Local author’s children's' book tackles sexual abuse

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Nassau County social worker and Merrick resident Yolanda Garner Hutcherson is celebrating the launch of her new children’s book, “Shanti’s Safe Place,” which aims to educate children about sexual abuse and encourage them to speak up if they experience it.

The book follows the story of a 10-year-old girl, Shanti, as social workers visit her school and discuss consent and inappropriate touch. After the social workers’ visit, Shanti feels empowered to speak up about her cousin touching her inappropriately.

Shanti is Black, which Hutcherson said is both intentional and important. Hutcherson, who is Black, said her book aims to address what she sees as a stigma surrounding child sex abuse in Black communities, and reporting it to authority figures outside of the family.

“We always want to say that type of thing is family business. You don’t tell the family business,” Hutcherson said. “Even though. . . your relatives say this is family business, you still want to have the courage to say something. Something is happening to your body that you don’t like.”

Shanti also has braids, which Hutcherson also carefully chose.

“When I was 10 years old, in the summertime I looked forward to having my hair braided,” Hutcherson said. “I wanted her to have. . . natural hair. That was important to me.”

For Hutcherson, Shanti’s Safe Place is more than just a children’s book. Her own experience with sexual abuse as a child inspired her to write the story and help other children work through their trauma.

“I was molested by a female cousin at that age,” Hutcherson said. “I never told my parents what happened to me at that age.”

Her other reason for writing the book is tied to her job as a social worker.

“I investigate sex abuse cases for children, and I interview children about things that are happening in their lives,” Hutcherson explained. She said she hopes that her book will encourage children to report abuse, even if it is uncomfortable to talk about and even if it defies social norms in their community.

“To talk to a stranger, it’s rather weird. I get it,” she added. “I hope that children know they have a voice. They are the guardians of their own bodies.”