Sarah Augusta, 26. Her parents are good people, but they weren’t paying attention when she needed them. At age 13, Sarah fell through the cracks.
Sarah Augusta, 26. Her parents are good people, but they weren’t paying attention when she needed them. At age 13, Sarah fell through the cracks.
James, the bug whisperer. There are still scars: To live with an abuser is to etch a personal geography that never heals.
James, the bug whisperer. There are still scars: To live with an abuser is to etch a personal geography that never heals.
Sarah and her 10 year old son, Taylor are finally free of the daily beatings, humiliations and threats. Fears? They are never over.
Sarah and her 10 year old son, Taylor are finally free of the daily beatings, humiliations and threats. Fears? They are never over.
Sarah and her sons can do whatever they want to do without being yelled at or beaten or threaten. Even a simple activity like walking in the creek feels like a privilege after living in what felt like a prison.
Sarah and her sons can do whatever they want to do without being yelled at or beaten or threatened. Even a simple activity like walking in the creek feels like a privilege after living in what felt like a prison.
James and a cicada. Between 3 and 10 million children will witness domestic violence in this country this year.
James and a cicada. Between 3 and 10 million children will witness domestic violence in this country this year.
Sarah and her sons have rebuilt their life to be free of violence. Even where there is disagreement they don’t shout at each other, they discuss things calmly and respectfully.
Sarah and her sons have rebuilt their life to be free of violence. Even where there is disagreement they don’t shout at each other, they discuss things calmly and respectfully.
For the first time, Sarah, her sons and her parents stood publicly with other victims of domestic violence at “Meet Us at the Bridge,” an annual event sponsored by the Nashville Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
For the first time, Sarah, her sons and her parents stood publicly with other victims of domestic violence at “Meet Us at the Bridge,” an annual event sponsored by the Nashville Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
After leaving her abuser, Sarah was penniless and had to live in her car to survive. Approximately 63% of homeless women have experienced domestic violence in their adult lives.
After leaving her abuser, Sarah was penniless and had to live in her car to survive. Approximately 63% of homeless women have experienced domestic violence in their adult lives.
The boys’ father is a malevolent shadow. He has refused to pay Sarah’s $10,000 in legal fees as the court ordered, for charges he originally brought, and he quit anger management classes. He has another baby with another girlfriend and has hired an aggressive lawyer. Now he is using the court system to try to lower the child support payments and to get unsupervised visitations.
The boys’ father is a malevolent shadow. He has refused to pay Sarah’s $10,000 in legal fees as the court ordered, for charges he originally brought, and he quit anger management classes. He has another baby with another girlfriend and has hired an aggressive lawyer. Now he is using the court system to try to lower the child support payments and to get unsupervised visitations.
Together with her new man Sarah has created a home where there is respect, where she can do normal things—barbeque or read the boys a story—without being interrupted by shouting and blows.
Together with her new man Sarah has created a home where there is respect, where she can do normal things—barbeque or read the boys a story—without being interrupted by shouting and blows.
Sarah is now with a man who can model a different kind of manhood for her sons than their father does.
Sarah is now with a man who can model a different kind of manhood for her sons than their father does.
The boys, whose names have been changed to protect them, worry about strange cars stalking their street. They, too, are taking self-defense classes. Taylor, who suffered physically and emotionally, has used his personal experiences to be an articulate, compassionate supporter of his friends still living with abuse. He tells them it’s not hopeless and that they have the right to live without violence.
The boys, whose names have been changed to protect them, worry about strange cars stalking their street. They, too, are taking self-defense classes. Taylor, who suffered physically and emotionally, has used his personal experiences to be an articulate, compassionate supporter of his friends still living with abuse. He tells them it’s not hopeless and that they have the right to live without violence.
Emma is Taylor’s friend and when she heard Sarah’s story she was shocked and sad. “I’m only thirteen,” Emma says. “I don’t want to have children. I’m only a kid.”
Emma is Taylor’s friend and when she heard Sarah’s story she was shocked and sad. “I’m only thirteen,” Emma says. “I don’t want to have children. I’m only a kid.”
Emma volunteered at the Domestic Violence Center where Sarah went initially to get information and support. Emma has made up her mind: she is not going to be controlled by anybody who tries to take control of her mind or body. Ever.
Emma volunteered at the Domestic Violence Center where Sarah went initially to get information and support. Emma has made up her mind: she is not going to be controlled by anybody who tries to take control of her mind or body. Ever.
In Tommy, Sarah has found a loving, loyal, good man. They have been through a lot together but they are rebuilding Sarah’s world the way she wants it.
In Tommy, Sarah has found a loving, loyal, good man. They have been through a lot together but they are rebuilding Sarah’s world the way she wants it.
Emma’s mother was raped by her step-father until she was able to legally stop him and bring charges against him at the age of 12. Now Emma believes parents should begin talking to their children from a young age about how to recognize abuse. So the next generation can understand that violence and abuse have nothing to do with love.
Emma’s mother was raped by her step-father until she was able to legally stop him and bring charges against him at the age of 12. Now Emma believes parents should begin talking to their children from a young age about how to recognize abuse. So the next generation can understand that violence and abuse have nothing to do with love.
Sarah taps into all the resources for battered women she can find, from counselors at the local shelter to members of Bikers Against Child Abuse (B.A.C.A.).
Sarah taps into all the resources for battered women she can find, from counselors at the local shelter to members of Bikers Against Child Abuse (B.A.C.A.).
James practices his aim with a new pellet gun under the watchful eye of a member of B.A.C.A (Bikers Against Child Abuse).
James practices his aim with a new pellet gun under the watchful eye of a member of B.A.C.A (Bikers Against Child Abuse).
UNBEATABLE SARAH
Photography by Donna Ferrato / Written by Alex Chadwick
She was 13 years old, home-schooled, a tender-hearted, book-loving tomboy who loved exploring the woods and streams near her rural Tennessee home.He was 19, working at a local garage, where he watched her visit the corner market…the way a wolf might study a grazing deer. In weeks, he was telling her stories about his girl troubles. His last girlfriend was 14 when she got an abortion, he said. ‘She killed my baby”, he cried. Soon, he was sneaking through her bedroom window at night, and, at age 14, Sarah Augusta was pregnant.
‘You’re a woman, now,’ B——told her, and he took her to his family place, a too-young mother. And he kept her there – away from everyone and everything she had known.
The next dozen years were a small town tour of hell. Sarah learned everything ugly, wrong and illicit about relationships. Isolated from friends and family, beaten, raped, humiliated, she had two sons with a man who was a master at manipulation and dominance. I’m not violent, he would tell her…you make me this way. Still a child herself, she wondered what was real.
Slowly, through the scars, the broken bones, the daily terrors, she realized she had to save herself and the two boys. She broke away to freedom two years ago. She found a man who rejects violence, who saw his mother beaten, and told himself he would not follow his father’s ways. Today, Sarah and Tommy have little money, difficult days, many challenges. But Sarah’s life is no longer brutal, and her children don’t see and hear their mother being tortured…as though that is a way to teach a child to live.
Between 3 and 10 million children will witness domestic violence
in this country this year.Child Witness to Violence Project: Facts & Myths
More information:
The Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence
© Donna Ferrato and Facing Change: Documenting America
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Approximately 63% of homeless women have experienced domestic violence in their adult lives.
RURAL TENNESSEE
Sarah and her 10 year old son, Taylor are finally free of the daily beatings, humiliations and threats. Fears? They are never over.