Army Sexual Harassment/Assault Response & Prevention (SHARP) Program Poem

Army Sexual Harassment/Assault Response & Prevention (SHARP) Program Poem
Poet: Edward Wilson
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Videographer: Vanessa Atchley
[e-mail]
*THE WORDS TO THE POEM ARE IN THE COMMENT SECTION*

[@AngelOfSilence20]

This needs to be mandatory viewing at every SHARP brief. From Basic Training to AIT, to yearly company sessions.

[@carmelaholtzclaw9364]

Saw this for training this month as a civilian

[@ajhall457]

Y'all should've seen the play he was in. Best sharp brief I ever been to. He recited this poem in the end and I was ecstatic to hear his wordplay. I love the personification in this piece

[@BussyBuster79]

we have seen romeo and juliet shut up

[@sglory2917]

I heard this in a briefing and I literally had to find it again, so talented .

[@ajhall457]

Same

[@saytax]

Every strawman argument made

[@poetic313]

Just watched it in a briefing and came straight here on break.

[@julianjarvis9113]

Same

[@BussyBuster79]

no one asked bro

[@edwardwilson9615]

Hi...allow me to introduce myself/ I'm the reason for all these briefings, the constant preaching and the redundant teachings/ I guess your leadership figures if you constantly train, you'll eventually be able to tame me...that's a large feat/ I'm the S-H-A in your SHARP program/ I'm the ulcer in the belly of your Organization/ the degradation of your 7 core Values/ I'm the bane of your SARC's existence/ I'm the real deal, you all...are just child's play....I'm the strongest Army on Earth and ironically my recruits are forces from your Armed Forces/ I force discord between Brothers and Sisters in Arms/ and forewarning, I'm swarming your ranks at alarming rates/ On any day I'm less than double arms distance away/ all it takes is for us to be at close intervals and for her to be dressed right (laugh) wearing something tight, or something short, sort of lets me know she's open to my type of attention/ She enlisted to be a part of something she can be proud of and I know her family thought she would be safe amongst our ranks but I'm the paw prints walking across your daughter or your little sister's inner thighs, while she's in-her sleep, I entered her room so I can enter her womb/ Alcohol often increases my success rate/ Two dudes saw me drag her, OOPS...I mean "walk" her in, neither said a word/ Their nonchalantness is the reason I'm so accomplished, they may as well be my accomplice/ Intervention is my Krytonite/ I would be invincible if it wasn't for nosey battle-buddies bold enough to bud their noses into my business/ The only person with the power to stop me is a bystander willing to uphold the standard but as long as they stand down I’ll continue to stand up, and raise Stats up/ and tell your E.O. Rep I'm all for equal opportunity...I don't discriminate/ I operate within seniors and subordinates alike/ See, I was saw as a major issue once Sergeant Majors were issued walking paper for taking part in the likes of me, that's when I knew I had hit the big leagues/ I love to ride the coat tail of higher ranking personnel, I'm a pro at Qui-Pro-Quo/In my simplest form I may come by way of a sly comment or compliment with a drizzle of sexual content/ I'm rampant throughout your workplace/ I hide my face behind jokes and jargon like, "That's what she said" (quick giggle) and when I see you smile and fail to correct me I'll place the cross-hairs across your head and make sure to cross you the next time we cross paths/ and contrary to popular belief men are also a preference for me/ I've been able to assault, OOPS I mean "talk"...at least 1 in 6 into unwanted sex and most aren't man enough, OOPS, I mean..."TOO MAN" to report me so I'm able to operate in iniquity without penalty/ An assaulted man's pride is badly bruised but still too huge to seek assistance so the heinous act just sits in his system and eats him alive like cancer...See there's no chance of...assisting and man who insist on keeping me inside, as his little secret/ Most think I'm nocturnal but I knock whenever opportunity suites me/ I'm usually suited in a familiar face/ 8 in 10 Military Women have met me but only 3 of 10 will admit it/ Probably because they're afraid you'll think they're the reason the crime has been committed...See that's what you get when you wear those "rape clothes"/ when your walk says, "I'm willing to let you assault "slash" harass me against my will"/ Everyone knows that "promiscuous" and "permission" are paternal twins/ She can’t blame him if she was hanging out at 1a.m./ Its common knowledge that all private parts are up for grabs after midnight.....She met me because she kept a grown man parked in the friend zone for too long when she knew all along all he wanted was to break his parking break off in her/ She should have known better than to trust someone who called themselves her friend....Now let me tell you why she didn't report it.... It wasn't reported because the last time she was the subject of something similar she was subjected to questioning like she was the prime suspect/ She didn't know being violated was a crime punishable by finger pointing/ She had enough fingers in her face to outfit a million hands/ After questioning she quickly learned that her booty shorts may be called to the stand as cotton material witness to testify against her that her legs we're out after curfew/ she learned that in the "Land of the Free" harassment is punishment for having the nerve to choose your own wardrobe / She quickly learned that she can be convicted for having an "enticing" figure now go figure, assaulters are people with needs just like you are and we don’t deserve to be tempted……In case you hadn't sniffed it, I'm Sexual Harassment & Assault...If you don't learn to control me I'll continue to be the oasis of hate surrounding your ranks/ I'm the new age form of fratricide/ I'm the sum of division and you'll never be able to solve me if you don't stick together/ I'm a combat-minimizer….If you can't win the war against me, you'll never be able to defeat your countries enemies - CW3 Wilson, Edward

