Down From The Tower – Unsafe to be black and female
June 18, 2008 by Marc Lamont Hill
Melissa Harris-Lacewell
Marc,
I am not sure what took me over the edge. Maybe it is FoxNews referring to Michelle Obama as Barack’s “baby mama”. Maybe it is the R. Kelly acquittal. Maybe it is just having to share blog space so close to Jimi Izrael’s unrelenting misogyny. One thing is for sure, I have had enough of how we talk about, think about and treat black women as objects deserving sexual ridicule and abuse.
The myth of black women as lascivious, seductive and insatiable has consistently been used to create moral space for everybody else while limiting the lives of sisters. By framing black women as hypersexual breeders, Southern enslavers could justify the abuse of black women and the control of their fertility to maximize plantation profits. Today our government can use the idea about black women’s warped sexuality to promote state control of black reproduction in an effort to “reduce the welfare rolls.”
Of course black communities are equally guilty. Black men, not white, are the main perpetrators of sexual assault against black girls and women. African American culture from the music, to the church, to the academy, is quick to define black girls and women as promiscuous, “nasty” and “fast”. Far too many of our own folks argue that black women’s sexuality and the children it produces are destroying the community’s values.
I am really sick of it. The deliberate and painful characterizations of us are everywhere. Now, Marc, I am no prude. I don’t think we need to lower hemlines and use PC language in order to set the world in order. Quite the opposite; I am convinced that the politics of respectability is always a failure. The vast majority of black women try to live with dignity and modesty; to make choices about their own sexual partners; control their own fertility and work to form lasting, loving relationships with men and with other women. But these choices occur in a context of profound degradation of black women’s characters and real threats to black women’s physical safety. The real lives of black women make little dent in the ugly lies told about us.
In other words, I don’t think we can fix this problem by being “good girls.” I think most sisters are good girls in every meaningful moral sense. The issue is a deeply racist and sexist culture that sees us with a warped vision.
I am sick of it. I am sick of seeing black women’s sexual vulnerability treated as a joke, a personality flaw, a parenting failure or a genetic trait. I am tired of black women being silent and complicit in the face of appalling and vicious attacks on our sisters, daughters and nieces.
Enough all ready.
Melissa
Marc Lamont Hill
Melissa,
Thanks so much for your comments yesterday. Like you, I was overwhelmed by the recent barrage of reminders that black girls still aren’t worth very much in society. For me, the most painful reminder of this reality was Friday’s not-guilty verdict in the R. Kelly trial.
For the first time that I can remember, I was actually disappointed that a black man wasn’t convicted and incarcerated. Why? Because, like most black people, I have little doubt about R. Kelly’s guilt. Although I hoped that Kelly’s trial would be fair, I knew that its outcome would not hinge upon his guilt or innocence, but upon the prosecution’s ability to prove what we already know. Unfortunately, this informal consensus has failed to translate into any credible reaction from the black community. In this sense, R. Kelly has become a metaphor for the black community’s tragic indifference to the welfare of black female bodies.
Unlike the allegations against Michael Jackson or even OJ Simpson, which remain hotly debated by many observers, the R. Kelly scandal is generally believed to be true by most observers. From standup comedians to barbershop conversations, most black people will happily concede the point that R. Kelly has had inappropriate relationships with underage girls. Beginning with his mysterious affair with 15-year-old singer Aaliyah to the now-infamous sex tape, R. Kelly’s pedophilic proclivities are a taken-for-granted assumption within the black public sphere. Nevertheless, R. Kelly has received a virtual free ride within the Black community.
Since being leaked to the public, the videotape showing R. Kelly (or his evil doppelganger) having sex with a teenager has spread like wildfire. Through millions of purchases and Internet downloads, the “R. Kelly Tape” has become a lucrative commodity in the ‘hood. To be sure, such consumption is not restricted to black public culture, as artists like Tommy Lee, Dustin Diamond, and Fred Durst have proven to be equally profitable in the “reality porn” industry that has become a staple of 21st century life. Unlike the aforementioned celebrities, all of whom were adults, the R. Kelly Tape is willfully marketed as a sexual encounter between a man and a child. By categorizing it as another “celebrity sex tape” rather than child pornography, the viewing public is able to sidestep its own culpability. As Mark Anthony Neal points out, such maneuvers conspire to conceal the black community’s own failure to prevent or appropriately respond to the sexual abuse of black girls.
