BEING INTRODUCED to the DEVIL

Speechless is the word I would best describe my state after reading Debra Ann Brown-Davis' autobiographical tale, 'My Daddy, the Devil and Me'. Davis heroically takes us through the horrific accounts of an alleged sexual relationship with her biological father for 21 years. A relationship, Davis says, started when she was drugged and raped at age 15 in a motel by her father shortly after reuniting with him. The shame trapped Davis into life of crime, drugs, prostitution and depression for many years to follow. A tale made for the big screen; in the likeness of a Tyler Perry production or something in the lines of TD Jakes' 'Women Are Thou Loose.'

Daddy's Little Girl
Every girl craves the attention and love of their father and young Debra was no different. As so many girls estranged from their dads, Debra idealized Mitch; despite knowing very little about him. Later she would find out he was a drug dealer, ex-con, a habitual liar and pedophile. So when he appeared at age 15 in a tan Eldorado, Debra was captivated and enthralled.

"He had very dark skin, with the most appealing grayish-bluish
eyes. They were captivating really. To this day, I've never seen
eyes like that on another black man."

It did not take long for Mitch's sinister and demented agenda to become apparent. By the end of chapter one, young Debra's world goes topsy-turvy. In one night, she entered the gates of hell with daddy leading the way when he gives her cocaine and seduces her.

Hello, I want to introduce you to the Devil.
Davis characterizes her father, Mitch, as a damaged man rather than one who was innately evil. She alludes to his distorted self-image and possible undiagnosed narcissistic personality disorder may have been at the core of his abuse of her and countless other impressionable women. As the old saying goes, "hurt people hurt people." Surprisingly enough, Davis does not place all the blame on her father. Instead, she serves herself a sizable portion; charging that it was largely due to a misguided love for her father and his manipulation of that that love. In the final two chapters, Davis describes the events and circumstances that lead to her finally leaving.

"What finally let me see clearly, after all those years was not
getting high anymore... while Mitch drank and smoked, I stayed
sober. And, being sober I fell out of love with him."

The core of the book tells of Davis' experiences after Mitch's influence; her trials as a teenage runaway prostitute, her struggle with drug addiction. Davis walks us through her legal troubles, imprisonment and her unsuccessful attempt at motherhood. It is filled with dangerous encounters with the wrong people and the occasional benevolent, angelic presence to the rescue. Eventually an awakening to Christianity is what set her free and saved her life. I would say there are points where the book is so raw, that it may cause squeamish, sheltered readers to pause. Although not a literary masterpiece by any means, Davis' story is hugely compelling; not to mention, the book's pacing electric. Reader will find it hard to put it down. It is an easy, interesting read. This book is one you will sure to remember. I whole-heartily recommend this book to anyone...especially those working in women crisis programs, rehabilitation centers, community healthcare centers, and church ministries as an educational/ instructional tool.