[@rraptr]

Edward Wilson fantastic work Chief. This is a huge hit in my training.

[@lostsoldier212]

Edward Wilson ... To say that this is brilliant is to say it mildly. This is amazing and I want to say thank you brother.

[@ashleyhodo1525]

Seen this for the first time yesterday and I pushed it out to all of my peers so we can share this in our next SHARP training class! This is the best SHARP video I’ve seen in my 10 years in the Army! Great job Chief and thank you for the video!

[@sammieseoul5544]

Hooah to this wonderful powerful work.

[@fraulane]

Amazing. Gave me chills.

[@rraptr]

I held 8 Annual refresher training sessions this week. All using this video and group discussion, no power point used whatsoever, and I was told multiple times hands down the best sharp training people have ever had. It made them uncomfortable it made them angry, and it made them want to do something about it. I like the video for all the reasons that make it dirty and gritty. It makes you feel something.

[@saytax]

Strawman

[@BDonpwrlifter]

@@saytax?

[@saytax]

@@BDonpwrlifter I honestly don't know. Maybe a joke? It been a long time. It doesn't make sense, does it?

[@GruppeSechs2004]

I had genuine difficulty understanding most of what this man was saying, then again I think that’s most slam poetry. From what coherences I could gather, he is supposed to be the physical embodiment of sexual assault/harassment/rape within the culture of the Army. To be honest, I don’t believe his execution was as surgical as it could have been had he decided to just speak to the camera with actual English-speaking phrasing and grammar

[@MMAnderson47]

I heard this powerful message today in a SHARP briefing and it took everything in me not to STAND UP and scream THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

[@omahablue2k]

15 years of Army videos, this was hands down the best one I've ever seen. Powerful delivery of the message! Well done!

[@BussyBuster79]

thought it was snoop dog at first

[@flypaper4freaks74]

Omg...that is absolutely one of THE most powerful videos I've ever seen! Chills!

[@saytax]

Strawman

[@BussyBuster79]

have you ever seen charlie bit my finger?

[@johnwayne9000]

Damn if this was played at every sharp people would actually listen instead of being annoyed Everytime you get called into a sharp meeting

[@saytax]

Strawman

[@SKG0]

He was a familiar face, both times. This video, this poem is so powerful, it hurt. Thank you for providing your talent to this fight. I may not be in the service any more, but I still have hope for the future Soldiers, and my Soldiers that are still in.

[@mojo1198]

As a civilian and military VA and a spoken word poet myself, this is incredible. Thank you. 100X...thank you.

[@kee407]

Heard this in a sharp briefing 2 years ago and still come back just to watch it. Very talented and send chills through me every time! I’m about to try and be a Sharp Rep.