In the 72 months following his arrest, R. Kelly has sustained, if not increased, his popularity among black consumers. While he lost some of his crossover appeal –prior the scandal, “I Believe I Can Fly” was set to become the next pop standard—Kelly’s music continues to rule the urban Top-40 music charts. This success cannot be merely attributed to collective amnesia, since Chocolate Factory, which debuted at number at #1 on the Billboard charts and has sold more than 3 million copies in the United States, was released barely a year after the scandal broke.
R. Kelly’s prolific sales numbers are particularly staggering given the overwhelming number of young black women that comprise R. Kelly’s fan base. Unlike many gangster rap artists, whose prolific sales are often attributed to voyeuristic suburbanites, Kelly’s actions are being financed by the very people being abused on the tape. As a father, this literally makes me cry.
Of course, R. Kelly’s popularity among consumers is only possible because of the continued support of his industry peers. To date, Kelly has yet to be banned from any major award shows, even those sponsored by black owned and operated companies. Since the release of the sex tape, R. Kelly has continued to produce, write, and perform with dozens of mainstream artists. Even image conscious superstars like Jay-Z and Usher have collaborated with Kelly, largely because there are few stakes attached to working with someone accused of abusing young black girls. Now, with an acquittal in his back pocket, the sky is the limit for Kelly’s career.
Another measure of the black community’s indifference is the lack of outcry from traditional black leadership. Despite the existence of tangible evidence, far more than what was available during the Duke rape case, there have been no calls for protest marches, economic boycotts, or other sanctions against R. Kelly and his backers. When questioned on the subject, many leaders have suggested that they are “waiting until he gets his day in court.” Such a response is both disingenuous and ahistorical, given the breakneck speed at which the black activist community has responded to the videotaped beatings of black men like Sean Bell and Rodney King. Sadly, the videotaped abuse of black women does not warrant the same outrage. After all, how different would the public outcry be if the girls were white instead of black? More interestingly, how different would the black community’s response be if the videotape featured little boys instead of girls?
It is not my intention to suggest that the black community is uniquely or exclusively engaged in the mistreatment of black girls. Without question, the exploitation of black female bodies is a quintessentially American practice inaugurated by white patriarchal authority. Still, as we enter the 21st century, the black community must come to terms with its own failure to take seriously the plight of black women. As the R. Kelly verdict reminds us, however, we have a long way to go.
- Categories: MLH
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20 Comments
1. Julie A wrote:
Excellent commentary. Wish i had more to say, but you guys summed it up well………
June 18, 2008 @ 11:17 am2. Gabriel Bryant wrote:
Excellent positions, and we need more gender balanced conversations that deal with this prevailing issue. We must find solutions together to combat these attacks on our women which are so ingrained in mainstream culture and society.
June 18, 2008 @ 11:37 am3. Piscean Princess wrote:
Very well said, Dr. Marc. You took the words right outta my mouth (and then made ‘em sound all smart & stuff! 
)
4. DCI74 wrote:
Great great read (I should be working on curriculum for my youth summer program but had to take a break to read this) and I agree with PP, more real discussions like this are crucial. What I find the most disturbing is the growing sentiment that somehow the little girl Kells was accused of abusing is the one to blame meanwhile Kells’ behavior is ignored or excused as “a man being a man” which is an enormous load of crap.
June 18, 2008 @ 1:17 pm5. Tom Penn wrote:
Quoting Dr. Hill: “I was actually disappointed that a black man wasn’t convicted and incarcerated. Why? Because, like most black people, I have little doubt about R. Kelly’s guilt.”
Doc, this is not the first time you have used the Marc Lamont Hill standard of guilt or innocence. You convicted the Duke lacrosse players as guilty out of the box.
