transformed it into a tidal wave of healing washing over Women everywhere. From the first images of this beautifully shot movie, to the uplifting and downright hilarious ending, my heart stretched through every possible emotion. After I watched it, I felt redeemed, respected, worthy and loved, as a survivor, a Mother, a wife, and a Woman. Angela has paid homage to herself and every last one of us who experienced abuse and violation. Every human being on this planet, survivor or not, needs this movie. We all have a responsibility to cultivate an awareness of each other's plights, and extend compassionate action. The movie is a container for many profound metaphors. Themes of spirituality, no matter your choice of religion, unity, facing the darkness, owning your power, forgiveness, and the power of Women healing Women extend throughout this movie. In her words,
"For those who are scared, the film is very beautiful to watch and sort of funny in places too and the Angela Sheltons are really amazing women who inspire and heal, each in their own way. There is a wonderful gospel song, an awesome score by THE AUTUMNS, a fart dedicated to my dad, as well as an anger outburst and some tears but it has a great ending that will make you smile and remind you that living a wonderful life after tragedy is possible."

It is more than a movie, it is more than a visual representation of her journey. This is a movement. This is a revolution. This is grace personified, truth being set free, cages of painful legacies escaped, silence shattered, pain turned into healing, light reclaimed, and spreading love for others to luxuriate in.
"It seems that the only way in which to battle it out is to transform ourselves and break the chain of abuse and move from the darkness to light.
Child molesters and rapists steal our light; it is time we demanded our light back. My dream is for this movie to start a movement - a reverse epidemic of healing." In Searching For Angela Shelton, we find her, one another, and ourselves.

Thank you Angela.


~HOW TO HELP~

EDUCATE YOURSELF. REACH OUT. BE A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS.

Visit the "Searching for Angela Shelton" website www.angelashelton-movie.com, where you can view the movie trailer, view clips and photographs, and buy the movie.

If you are with an organization or know of one that would like to host an event around the movie please contact events@angelashelton.com It is especially helpful to provide counseling groups, panels and discussions after the movie.

Protect Children!

More than three children die each day as a result of abuse in the home.
In the United States, approximately three million child abuse reports are made each year—on average, one report every ten seconds.
The actual incidence of abuse and neglect is estimated to be three times greater than the number reported to authorities. Check the list of sex offenders.
https://www.prevent-abuse-now.com/register.htm

A Checklist to Help Parents, Teachers, and Counselors Spot the Sexually Troubled Child
https://www.childmolestationprevention.org/pages/sexuallytroubledchild.html


Enact the Alaska Resolution in your state, to reject the controversial research on the impact of child sexual abuse.
https://www.nationallawcenter.org/default.htm

Find Your Legislators
https://www.house.gov/house/MemberWWW.shtml

Angela is The Safe Side Super Chick, a show that the creator of Baby Einstein began. https://thesafeside.com/

Report Abuse. Childhelp USA 1-800-4-A-CHILD® (1-800-422-4453)
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
https://www.childhelpusa.org/report_expect.htm


To be updated about the things I'm up to please subscribe
to my personal mailing list. -Angela Shelton
https://www.angelashelton.com/mailinglist.html