Tisha Campbell-Martin Steel Here Video

Tisha Campbell-Martin, 47, released a powerful new music video about a traumatic incident from her past. On Sept. 21, the former “Martin” TV show actress and wife to actor Duane Martin, shared that she been had raped at the tender age of three and that her attacker had written her a letter of apology. Her new song, “Steel Here,” expresses both the feelings of trauma and the strength she felt when dealing with the aftermath of the terrible incident.

In a portion of the video are clips of Tisha with lines from her rapists’ apology letter painted across her chest. The lyrics themselves impart a message of strength and survival. “… I’m still resilient I’m always gonna be here because I’m supposed to be here. I’m owning my existence. It’s a system of survival because I’m my only rival. Yes, I’m on a mission (put your seat belt on). I know I’m on assignment The stars are in alignment. I’m ready for this!”

But Tisha is not alone. Rape statistics among youth are staggering:

1 in 5 girls and 1 in 20 boys is a victim of child sexual abuse
20% of adult females and 5-10% of adult males recall a childhood sexual assault or sexual abuse incident

A child who is the victim of prolonged sexual abuse usually develops low self-esteem, a feeling of worthlessness and an abnormal or distorted view of sex. The child may become withdrawn and mistrustful of adults, and are 50% more likely to become suicidal

In an Instagram post, Campbell-Martin explains how the concept of the video started. She said that when she was coming up with the concept with director Viktorija Pashuta, they decided to use her sexual assault as the starting point:

“Viktorija asked me to come up with one event that may have seemed trying while i was experiencing it but i turned into a positive. I shared with her how fortunate I was to recently receive a five page apology letter from the person who raped me when I was three years old. When the letter arrived, it blessed me. It allowed me to FORGIVE and I’m so incredibly grateful. So with that, Viktorija begins the story with a man writing the letter, then you see him…

… writing the words on my body…Words taken from the actual letter. She illustrated the theme of #forgiveness in the mirrored room where I have to really look at myself and fight my own demons.”

Tisha took to her Twitter to shed more light on what had happened to her as a child. “@theartofpsycho the writing on my body and the man writing the letter reps the actual words of an apology letter I recently received…… From the person who violated me when I was 3 yrs old. By blessing me w the apology letter he allotted me the ability…to be free and to forgive #blessed #thankful”

Fans enjoying the new tunes from the album can thank her husband, Duane Martin, for bringing her back to music. “My husband was very encouraging like, like you ain’t gone look at me shoulda, coulda, woulda. You better go out there and sing again,” the mother of two told HipHollywood.com

She also confirmed that there’s more to come. “The album is done. B Slade produced it and LaShawn Daniels is really helping to push it,” she said.

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Faces of Hope: Survivors of Abuse