Quoting Dr. Hill: “the R. Kelly scandal is generally believed to be true by most observers.”
Doc, can we use your new standard of “justice” regarding your boy Mumia Abu-Jamal? If so, then the jury verdict should stand in that case, because the overwhelming amount of people believe that HE is guilty as charged.
Remember, your new standard works both ways Doc.
June 18, 2008 @ 1:56 pm6. lisa wrote:
The very real and frightening thing is R. Kelly and others who think like him and support his career financially and other-wise have the propensity to repeat this awful crime towards young impressionable women. There seems to be less and less respect and appreciation for each other going on in our society; the essence to love humanity seems to be slipping further and further away; a little to much self-centerness and far to little of how can I make it better. My father says all the time, if a person doesn’t respect themselves you be the one to show them respect…to show them dignity. I guess my thoughts may not be on point, but it begins with me…it begins with you…it begins with people who know better to speak into the lives of those who don’t. Because this is heart-breaking. 
7. lisa wrote:
Also, I truly believe Jesus Christ is the standard bearer of which we should aspire toward, after all He did say, “I AM the WAY and the TRUTH and the LIFE.” He doesn’t lie.
June 18, 2008 @ 2:42 pm8. jazzy wrote:
Reading this made me think about my Great Uncle. I first met him when my cousin and I were sitting in my Auntie’s car. He got in the car and started to greet us and my cousin (who is about 3 years older than me) ran out of the car screaming. I was about 6 or 7 years old and I was so startled that I just started crying. My auntie ran out the house literally yanked me out the car. After my uncle left my auntie started asking me if he touched me and told me to never go near him in a way that made me feel as if I had done something wrong. As I got older I found out that my Great Uncle had tried to molest several females in my family including the auntie that pulled me out of the car and my mother. My auntie has talked about how she defended herself against him and my mother doesn’t like to talk about him at all. I suspect he may have actually molested one if not both of them.
The point that I want to make is that despite the fact that most of my family believes that he is a child molester he is still accepted by the family and welcomed at family gatherings. Female children are told to stay away from him and people “keep their eye on him” but ultimately it become the girl’s responsiblity to steer clear off him and protect herself.
9. Marc Lamont Hill wrote:
Tom Penn,
In your zeal to make me appear hypocritical, you have compared apples with oranges. R. Kelly was found not guilty by a jury of his peers. I do not believe that, based on the evidence, the jury was unfair or unreasonable. The fact is that there was certainly reasonable doubt due to the questionable identity of the girl on the tape. There is, however, a distinction between “not guilty,” which is a legal determination, and “innocent,” which is a moral one. If you (re)read my commentary, I never expressed problem with the verdict or the process –in fact, i said i hoped that he got a fair trial. rather, i am upset that black folk weren’t outraged based on the circumstances, NOT THE VERDICT. after all, even if everything r kelly says is true, we still know that he has other pedophilic practices (e.g., aaliyah) that went unchallenged in our community.
similarly, most black people (based on polls) believe that OJ simpson’s not guilty verdict was fair. this doesn’t mean that most black people think he was innocent. instead we were making a necessary distinction between the legal and the moral. that’s all i’m doing with r. kelly. interestingly enough, i doubt that you’re doing anything different. do you really believe that he was completely innocent? how about OJ?
you say that i was quick to convict the duke lacrosse players. this is untrue. what i was quick to do was defend the alleged victim’s identity by challenging the media’s representation of her. did i privately believe that they were guilty? yes. was i wrong? yes. but my public declarations were not about their guilt –are you really suggesting that all of us don’t make personal assessments about innocence of guilt before a trial?– but about a difference in how they were treated, a point that i maintain irrespective of the outcome.
your final point is the most confusing to me. somehow you interpreted my statements to say that we should base our verdicts on the general consensus of the public. i’ve said no such thing. my point, as i stated repeatedly, is that despite the general consensus of his guilt, WE HAVEN’T DONE ANYTHING TO PUNISH HIM. this is why your mumia example doesn’t fit. if most of the public, as you say, doesn’t believe that mumia is innocent, then it stands to reason that they don’t fight for his freedom. in other words, their behavior matches their beliefs. in the case of r. kelly, however, the same people who believe he did it, whether they’re right or not, are not challenging his behavior. THIS IS MY PROBLEM. if black people really thought he was innocent, i wouldn’t mind them buying his music and otherwise supporting him. the problem is that the same people who say “i know he messes with little girls,” will go out and buy his newest album. this isn’t about a MLH standard of guilt, it’s about moral inconsistency.
