Domestic Violence Awareness Month

& The Color Purple

Colors have a unique ability to capture attention and maintain a place in people's memories. Artists from all over the world know that color can help invoke emotion in their viewers, and businesses know that choosing the right color for their branding is part of what makes them stand out to potential customers.

There is no arguing, color is important and it plays a role in how we present ourselves, how our

Color is memorable.

There is no doubt that color is memorable and intriguing and there needed to be the perfect color for National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In the unites states, this is the entire month of October.

Psychology of Colors And What Purple Means

Color psychology is the study of how colors affect perceptions and behaviors- defined by Help Scout. I will add that color also leaves an impression, and that the desired memory should influence the color choice. This may sound like manipulation, but before you write this off there is much more that goes into the brand identity and what others perceive you as.  All businesses, organizations, and institutes ultimately must depend on their character and  ethics in order to convince people of what they want to be known for.

However, color still is important, not to pursued people to believe one way or another, but  to invoke emotion and have a permanent spot in the memory. It is essential to understand and remember, and color helps us do that.

Color is associated with royalty, power, passion, spirituality, devotion, compassion, and imagination. Purple is a calming color that also can be inspiring and bring emotions of power.

Symbolic Color of Domestic Violence- Purple

Since the early 1900s,  purple has been a “symbol of the American women’s movement” Women used this in campaigning to have their right to vote to be validated and respected. Purple is a symbol of the women’s suffrage movement and continues to be painted on women’s suffering movements, like sexual assault and domestic abuse, today.

“The women’s suffrage movement utilized purple, white, and gold in the early 1900s as those were the colors of the National Women’s Party,” says Rose M. Garrity, board president of National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV

Rose has raised an important issue pertaining to domestic violence victims, as well as aided domestic violence programs. Women in abusive situations need others to show support and they need additional resources, and domestic violence organizations, that help them safely get out of an abusive situation.

What is Domestic Violence awareness month?

It may seem like there is a call for awareness for just about everything. Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Read a New Book Month, Children's Dental Health Month, it seems like the list goes on and on. Days set aside to spread knowledge and father community in this day of unity.

In Colorado, 88% of domestic violence victims are women, domestic violence statistics here. We still have a very long way to go since the first domestic violence awareness month in October 1987.

The Color Purple in the Bible

Color has some significance in the Bible and purple is often associated with heaven and is a symbol of revelation.

Lydia is a woman in the Bible who is wealthy and self-sufficient. She can be studied further in Acts when she was a merchant in Philippi. Lydia was a noteworthy woman in the Bible. We do not know a lot about her but being a businesswoman and a Christian we can conclude that she was strong, passionate, and a leader in her community.

What God did is truly wonderful. God opened Lydia's heart to listen to Paul. It was this openness that lead her to call on Jesus Christ as her savior.

Jesus also wore the color purple right before His crucifixion. Mark 15:17 "They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on Him. And they began to call out to Him, "Hail the King of the Jews." They continued beating Him, spitting on Him, and striking Him. Further mocking Him they bowed down to Him.

Jesus's words offer comfort to those who have been hurt by others. "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

The Color Purple Throughout History- Purple HeartPurple Associated with Royalty

In ancient times purple dyes were created with great effort and cost- a symbol of economic status. It was not something the poor could not afford. So royalty wore their purple-hued clothing with pride and prestige. The color made them stand out wherever they went. They could walk around with dignity and security in their power and prestige.

Today, and in United States history, military service members have been awarded the purple heart. A medal that signified their bravery and honor their pain and psychological trauma when injured while serving in a time of war. Purple has clearly been a symbol of recognition and honor in American history.

What I Desire Purple to Mean for the Broken Hearted

If you are someone who has experienced sexual violence or physical violence or know someone who has, then it is my wish that purple will become a color that you wear proudly or sense pride in when you see it around. We share so much with others who are survivors of intimate partner  violence, leadership violence and familial violence.

The battered women's movement began in the early twentieth century as women sought forms of protection against the critical issue of intimate partner violence.

We must allow the color purple to be a public display of what tried to overcome us, but we prevailed. We must make domestic violence issues common wisdom so that we may save our sisters and our daughters- and a knowledge of what healthy relationships are like. We must bravely wear purple for ourselves, for our sisters who survived, and for those who didn't. For we were victims of domestic violence, but we are also domestic violence survivors. As we walk alongside each other to end violence in our homes and leave abusive relationships, we

It is my hope that it will be a reminder to you of your strength and not a memory of the evil done. It is my hope that the color purple will also bring validation to the pain you have suffered at the hands of another and that you will feel the courage and significance to walk in a room with your head held head high because you are the daughter of the King of Kings.

“And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. Revelation 19:16

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233