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COMMENTARY

Sexism on Trial

Why did so many African-American women support R. Kelly?

By Allison Samuels | Newsweek Web Exclusive
Jun 20, 2008 | Updated: 3:43  p.m. ET Jun 20, 2008

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  • Posted By: petworth trini @ 11/06/2008 1:01:54 PM

    I read this article with amusement. In the six years since the r. Kelly incident I've spoken to persons in our community from all different backgrounds, and there is only one constant within the community: inconsistency. How black women, black men, black teens, etc., feel about r. Kelly, and even more generally, about pedophilia runs the gamit.

    Like the author, and some of the commentors, I'm disgusted by those who "blame the victim" or more accurately, do not recognize that a 14 y.o. girl could be a victim when participating in sexual acts with a 30 plus year old adult male.

    But unlike the author, I recognize that the black community is not monolithic, despite the caricatures of our lifestyles that exist in pop culture. And I think that is the problem with this article. Portraying to the world that "so many" black women support a pedophile says something extremely negative about black women. And while sexism is a real problem in the black community, this article's inflammatory rhetoric does not make it a tool to confront and route out such sexism. Instead, it is an indictment against an entire community of women.

    Personally, I'm tired of being the scapegoat for every ill within the black community: the R. Kelly's, Mike Tyson's, and O.J.'s of the world. I'm also tired of being equated with those segments of our community that are incapable of more than simplistic thinking (every culture has them). I do not believe that a 14 y.o. girl is a sexual predator, rather than a victim of sexual assault. I do not believe that permitting black men guilty of horrible criminal acts "evens out" the system because of the many black males serving time for acts they did not commit, and I do not believe that a black celebrity, well-known for his indiscretions with young girls, deserves my defense, sympathy, or empathy.

  • Posted By: Shalaseia @ 11/04/2008 2:55:17 PM

    I agree that men need to start understanding that if they do not protect the person who gives bith to their children no one else will. White men will never have to guess that white women are the bomb because every other nationality keeps her on a pedestal for them. If we can get the same then a whole lot of the ills in our community can begin to heal. Another thing is that a lot of women have to stop putting their man first and know that he will be fine if she does not pay for his whatever...She needs to know that her kids are not to go without because he wants some new Jordans, he can get out and work just like she did...It is a two way street, we have women music artist who to me degrade themselves dancing like a stripper in front of their man and slink down in front of his croctch and then dance in a video that shows everything that GOD gave her. She is a role model for so many youg girls and that translate into how they feel about themselves and it translates into young men who see her now husband just stand there while she dances, so one gleans that this is the way to behave because she is famous and has her man and he is famous and his girl dances for him so why are'nt you dancing for me....We need everyone to watch our kids, male and female and let them know the true meaning of repsect...first it starts with mom and dad, grandma and grandpa and on down once we can start there again then maybe we will have a chance again in this lifetime to see the respect and honor that was once seen in so many African-American communitties acorss this country.....

  • Posted By: arebrown @ 11/04/2008 10:13:05 AM

    PLEASE DON'T TOUCH MICHEL JACKSON NEITHER WITNEY HOUSTON.
    ..............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................Our poor black community never had anything, there is the reason why when they have...they go literraly nuts.
    As matter of the fact, blacks care about the other black even thought the other black is wrong.
    In their culture the only thing that counts IS WHO KISS THE RING TO WHO.
    OBAMA KISS SOME ASS BUT AT THE END, EVERYONE HAS TO KISS HIS ASS......................................................
    (well, except myself )

  • Posted By: saucefive @ 11/04/2008 1:17:54 AM

    Let's get this straight, not all African American women love R. Kelly. Don't try to put all of us in the same category with the dozens at his trial. I cannot think of not one of my friends or family members of the female persuasion that think anything good about R. Kelly. We all agree that he is sick and needs Jesus. Amen.

  • Posted By: dbey @ 09/17/2008 6:19:49 PM

    a person can choose to support and even love whoever they want, but when you're fooling around with young girls who are not even legal, rapist,abuser, molester is what you are.You see, one is no better then the other! R. Kelley is NOT the only one whose done *** like this just check out the other stars, they are just as sick!! I personally, can't and won't respect a person whose doing things like that, it really makes me vomit!

  • Posted By: dythompson @ 07/16/2008 9:54:35 AM

    WHAT A BUNCH OF CRAP!