[@pasqualegambatese6572]

very powerful, as an Air Force trained SARC VA, this is one of the best I have seen. It brought tears to my eyes because the reason I became a VA was someone very near and dear to me was sexually assaulted by one of my "best" friends. That sickened me to my stomach and I was torn as to what recourse I should seek and I did nothing because of a lot that was said in this video. I did not want her to have to relive the ordeal over an over again aside from the long suffering she has been through for the last 15 years. Perhaps my reasoning was wrong..............

[@johnathanstevens8436]

In the end you decided to stand up for what was right and help protect others from predatory abuse. That will always be the right decision. I know even a 6' 7" guy that was raped .. as far as I can tell it still hurts the same.

[@elenahkelly5744]

Absolutely incredible! As a Victim Advocate, I am still in awe of how you were able to address so many of the issues we see in the SHARP/SAPR world. We are definitely using this video as a tool! Thank you for what you are doing to advocate and make a difference.

[@haynes14e]

This video is almost 2 years old now and yet today (in an ALC class) was the first time I've ever seen it. I will be showing this to my soldiers as soon as I get back to my unit. Thank you, Sir, for this. It has been by far the most powerful SHARP video I have ever seen.

[@user-yv6hk3zg1x]

I still watch this from time to time

[@JesusBelieverDiane]

I'm a new SARC. I'll be using this video. Thank you

[@BussyBuster79]

thats not gonna stop the rape rates

[@rhayder]

It is a racist offensive video

[@romarioosborne589]

Damn! This is so Powerful you can see it, so powerful you hear it, so powerful you can feel it leaves you with the taste of anger, sympathy and understanding. Thank You for this Piece

[@kimdixon2522]

Most powerful video I've ever seen. Thank you

[@treetrunk159]

The best SHARP brief I've ever had. Makes you feel compelled to stand up to that kind of nonsense. Incredible delivery.

[@karisamyers182]

THIS IS AMAZING!!! You SIR are a HERO. Most people don't want to talk about SHARP let alone being okay with being the "face" of what is eating at our core. Thank you for this powerful video.

[@DMMeier66]

Due to a poor connection during a briefing we were all emailed a link to watch this on our own. I have posted a link to Facebook because across 3 MOSs in 19 years of service and all deployments and blah blah blah; this is the most powerful six and half minutes of my career. Everyone needs to see this. Military, civilians, students... human beings. All the humans need to see this. We all need to apply it to our lives and make everyone aware that we're not going to put up with it. This is amazing. We all need more of this.

[@brendawebb8512]

I absolutely get chills every time I watch this! Excellent delivery! Excellent!!

[@double_tap1]

Amazing!!! Two branches of the military and over 21years wearing a uniform and this is hands down the best SHARP video I've seen yet.

[@whitleywright1]

I have literally watched this video about 20 times, I had to share with the SARC on my installation. I talked about this video so much that she found you and booked you for my event. I am excited to listen to this in person. I am sure everyone on the installation will be moved by this. Thank you!

[@saytax]

Strawman

[@melissatolbert1003]

TALENTED!!!!! Making sure my Chain Of Command plays this during the next SHARP brief

[@jennifermiddleton6125]

Sir, I just wanted to tell you this is a Great Tool and you did a phenomenal JOB! I ended my SHARP class with your video and let me tell you There was so much anguish in my soldiers and junior leaders that everyone was discussing your video the rest of the day. Thanks for the time you took to put this together for us! And for raising awareness of the silent ghost in our ranks.

[@saytax]

Strawman

[@jaquancornish15]

Absolutely amazing! Really keeps you engaged and locked in.

[@karljones1802]

Best SHARP video ever

[@kevinbarnett5576]

Such a powerful video. I don’t think he could have done a better job with this. Well done, Sir!

[@BuddJuneya612]

ayyy chief... i finally saw the sharp video today in a briefing...Awesome job as always!

[@msvyctorya10]

We just heard this in our Navy SAPR training and I tell you what... this was a powerful. Many were uncomfortable afterwards, but the message was received.

