The "Ugly" Child: How Do You Build Self Esteem After A Lifetime of Insults?

"Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." That old saying really isn't quite true. Words DO hurt. Being called names can cause psychological damage that lasts a lifetime. How do you build self esteem after a lifetime of insults? The recent decision to revoke the trademark for the sports team named "Redskins" is evident that we as a society are acknowledging the damage done by calling an ethnic group hurtful names. Even the common insulting name used for African Americans is now only referred to as "the 'N' word." What is the emotional damage suffered by an individual who has lived a lifetime of being branded ugly, inferior and unacceptable? Does being called nicknames like "fatty" or "dummy" hamper ones ability to achieve goals in life? Can name calling turn a child into a hostile adult? Youth mentor and motivational speaker Israel Abdul discusses how he helps troubled youth from hostile environmentsbuild a sense of self worth.