WS Chronicle

Mention October, and some nice things come to mind, such as Gospel Fest. Halloween is in October, too.

But October is also known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month to bring two things that mostly hurt women to the forefront.

Breast cancer awareness advocates have done a good job of making people aware in October of how breast cancer affects women. We hear about the women who die and the women who live, the families affected and how to try to prevent the disease.

Many races are held to raise money to find a cure.

All kinds of breast cancer awareness paraphernalia are available to remind us about breast cancer, too.

Now, domestic violence awareness advocates are becoming more vocal.

There is a growing number of events that are popping up to remind us of women who have died and women who have lived through domestic violence. Entertainment such as movies and plays have been made about domestic violence. For years the entertainment industry has produced entertainment on the subject.

The question is: With all the attention in October, what’s happening during the other 11 months of the year?

President Obama talked about how gun violence in America is becoming too routine. Domestic violence appears to be that way, too. People live with it and around it. It has become a way of life for many people.

A beloved TV anchorwoman in Richmond, Virginia, died from breast cancer. She was a person who had advocated breast self-exams. Her breast cancer was a fast-moving type that was not caught in time. She had breast cancer in her family.

A death brought the issue of breast cancer to the forefront outside of October. Deaths bring domestic violence to the forefront outside of October.

The Rev. Dr. William Barber II, N.C. NAACP president, talks about how deaths prompted South Carolina to take the Confederate flag down.

When will successes prompt action? When will love conquer all?

Enjoy October but remember that women facehurt 12 months of the year.