ABSTRACT
Healing takes place within us as we speak the truth of our lives. In M. Scott Peck's popular discussion of a new healing psychology in The Road Less Traveled he emphasizes the link between dedication to truth and our capacity to be well. He stresses that: One of the roots of mental illness is invariably an interlocking system of lies we have been told and lies we have told ourselves. Commitment to truth-telling is thus the first step in any process of self-recovery. Many individual black women, particularly those among us involved in the feminist movement, consider it important that black females who have been victimized by traumatic events like incest and rape speak openly about their experiences. In black life, the church has been one of the few places that has encouraged black folks to live truthful lives. Their healing power can be felt in black women's lives if we dare to look at ourselves, our lives, our experiences.
