Adena M'lynn's Voice

I’ve seen the white bus. Not a school bus. Not a church van. A ghost—rolling bones and orange jumpsuits— southbound on Highway 83 like it’s dragging the weight of a broken country behind it. They call it “transport.” Like it’s just movement. Like it doesn’t smell like bleach and piss and panic. Like it doesn’t hold a mother’s scream pressed against steel. Like it’s not a coffin on wheels with a heartbeat you can’t hear. I saw it once at a rest stop— all tinted windows and chainlink daydreams. A woman inside mouthed “Tell my babies I’m okay” but the glass didn’t translate grief. That highway knows her name. Knows how she once danced barefoot in the rain before the needle before the man before the court that forgot she was a child once. Highway 83 stretches like a judgment without mercy— north to courtrooms, south to cinderblock silence. No exits. Only destinations that forget redemption. Some of the women on that bus never learned how to cry without flinching first. Some still braid the...

The historical roots of objectification and sexual assault in Western societies can be traced back to the era of European colonization, a period marked by profound power imbalances and cultural impositions. This blog post aims to explore how these deeply ingrained issues have evolved from the time of the European settlers to their persistent impact on contemporary society, highlighting the cultural, societal, and legal responses that have shaped and continue to influence the fight against these pervasive problems. The Legacy of European Settlers The colonization period initiated by European settlers in various parts of the world was characterized by a stark imposition of power and cultural norms over indigenous populations. This era was marked by a systematic devaluation of native cultures, often manifesting in the objectification of women and a normalization of sexual violence. Women, particularly those from indigenous communities, were frequently viewed as commodities or spoils of co...