June 18, 2008 @ 8:17 pm10. DCI74 wrote:
MMmmmm fatality…
June 18, 2008 @ 8:48 pm11. Regkam2 wrote:
It’s my problem as well, Bro Marc. Many of us are walking contradictions. We support artists who are misogynous, pedafiles, dope heads, and so-called gangstas yet we are against violence, prostitution, ignorance, crime, drugs, etc. One’s actions must reflect one’s belief. I can’t work with youth to build them up yet I support artists who promote the very thing that I try to teach not to be (i.e. Lil Wayne, Snoop Dogg, R Kelly, etc.) And whats so bizarre is that its not just the youth who defend these cats, its grown azz men and women (some of whom have children) who purchase their CDs and attend their shows (some attend with their children). ” When I was a child, I spoke like a child……..”
June 19, 2008 @ 10:06 am12. Regkam2 wrote:
Jazzy, thanks for sharing this disturbing story. Its more common in our families than most people will admit. The problem that I have with it is that most family secrets are safeguarded with the women. Many men go to their graves not knowing what their male counterparts have done. If I found out that an Uncle in my family had done this, he would have been dealt with. I know many would respond that I would be in jail and that would have left my family without a father and husband, but unless someone press charges against this monster, he would continue to damage many other lives. MLK, Jr says that a man who doesn’t something to die for, ain’t fit to live. What does keeping secrets such as this accomplish?
June 19, 2008 @ 10:12 am13. james wrote:
marc, moral consistency is nearly impossible to achieve, especially when morals, like everything else in life, seem to be evolving or progressing into something you are never quick enough to recognize.
however, moral consistency is a worthy goal and should not be abandoned simply because of its inherent difficulties.
beware, also, that moral consistency, once you perceive you have attained it, is probably just another case of self-righteousness bubbling up from your nether regions.
June 19, 2008 @ 11:30 am14. carisma wrote:
Marc,
After reading the article, I would have to agree and also add some of my two cents. I find it surprising that a woman that appears to be caucasian, coming to the aid of black women. It is kind of disappointing that this topic wasn’t discussed by a woman that could relate to black female hatred and disrespect.
It is not only limited to black women, black men face the same discrimination. Black men are seen only as a “baby daddy”, a “bull”, a “thug”, or a “BBC”. If black people are going to get over the racist stereotypes, we have to stop being living stereotypes and participating in enforcing these stereotypes. Black men and women need to stop seeing themselves as over sexed, angry, and not worthy of caring relationships. I don’t think it is fair to defend black women and not black men, because the men are victims also.
Some of these “other” women promote women’s liberation and rights, but belittle the black man in the process. They preach all that women’s rights propaganda, all the while, prowling the web and streets for black men to satisfy their sexual fantasies of a BBC.
I find it confusing that black people were taught that we were inferior and ape like, but the people that taught us that junk were quick to have sex with us. What kind of person has sex with something they see as only half human?
15. Clifton Harrison wrote:
Regkam2, i totally agree with comment #11, and to answer your question…i pose one to you. How easily would you share with your father or brothers that you were raped or molested by your uncle? In general, that is something difficult to just be honest about, but both men and women have to deal with our own unique difficulties in expressing to a family member that you were sexually attacked (especially by another family member). You run the risk of being cut off and discredited by your family, etc. So while keeping it a “secret” may not accomplish much in the sense of acheiving justice, it’s not as simple as telling people the truth and things will be “all good”
DC, I co-sign…
Jazzy, As a Black man, i have realized that while i may have it tough, black women have that “double negative” (female in a male dominated society, and black!!-but i don’t think either is bad just for the record). Knowing that, I feel and try to encourage women to not be dependent on any man for anything. Because (in my opinion) the only way Women will be viewed as equal as if they demand that respect, and not wait for that feeling to be given to them.
