My name is Tameka Deanna Flowers,

and today my idea is to share with you

a story of how storms should never ever be silent.

This is a story of a little girl

who went through many silent storms.

This little girl also ended up causing major storms

for herself, as well as others.

You know, I remember this little girl.

She was just the cutest little thing.

She was so happy, I mean she was just

♪ so happy ♪

She was the only child; she was full of life.

She wasn't quite nine yet,

and she had her whole life ahead of her.

One magical night,

her daddy did things to her that he liked.

Oh, but she knew

♪ oh, she knew ♪

She knew it wasn't right.

That was a storm.

♪ The storm ♪

♪ and the silence ♪

♪ and the destruction ♪

♪ that he had caused ♪

♪ that daddy caused ♪

♪ That now ♪

♪ she has rebuilt ♪

♪ And she continues reconstructing ♪

This little girl was taught at a very young age

that you must earn your keep in this world.

And she knew

that by doing her chores around the house,

it would get her a nice allowance

so she could by those jeans that she saw her girlfriends in school wearing.

Or those sneakers that she saw that boy have on in gym class.

And that book bag, that book bag

that she's always had her eye on.

Mom and dad would be really proud of her because she was a very good cleaner.

She cleaned the house from top to bottom

by removing this little red handheld torch

from underneath the sofa,

and this silver spoon

that was black char underneath the bottom.

You all know, the same spoon

that you mix your tea and your coffee with

from underneath the sofa cushions.

And this wire hanger, this broken wire hanger

with a little piece of cotton on the end.

That was a storm.

♪ The storm ♪

♪ and the silence ♪

♪ and the destruction ♪

♪ that was caused ♪

♪ that now ♪

♪ she has rebuilt ♪

♪ and she continues reconstructing ♪

This little girl is growing up fast.

She's going through growing phases.

She's in jazz, tap, and ballet classes. y'all.

She's taking flute lessons,

she's in synchronized swimming,

she's in musical plays.

And this little girl is traveling. Oh yes, she's traveling.

She's travels for

♪ singing competitions ♪

Here comes the boys, sex, and drugs.

Hey, it's not like she hasn't had the experience

of a couple of them already.

See, a few more of her family members

had their magical night with her.

This girl is almost legal to buy beer now,

but she's changed.

♪ Oh, she's changed ♪

I mean, she's really changed.

Drugs have become her way.

But the storms

♪ the storms ♪

The storms, they just keep coming.

Who is she?

What is she?

Where is she?

A life was taken by her hands.

She never knew such pain,

heartache, or embarrassment.

She never knew sorrow,

felt remorse, fear, or confusion

the way that she did that night.

This girl never knew that 20 years later

she'd still be living with those same feelings.

She didn't grow up on the streets, in society.

No. She grew up in prison.

She's a grown woman today,

40 years of age,

mentally mature,

and she's well aware of the chain of events

that have occurred in her life.

And she wants nothing more

than to bring back what she has taken away.

So, inside these prison walls,

she does all that she can do to better herself

by getting an education, graduating,

by giving back

to help atone for all the wrongs that she has done.

That was a storm.

♪ The storm ♪

♪ and the silence ♪

♪ and the destruction ♪

♪ that she had caused ♪

♪ that I had caused ♪

♪ that Tameka caused ♪

♪ that now ♪

♪ that now I have rebuilt ♪

♪ and i'll continue reconstructing ♪

Listen.

Neighbors:

You all pay attention to the children on either side of you.

Communities:

Talk about what you see, and inquire about what you've heard.

Don't you dare step back and be silent.

I need you to step up and be loud, please.

And remember,

it does take a village to raise a child.

And you mothers:

Parent and protect your daughters

and you all remember that you're strong,

and you don't need a man.

And in saving your daughters, you are saving yourself

and the whole world from added destruction.

Oh, and you fathers out there:

Be a father to your baby girls.

And you all remember

that you are the first one to set the tone,

you are the first one

to make the powerful impression on your baby girls,

on how a man is supposed to treat a woman.

You know,

Mother Nature always sends her warning signs of a storm coming, right?

You got dark skies, you have thunder,

you have lightning, you have strong winds.

Well today, I'm Mother Earth,

giving you the warning signs of a silent storm.

And as for that story, and that little girl,

she is me, and I am she, and I am Tameka Deanna Flowers.

(Applause) (Cheers)