The Survivor Behind The Picture: Barbara Satterfield Kinsey

Thousands of viewers of the music video PSA of The Rose will have seen the portraits of 6 survivors of violence against women who courageously and generously allowed us to include their picture in the video, knowing that a global audience will see their faces and note their signs that they are survivors and wonder about the stories behind their hard-won smiles. Wonder no more, for here is the first of their stories featuring Barbara Satterfield Kinsey, a survivor and long-time Pixel Project volunteer:

Violence and abuse were the story of my life. From the time I was old enough to remember, boys and grown men were abusive in one way or another – verbally, physically, emotionally, sexually – to me and to my mother. I knew it was wrong and prayed daily as a little girl that God would send Wonder Woman to come rescue us. With the revelation of sexual abuse to me came stalking, threats and the requirement to start a new life in a new city.

This did not bring an end to abuse however. It started anew with emotional and verbal abuse to me and my mother by a new man in our lives. Naturally, I dropped out of high school and moved in with…another abuser. Only by the grace of God was I rescued from a man who would have surely put me six feet under sooner rather than later.

My life has moved on, to the realm of marriage to a great man, with children and a career. I always wanted to give back but could not figure out how. An email from the NCADV offered the opportunity to serve with a new anti-Violence Against Women non-profit, called The Pixel Project. It is my honour to volunteer to help others stop violence against women of all kinds. Recently, I was asked to allow my picture to be part of the Music For Pixels campaign. I want to be a face identified as a survivor, a warrior, a conqueror – to give hope to those who have none.”

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If Barbara’s story resonates with you, why not share our first Music For Pixels music video PSA (http://bit.ly/PixelRoseVid) with your friends and family to help us reach 1 million views and to raise funds towards our US$1 million fundraising goal towards our Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign in aid of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence andWomen’s Aid Organisation Malaysia

An Invitation To Musicians: 10 Covers of ‘The Rose’ and Joining the “Music For Pixels” YouTube Cover Carnival

When AHMIR, the Number 1 R&B group on YouTube, offered to cover ‘The Rose’ for our Music For Pixels campaign, we were delighted because it is a classic song that beautifully articulates the themes of love, hope, courage and the strength to survive. These are themes that are central to many a survivor’s journey to rebuilding and thriving after the violence.

The closing verse in particular says what speaks to many a survivor’s heart and experience:

When the night has been too lonely
And the road has been too long
And you think that love is only
for the lucky and the strong
Just remember in the winter
Far beneath the bitter snow
Lies the seed
That with the sun’s love, in the spring
Becomes the rose

Amanda McBroom wrote ‘The Rose’ in 1977 as her answer to the question: “What do you think love is?”. She said:

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