“NO! deserve a resounding YES for it’s bold approach to confronting the taboos, controversy and horrors of the sexual assault of Black women/girls. NO! is a potent healing balm and a fierce weapon. NO! is a vital tool for soul revival and spirit restoration amongst sexual assault survivors, advocates and educators alike. Accept love-preview NO!”

Skye Ward, Freelance Writer and Blogger

NO! is a critical tool for all public health educators and practitioners concerned with women’s health. The medical and public health consequences of trauma related to sexual violence are profound and alarming. Moreover, there is a connection between trauma and HIV which makes this film particularly important for HIV prevention work. I highly recommend it to medical professional and public health professionals examining this intersection.

Mehret Mandefro, M.D., MSc
TruthAIDS, Founding Director

Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholar
University of Pennsylvania

“Did I ever tell you how utterly superb I found NO! The Rape Documentary? My god, it’s not only a doco, it’s a work of art. Truly devastating. Yet hopeful. Even beautiful. And deadly. Thank you for having the guts and vision to have seen it through. It really is one helluva remarkable work.”

Robin Morgan, is an award-winning poet, novelist, political theorist, feminist activist, journalist, editor, and best-selling author. A former editor-in chief of Ms. magazine, she is founder of The Sisterhood is Global Institute and, most recently, a co-founder and Board Member of the Women’s Media Center.

Harriet Hirshorn, Producer/Director, Our Lives Our In Our Hands

Estoy tan agradecida que una mujer afrodescendiente lo hizo una prioridad decir la verdad, clamorosa y clara, sobre la violencia sexual que sufrimos. Aishah Shahidah Simmons debe ser reconocida como héroe por todos los y las afrodescendientes, porque su documental fue un labor de amor que puede ser el catalizador que necesitamos para empezar a sanar nuestra comunidad entera-mujeres y hombres, niñas y niños. ¡No más vergüenza ni miedo! ¡Gracias, Aishah!

Lori Robinson, Editor
VidaAfroLatina.com
editor “at” vidaafrolatina “dot” com

NO! is one of the most powerful documentaries of our time. Finally an uncompromising film that speaks the truths of African-American women’s lives. Aishah is a pioneer and visionary and I was proud to be a part of this documentary that is affecting and will continue to affect women around the world. The physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual significance on the consciousness of African-American women and anyone who dares to look at this film is undeniable. I am delighted that Aishah birhted this documentary out of her womb spirit despite the labor pains it took to give birth to it. I applaud you for your perserverence and hard work to produce a torch for the next generation of girls and women. Aishah as a revolutionary I salute you and as my sister I bless you. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of this groundbreaking work and giving me a platform to share my story with others. If you are interested in human rights and the advancement of humanity you must see this film!

Rev. Reanae McNeal, International Performing Artist, Motivational Speaker, & Trainer
Imani Revelations

NO! challenges the viewer to reflect about a reality that, although obscure for some, continues to affect several women in our communities.

Besides, NO! is a healing tool that helps all of us in the Americas and beyond become whole by integrating feelings of guilt or shame that may have been buried for a while. It is a jewel that must be watched, discussed and appreciated by all.

Maristela Duarte Smith, MSW, Portuguese Translator of NO!

Je suis fière d’avoir pu participer à ce grand projet en effectuant la traduction française de NO!. Ce documentaire, puissant par ses témoignages, donne la force aux femmes et lesbiennes de tous les pays de lutter contre les violences intracommunautaires souvent cachées, souvent tues par peur d’affaiblir la famille, le clan, la communauté. NO! est un outil pour ouvrir les consciences. NO! est une arme pour les militantes et les militants. NO! est une source d’information importante non seulement pour les femmes mais aussi pour les hommes qui veulent combattre la violence sexuelle et toutes les formes de violence contre les femmes.

Carole Crawford
Militante, travailleuse sociale et traductrice française de NO!

I am so grateful that a Black woman made it a priority to tell the truth, loud and clear, about the sexual violence we experience. Aishah Shahidah Simmons should be recognized as a hero by all Black people, because her film was a labor of love that can be the catalyst we need to start healing our entire community–women and men, girls and boys. No more shame or fear! Thank you, Aishah!
Lori Robinson
Author, “I Will Survive: The African-American Guide To Healing from Sexual Assault”

NO! é um documentário imperdível! Ele trata da temática do estupro intra-racial com profundidade e elegância. A discussäo é enriquecida pelos depoimentos de vários intelectuais e ativistas do movimento negro, que corajosamente, nos expõe a aterroziante realidade do trauma e às possibilidades de transformacão do sofrimento em uma arma de luta contra a opressão.

NO! desafia o expectador a refletir sobre uma realidade que, talvez obscura para muitos, continua a afetar milhares de mulheres em nossas comunidades. Além disso, com-paixão NO! nos leva a integrar sentimentos talvez reprimidos por medo, culpa ou vergonha; nos ajudando a restaurar um pouco do que foi perdido e assim nos tornar mais inteiras.

NO!, pra ser visto, discutido e apreciado pela jóia que é.

