It Don't Hurt Now: My Journey of Self-Love & Self-Acceptance (Paperback)
For every woman in the process of healing from sexual abuse, negative body image, discrimination, and heartbreak, It Don't Hurt Now is a compilation of poems and reflections on life, love, pain, and healing that will serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement. A cross between Rupi Kaur's Milk and Honey, and the documentary Dark Girls by Bill Duke and D. Channsin Berry, It Don't Hurt Now is the first book of its kind to explore the intersectionality of gender, race and color, class, and religion and spirituality in the voice of the soul where these identities are inhabited. This book takes the reader on a journey of healing through letting go, learning to love, and connecting to spirit. It Don't Hurt Now is organized into six sections that discuss colorism, body image, depression, intimate relationships with men, sexual abuse, and spirituality. Readers will explore the complexities of social identities and the role the intersection of identities play in how women of color experience, internalize, and heal from colorism, sexual abuse, and body shaming/negative body image. This book targets women and girls who are experiencing or have ever experienced depression, anxiety, sexual abuse, bullying, low self-esteem, and loss. These experiences transcend race, color, social class, and religion and connect to a human experience that is shared too often by women and girls in our society. If you are on the road to healing from hurt and trauma associated with sexual abuse and assault, loss, bullying, and low self-esteem, this book will serve as a source of empowerment and hope for you.
Christie Ann Cruise, PhD was born and raised in East St. Louis, Illinois. She is a social justice educator and trainer with a passion for empowering women and girls to find their voices in a society that all too often silences them. Dr. Cruise’s passion has led her to serve as a mentor with the Reach & Rise Program of the Gateway Region YMCA, an advisory board member for Nia Kuumba African and African American Women’s Spirituality Center, and treasurer for the Young Ambassadors of the YWCA of Metro St. Louis. As an Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA) certified group instructor and a licensed Zumba™ instructor, Dr. Cruise advocates for women and girls of all shapes to use fitness as a tool to develop positive body image. Cruise received a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Master of Science degree in College Student Affairs from Eastern Illinois University, and a PhD in Higher Education Administration from Bowling Green State University.