Clif
June 19, 2008 @ 6:57 pm16. Regkam2 wrote:
Clifton, that is a tough question and I don’t know how I would respond, but I do know that my mother is a very perceptive person and she would know that something was wrong with me (if that incident occurred). I probably would tell her and she would deal with accordingly (along with my pops). Children who are molested tend to act out or express themselves via behavior. A mother knows her child, but in some cases such as this situation many tend to ignore the obvious signs that their child has been molested. Also, someone in the family knows that there is a monster loose. Molestation is not a one time event, its a habit (until the monster is dealt with).
June 19, 2008 @ 7:54 pm17. DCI74 wrote:
Regkam2 I definitely cosign what you said because since we both work with young people there is always that situation of trying to fight against the images and perceived lifestyle that influence them so much while still trying to show them an alternative way of life and we both know how hard that is.
It does bother me how so many in our community are just willing to ignore the worse possible behavior simply because so-and-so makes good music or films. R. Kelly’s ability to write, produce, and perform music should not override his obvious issues as a sexual predator. Some of us want to connect with these celebrities so bad that they think they “win” when the artist is found not guilty and will try to justify the behavior by saying that there are other more serious crimes that others get away with so it makes what that person allegedly did seem like nothing at all and I see that as a huge flaw. We need to be critical and stop with this belief that (1) these artists represent us, (2) just because they’re black that somehow “the man” is going after them which is crap, and (3) as long as they make us dance, laugh or cry that their other transgressions no matter how serious should be ignored.
As a musician myself I used to be a huge R. Kelly fan because his talent is undeniable but its been years since I’ve purchased any of his music or done anything to contribute to his success because I refuse to knowingly support a pedophile.
June 19, 2008 @ 7:57 pm18. Regkam2 wrote:
Clifton, I’ve worked with youth for the past 17 yrs and find that they are some of the most honest beings (via their words or actions). Most of the time adults (teachers, parents, etc) mistake a call for help for bad behaviors and we punish the child instead of finding out what’s the root of the child’s behavior. Or maybe the fact that so many adults are in denial or spend so much time trying to escape reality (or their pain) that they ignore their responsibilities. I bet u that if there were more fathers in the house with their children (and nurturing them)that this trend was decrease.
June 19, 2008 @ 7:59 pm19. clifton harrison wrote:
i can dig it Regkam2.
June 20, 2008 @ 2:32 pm20. lisa wrote:
A determined opponent of God is one who although he/she may concede to the existence of God, their actions display a rejection of the moral standards for which God stands and continues to stand no matter the contemporary culture that we see now. If you rely on your sexuality to sway others away from God’s standard of morality, then you have identified yourself as a opponent of God’s right direction. In your quest to not be denied the right to express the sexuality part of your humanity, you are unmoved and unwilling to settle for any delayed gratification no matter the obstacles or consequences. In other words your sexuality has taken control of the humanity you believed you had! Read 2nd Samuel 13:1-39 in the Bible. (Tamar, Amnon, Absalom, and David) You will see consequences clearly. The passion turns to hate, you blame the injured party as the cause of your moral failure and you ignore the destruction and injustice of it all as if you had nothing at all to do with it. Everything you do has an effect on others! Instead of admitting to yourself and openly confessing your transgressions as in Psalm 51 and Psalm 32, you deny, deny, ignore again and deny! (read 2nd Samuel 11:1 thru 12:23). When you acknowlege that your way of expressing your “sexuality” was flawed from the first impulse, you begin the process of transformation and healing and justice and self worth and new beginnings with a right attitude and outlook and the right closure for everyone involved. It is very important to use your gifts, talents, influence and intellect to serve rather than exploit others…continual low moral character leaves your life in the end rather meaningless and empty!
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