Maristela Duarte Smith, Assistente Social, Tradutora de NO! para o Portugues

NO! The Rape Documentary unveils the reality of rape, other forms of sexual violence, and healing in Black communities. Through the testimonies of the featured women survivors, Violence prevention advocates, theologians, sociologists, historians, anthropologists, and other leading scholars and human rights activists NO! is a rape prevention tool.

“NO! is a MUST SEE for any of us who are concerned about raising happy, healthy Black families and ultimately fucntional Black communities.” — Dr. Denese Shervington

Denese Shervington, M.D., MPH, a Professor of Clinical Psychiatry of Columbia University Medial Center, who divides her time between Columbia’s HIV Center in New York and The Institute for Women and Ethnic Studies, the New Orleans based-non profit organization, which she co-founded in 1990, where she is presently developing a post-Katrina mental health recovery division. Dr. Shervington had the opportunity to view NO! and participate in the dialogue following the screening, at a New Orleans community-based screening, sponsored by the Ashe Cultural Arts Center, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Click here to hear Dr. Denese Shervington’s NO! testimonial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu8NIbhRr2M

Order your organizational or institutional copy of NO! and Breaking Silences today. Click here for more information.

If your insitution or organization is interested in bringing Aishah Shahidah Simmons to present NO! and facilitate dialogue or a workshop around the issues addressed in NO! please click here for more information.

Together we can raise awareness and works towards ending rape, sexual assault and other forms of violence against women and children.

College campus rape survivors share their stories in NO! The Rape Documentary and Breaking Silences: The Supplemental Video to NO!. Both of these works, which compliment each other, feature riveting testimonies of women who experienced rape, other forms of sexual violence, and/or battering in college and university settings both in the United States and on a Study Abroad program. Their testimonies are supported by men and women activists, scholars, theologians, and cultural workers who work towards ending all forms of violence against women.

“This is such a taboo issue to talk about it. Not only for the African-American community, but for White communities, Asian Communities…all communities.” — Tonya Schmidt

Following a screening and discussion, facilitated by Aishah Shahidah Simmons and Monica Dillon, with college administrators and students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Tonya Schmidt from the Office of Dean of Students, said “‘NO!’ was entirely empowering” and she encouraged all college students and any administrators or staff that work with college students to view NO! The Rape Documentary.

Click here to hear Tonya Schmidt’s testimonial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uyk20FpjHDI

Order your institutional copy of NO! and Breaking Silences today. Click here for more information.

If you’re intersted in bringing producer, writer, and director Aishah Shahidah Simmons to present NO! or Breaking Silences and facilitate dialogue or a workshop with the students at your campus or university, please click here.

Together we can raise awareness and works towards ending rape, sexual assault and other forms of violence against women and children.

Nancy Schwartzman, Independent Filmmaker, 5th Floor Walk Up Films www.nancyschwartzman.com

While NO! predominantly focuese on rape and sexual assault, half of the featured rape survivor stories talk about being physically battered by their perpetrators who were their intimate partners and friends. NO! makes the link between domestic violence and sexual violence.

“I really loved this film!” — Jennifer Young

In her video testimonial, Jennifer Young of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, talks about how “incredibly powerful” NO! was and that (Aishah Shahidah Simmons and Monica Dillon) were “phenomenal” in talking about the intersections of classism, racism, sexism, homophobia, and other forms of oppression on any college campus or organization in the world. Ms. Young was also deeply impacted by the discussions, in NO!, about the direct ole of religion in violence against women in communities of color and hopes that NO! will provide a space for all women and men to tackle the issues of ending domestic violence, rape and other forms of sexual violence against women.

Click here to hear Jennifer Young’s testimonial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfJkxwinhe0

Order your institutional copy of NO! and Breaking Silences today. Click here for more information.

If you’re intersted in bringing producer, writer, and director Aishah Shahidah Simmons to present NO! and Breaking Silences; and facilitate dialogue or a workshop with the students at your campus or university, please click here.

Together we can raise awareness and works towards ending rape, sexual assault and other forms of violence against women and children.

NO! examines rape and other forms of sexual assault through testimonies, cultural work, activism and scholarship of African-Americans. It is an educational and organizing documentary that is also a very valuable training tool on college and university campuses.

“I thought NO! was a really phenomenal film.” — Laura Klunder

Laura Klunder is Residence Life Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She works with 1100 first year students and a core group of 16 third year students/juniors. In her video testimonial, she talks about how NO! will speak to the students with whom she works. She also talks about the importance of students, on a predominantly White university campus, having the opportunity to hear the rape and sexual assault survivor stores of women of Color because it’s both a learning and training tool on how to centralize the margins especially for the anti-sexual violence activists on campus.

Click here to hear Laura Klunder’s testimonial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2poF_Ak_lU

Order your institutional copy of NO! and Breaking Silences today. Click here for more information.

If you’re intersted in bringing producer, writer, and director Aishah Shahidah Simmons to present NO! and facilitate dialogue or a workshop with the students at your campus or university, please click here.

