File Under “S” for “See, that’s that BULLLLSHIT!”: The R. Kelly Verdict
Racialicious, one of my all-time favorite sites (I’ll be posting several site links here presently, I promise), posted an open thread about this. The comments from Essence magazine’s site – which I refuse to link here – are appalling. I (and others, apparently) am so completely blown away that this megalomaniac pedophile has not been thrown UNDER the jail for what shouldn’t even be a debatable crime. (And don’t even get me started on that 50-part shit-pile wannabe opera travesty ”Trapped in the Closet.” He should be in jail for that shit, too. “Oh my God a rubber” indeed.)
When this first hit the news in 2003, and copies of the tape were selling on the streets like hot cakes (BTW, that’s kiddie porn, people!) I remember that the general consensus in my community was that while R.Kelly was guilty like a mother, he shouldn’t go to jail. A few weeks later, the first news of the Kobe Bryant rape allegation scandal hit the airwaves. I remember watching a news teaser about it where – I kid you not – the anchor first mentioned that R. Kelly was out on bail until the trial began, and in the same breath that Kobe Bryant faced 15 years to life if convicted of raping a 19-year-old woman in Colorado. I bet my then-roommates that the 19-year-old in question (whose case was later summarily dismissed) had a.) engaged in consensual sex with Bryant and b.) was a White woman.
I won fifty bucks. So much for “blind justice,” huh? SIGH…
As sad as this situation makes me, check out this silver lining: there’s an online petition being circulated lambasting R.Kelly, his supporters, and anyone who condones violence against any woman. It is currently 578 signatures strong…which is awesome. Now, while I will say that I usually find traditional ideas of masculinity within communities of color to be extremely problematic, these guys appear to kinda sorta have their activist heads on straight. Bravo, gentlemen.
Tags: controversy rape trial, Kobe Bryant, masculinity, R.Kelly, R.Kelly trial, R.Kelly verdict, Racialicious, sexism, Trapped in the Closet
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August 1, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Oh my goodness…thank you for verbalizing what I’ve been thinking since this mess began!
August 4, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Aishe Hudson: I am SO glad you liked it. I love you. Thanks for sharing my site with everyone, my views were through the roof last week!