[@thisisourwar]

Watched your video again, today. Awesome work and this was the first sharp video that grabbed my attention. Thank you

[@silverlightfox6621]

I heard this live in Korea. It really talks about the problem and how it affects us as a whole in the army. But not just the army the military in general

[@TuneSleuth110]

THIS. VIDEO. DOESN'T. HAVE. ENOUGH. VIEWS!!!!!

[@catrinaandrews1502]

Very powerful and thought provoking. I will be using this as one of the tools for my upcoming training.

[@DJPyro7600o]

So well done and powerful! Saw this in BLC at fort bliss. Amazing work.

[@ozarklisa1199]

1988. Fort Jackson. Me too. Thank you for this brilliant, revealing poetry.

[@silverlightfox6621]

Not much to say, me too

[@BrianDonahue-lg7cf]

Chief Wilson, this is still the all-time greatest training video we have. I continue to use it to this day! Great work!

[@anitabutler5637]

I still have chills. Awesome job Chief!

[@benjaminpayne2526]

I wish this video would be used for SHARP briefs period. This is the best message I've ever seen about SHARP.

[@121Xander121]

I’m just glad that for once we have a modernized video utilized for training that isn’t cheesy to the point of being ridiculous that reduces the impact of the message to laughter. Well done.

[@dkyelak]

I saw this at the CDR/1SG course- this is brilliant!

[@lafamiliamartinez3924]

@edward Wilson I seen you do this poem at fort drum couple months ago and man did you make my eyes open up alot

[@user-xu3fu5xm7p]

This video should have 100 million views. Great Poem.

[@AR-br7cl]

Thank you. I'm not gonna lie, I'm often disappointed and roll my eyes when we have SHARP training but this video said SO MUCH and really moved me. I'm sharing it with my SHARP rep right now.

[@josephgaray6933]

Not me man. Im fed up with sharp i cant stand it no more. I get it no means no. I have listen to this for far to long its stupid.

[@christopherblunt6087]

@@josephgaray6933 Ignorant comment

[@t-shindalankston3621]

@@josephgaray6933 this continues to be a problem -until it is irricated u must always here about SHARP

[@smoove9313]

They showed us this video today during our SHARP course. Very very good video.

[@christopherellisor2550]

That was very powerful!!! Definitely integrating this into my training!!!

[@DahliaDaure]

This is rather deep but appropriate. I will use this for my SHARP class next month.

[@tbd7604]

i just saw this. this is powerful. i dont know why this was never shared while i was enlisted.

[@brennonbooze7149]

This is amazing sir, Thank You. I need inspiration for my SHARP essay

[@robertweber2240]

Crazy, because cheif wilson actually showed up to our battalion sharp training and performed this poem live. He has an attention grabbing voice.

[@ryanprivott1]

The best SHARP video I have ever seen

[@ethanmatchett7511]

This video was shown for a SHARP briefing that I was at recently. This was by far the best SHARP brief I have ever listened to. I commend you for taking the time and effort to make this video. Hopefully this will be used during more SHARP briefs. The words were effectively spoken and portrayed. The backtracks and substitutions of certain words, like dragging and walking, shows the way these actions can, and will be, portrayed by the perpetrators. Thanks again, Chief.

[@derricksimmons3627]

I'm in BLC watching This and I wanna say I think Is the best and most powerful Sharp Video I have ever seen!!

[@kathie5335]

Love this poem!

[@RaeGotEm]

Pushing this to every flight in the NCO Academy! Well done ARMY! -USAF PME Instructor

[@channingscott009]

This is the best SHARP video to date. It's EXACTLY what we need!! I have a last minute SHARP brief tomorrow and I dreading doing a fucking powerpoint. This is the new message. Let it burn free and bright. NOT IN MY ARMY!!! HOOAH!!

[@lindatheempress]

OBBIE WEST!!!! SIMPLY AMAZING 👑

[@lowpaidnurse]

Kudos!! As a 1SG I had to watch and share.

[@matthewobrien8718]

This is phenomenal!