Together we can raise awareness and works towards ending rape, sexual assault and other forms of violence against women and children.

The power of rape survivor testimonials as featured in NO! the Rape Documentary, play a very critical role in both educating and organizing communities around ending violence against women and children. Through nine different rape survivor testimonials ranging from intimate partner to complete stranger, viewers of NO! The Rape Documentary are given the rare opportunity to hear the un-interrogated voices of women rape survivors who broke their silence with the hope that by breaking their silence, more rape survivors will publicly disclose what happened to them.

“EVERY organization that works with young women, works with women’s health, works with community healing, should see NO! [and] use it as a teaching tool and to spark discussion… NO! is the path to healing that we all need.” — Lisa Richardson, Ph.D.,

Lisa Richardson, Ph.D., is the Chief Development Officer of The Institute for Women and Ethnic Studies, a community-based national organization in New Orleans that has been a pioneer in developing innovative information, education, and communication projects and training opportunities to promote sexual and reproductive health awareness and activism for and by women and youth of color.

Click here to hear Lisa Richardson’s testimonial http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjRW5wzk0Zc

Order your institutional or organizational copy of NO! and Breaking Silences today. Click here for more information.

If you’re insitution or organization is interested in bringing Aishah Shahidah Simmons to present NO! and facilitate dialogue or a workshop around the issues addressed in NO! please click here for more information.

Together we can end violence against women and children.

Aishah Shahidah Simmons’ NO! forces us to deal with the lasting trauma Black women survivors have to endure, but also forces us to confront our own ambivalence about the rape of Black women as men, and an entire Black community.

This film gives us the language and the context by which we can examine the racism, sexism and homophobia within the Black community, but also helps us see the way Black women have struggled to heal, and what we as allies to Black women can do to end sexual violence in our communities.

NO! is a gift to those of us who who know that there can be no Black liberation where women cannot be self-determining.”

Kenyon Farrow, essayist, organizer, media and communications specialist, and board co-chair for Queers for Economic Justice.

Osizwe Eyi di yiye, M.S. Ed
Educator/ Consultant
African American & Women’s Studies, Temple University

I want to say thank you so much for creating NO!. My life has changed after seeing it along with my commitment to ending violence. I don’t feel like I have the proper tools to really thank you but, I just need you to know that your film was amazing. Having the heart and passion for what you created is inspirational. I will take your message and spread it as far and as much as I can. Thank you. Your Sister, Iris“

Nermin, Albania

Beverly McPhail, Ph.D., LMSW, Director, Women’s Resource Center
University of Houston

“As a survivor of rape myself I found [NO!] to be very powerful and thought provoking. I am truly blessed to have been able to see a screening of this film and meet the wonderful woman that made this film possible.”
Rebecca Spellmeyer, Ms. Heartland US

Vanessa L. Malcarne, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Psychology,
San Diego State University
Organizer of the Association for Women in Psychology’s Film Festival for 2008

Tamara K. Nopper, educator and writer

“[Aishah Shahidah Simmons'] political and artistic approach which questions at the same time the oppression of race, sex, gender, and class seems relevant to make visible, at all levels and mainly in the African American community, the violence against [Black] women, lesbians, and girls.”
Amnesty International, French Section

“I’m moved by the healing messages NO! provides African American women who have been affected; the information it provides African American men about the impact of such experiences for our sisters, mothers, partners and friends; and the consciousness raising it offers the entire African American community around this issue.”
Oliver J. Williams, Ph.D., Founding Director,
Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community

“In the spring of 2006 the National Sexual Violence Resource Center selected Aishah Shahidah Simmons, documentary producer, as the 2006 National Sexual Assault Awareness Month award-winner in the category of media & communications. Shortly thereafter I had the privilege of seeing her and her documentary NO! in Philadelphia. As part of that viewing, the audience participated in an enthusiastic community discussion about the impact of rape and ways we can all work together to prevent it. This well-done documentary had a powerful impact on all who were present, and the post-viewing community discussion was so inspiring that the NSVRC designated showings of NO! in community settings as the Featured Event for its 2007 national Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign.”
Karen Baker, LMSW, Director, National Sexual Violence Resource Center

*** The National Sexual Violence Center is the comprehensive collection and distribution center for information, research and emerging policy on sexual violence intervention and prevention in the United States.

“The notion “speaking truth to power” has been a hallmark of Black political struggle in the United States, but it has been increasingly clear that “speaking truth” was often solely reserved for Black men, especially when Black men themselves were the subject of scrutiny. In the spirit of women like Anna Julia Cooper, Mary Church Terrell, Zora Neale Hurston, Audre Lorde, Toni Cade Bambara, Pat Parker, June Jordan and Michele Wallace, filmmaker Aishah Shahidah Simmons dares to “speak truth to power” with the emphatic power that the very exclamation NO! is intended to convey.”
Mark Anthony Neal, Scholar and Author, New Black Man

“If the Black community in the Americas and in the world would save itself, it must complete the work this film begins.”
Alice Walker, Pulitzer Prize Winning Author, The Color Purple