Dr. Judith Kirwan Kelley's Domestic Violence class (CJ 2402) sat in rapt silent attention as noted author Richard Pelzer spoke on the subject of his best-selling books, A Brother’s Journey: Surviving a Childhood of Abuse and A Teenager’s Journey: Overcoming a Childhood of Abuse.
Pelzer, a Sagamore Beach resident held the class enthralled but disturbed by the stories that he recounted. Pelzer welcomed questions from students and Professor Kelley, announcing that no question was off-limits. A father of four and a family advocate, Pelzer has delivered keynote addresses on domestic violence throughout the US and the United Kingdom. Referring to his public speaking as "therapy" which helps him to heal spiritually and emotionally from the years of horrific abuse, Pelzer’s key message to the class was that all who witness or who know of family violence must speak out.
An excerpt from the dust jacket of A Brother’s Journey reads,
"The Pelzer family’s secret life of fear and abuse was first revealed in Dave Pelzer’s inspiring New York Times bestseller, A Child Called "It," followed by The Lost Child and A Man Called Dave. Here, for the first time, Richard Pelzer tells the courageous and moving story of his abusive childhood. From tormenting his brother David to becoming himself the focus of his mother’s wrath to his ultimate liberation, -- here is a horrifying glimpse at what existed behind closed doors in the Pelzer home. Equally important, Richard Pelzer’s touching account is a testament to the strength of the human heart and its capacity to triumph over almost unimaginable trauma."
Students afterward reported on the important and moving connections they felt from their classroom theoretical studies to the real life situations that had came to life through Pelzer's tale.