[@SuperWinning111]

Chills!Chills!Chills!..........The best SHARP video hands down...

[@brittneylauofo3757]

This was phenomenal Chief!!!

[@tylerlawlerDEVGRU]

Muscle memory is super mentally painful.

[@Punisher1830]

This gives me the chills.

[@lowkeybeats5601]

this was incredible awesome work

[@delorisadams2513]

fantastically AWESOME

[@jacobgallagher9269]

Chief, Saw this for the first time this past summer and it was the most inspirational SHARP brief intro I’ve ever experience (been on active duty since 2009… do the math). I had a SHARP brief today and recommended this video be played and was told by the SARC that it can’t be played because a black woman said it makes the black man appear as the primary perpetrator. I couldn’t believe it’s come to this. The Army has an amazing product that is performed at an award winning level but can’t be used in order to make a difference because of the skin color shown. So In order to get such a powerful message across the ranks we have to use a white man to deliver the poem? Wtf has this world and Army come to?

[@amberestrada8196]

This man makes people feel emotions that make you want to make a difference he is great at what he does. He is an actor a poet, he is great at making people have conciense of this topic.

[@docarlson1]

Thank you so powerful!!

[@docarlson1]

Wish I could of met you!

[@joesullivan3403]

This is amazing! Thank you CW3 Wilson!

[@valcreswatson8538]

Keep doing what you do Chief 👌🏽👌🏽💯💯

[@sergeantscuba7677]

I used this to open SHARP training sessions last year and it spurred a 30 minute conversation after one simple question. “Can any of you relate to this and in what way”. Thank you

[@t-shindalankston3621]

Thank you!

[@youknowme843]

His delivery is really good.

[@iheartLP22]

In 8 years, i finally had a SHARP brief that didn't feel like a complete waste of time and it was because of this video alone. Thank you for this.

[@dkyelak]

It will be the perfect motivator for our class this weekend. Very powerful video.

[@Princesmilez]

Best sharp brief ever!

[@JG-rw1tg]

I used this in my SHARP classes

[@mrstuck1218]

I love this ❤️

[@danletteharris-jones2856]

phenomenal

[@kotajoe1]

Greatest SHARP tool ever created!!!!!

[@kdcadet]

Amazing job! This made me uncomfortable and disturbed, AS IT SHOULD! SHARP training should Not be delivered on a rational plane. It should be emotional like this poem.

[@cookiepeeples4868]

The best sharp brief ever

[@loganmcclanahan8059]

Really good, it wasn’t cringy like most army videos. Well done!

[@iyannhabrown400]

Powerful. Better than the PowerPoints and more meaningful 👌🏾

[@MarquezRobinson]

Wow very deep 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[@marcushall509]

I watched this my first week of AIT.

[@maximusaurelio828]

Same

[@darkbeauty6025]

The point of this poem is not to discuss race but to speak on the unity that is needed against sexual harassment and assault. ❣️

[@jsverchio]

Who was discussing race? Very powerful message from this fine gentleman, and I didn't pick on any race implications? Did I miss something?

[@rhayder]

Then should have took race out of it. It comes across as racially offensive to many people.

[@lisaspeck6937]

Can you please do one for civilian life too 🥺

[@JG-rw1tg]

Awesome

[@Mammongus]

We watch this in the Navy too

[@IonianSoldier07]

Alright Boss!!

[@jahmelabarlow8992]

Deep

[@racresenzo]

Wow.

[@OneSnipe117]

Heard this CW3 in person today in ft huachuca. 👌🏾 good stuff

[@robertweber2240]

Same

[@DaddyArce]

Jon what's up bro!

[@professionaldabbler5993]

Chief got bars... and I ain’t talking ‘bout re-enlistment

[@mrsmiley707]

Damn..

[@seaskiff20]

Powerful message! This actor deserves an Emmy....well done.

[@juliettefalaniko]

💯💯💯💯❤

[@jeannettewilliams2569]

❤

[@ashleyj9934]

🔥🔥🔥

[@drew7814]

🔥