But far more often, especially in the African American community, domestic violence and sexual assault goes unreported. According to Oliver Williams, Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community director, frequently, African American women don't come forward or report that they are being abused for a number of reasons. One of the biggest and most confusing reasons women choose to stay and not seek help, according to Williams, is that they love their abuser. They love the person and they think they can change him, but the reality is, they can't. Other reasons that women stay range from economic reasons to guilt.
Some women stay because of economic issues.
They feel they will live in poverty or become homeless without their partner's financial support. Others are guilt ridden and worry about their abuser and how the criminal justice system will treat them. He recommend that if you think abuse is taking place, you let the abuse. He also suggests that you remain patient with the battered woman's process. Though African American women have been found to leave abusive relationship sooner than White women, they also return sooner.