    The majority of Black women don't give a "rat's ass" about R. Kelley. And those Black women (his groupies and fans) who did support him speak for THEMSELVES - their actions DO NOT speak for ME nor millions of other Black women - quit the stereotyping, generalizing, and pathologizing. No one is in an uproar about MICK JAGGER and a whole mess of other rock stars who have been screwing "underaged" girls for years - no one is accusing White women and their legions of fans of "supporting" them and their immoral behavior. LEAVE BLACK WOMEN OUT OF R. KELLY'S MESS!

    There are millions of Black women who feel Kelly and the victim (whomever she is) got their day in Court and that it was up to a judge and jury to settle this mess - NOT PUBLIC OPINION. Don't blame us Black women for the outcome. Blame the prosecutor. They had six years to gather evidence on this guy and all they could come up with was a GRAINY VIDEO with a person that "could" or "could not" be R. Kelly...AND NO VICTIM! So what in the hell did everyone expect the outcome to be?

    Quit blaming the race everytime a Black person gets in trouble and feeling "a call to action" needs to take place! There's something called "personal accountability" and in this case it belongs to R. Kelly, whoever the victim is, and the parents...not the millions of Black women going about their daily lives and steering themselves and their daughters away from trashy men like R. Kelly.

    The judge and jury have spoken - MOVE ON - and leave the rest of US Black women out of R. Kelley's mess! And for those of you so concerned about the young girl in the video - tame your own damn daughters' infatuations with entertainers and watch the example YOU set for them in fixating on everything in popular culture. You don't need a MARCH ON WASHINGTON for that!

    Good Grief! What a bunch of trash and bull!

  • Posted By: dythompson @ 07/16/2008 9:51:39 AM

    WHAT A BUNCH OF CRAP!

    The majority of Black women don't give a "rat's ass" about R. Kelley. And those Black women (his groupies and fans) who did support him speak for THEMSELVES - their actions DO NOT speak for ME nor millions of other Black women - quit the stereotyping, generalizing, and pathologizing. No one is in an uproar about MICK JAGGER and a whole mess of other rock stars who have been screwing "underaged" girls for years - no one is accusing White women and their legions of fans of "supporting" them and their immoral behavior. LEAVE BLACK WOMEN OUT OF R. KELLY'S MESS!

    There are millions of Black women who feel Kelly and the victim (whomever she is) got their day in Court and that it was up to a judge and jury to settle this mess - NOT PUBLIC OPINION. Don't blame us Black women for the outcome. Blame the prosecutor. They had six years to gather evidence on this guy and all they could come up with was a GRAINY VIDEO with a person that "could" or "could not" be R. Kelly...AND NO VICTIM! So what in the hell did everyone expect the outcome to be?

    Quit blaming the race everytime a Black person gets in trouble and feeling "a call to action" needs to take place! There's something called "personal accountability" and in this case it belongs to R. Kelly, whoever the victim is, and the parents...not the millions of Black women going about their daily lives and steering themselves and their daughters away from trashy men like R. Kelly.

    The judge and jury have spoken - MOVE ON - and leave the rest of US Black women out of R. Kelley's mess! And for those of you so conerned about the young girl in the video - tame your own damn daughters' infatuations with entertainers and watch the example YOU set for them in fixating on everything in popular culture. You don't need a MARCH ON WASHINGTON for that!

    Good Grief! What a bunch of trash and bull!

  • Posted By: sepiasteel @ 07/16/2008 5:37:24 AM

    Wait there's more: Here's Part 2. A good rant takes space:

    Looks like Ms Samuels wanted to share the "wealth." of HER bitter bile.
    And you know what, I'm NOT totally pissed at her.
    Rush Limbaigh, Ann Coulter say that kinda crap everyday. And get paid VERY WELL. To spew lies and half truths, innuendo. And anyone with any sense realizes that they do so for SELF ENRICHMENT. Being controversial sells. It doesnt even HAVE to be anywhere near the truth. She probably did herself a world of good in the newsroom and will NOW get taken seriously during editorial meetings and story reviews. She did HERSELF alot of good I bet. Upper mgmt are probably re-considering her beyond her sex and race now that she showed she'll gladly skewer her own for a byline. There have always been the house negroes who warn massa when the revolution was coming so they would get the bigger piece of cornbread as a reward . This isnt very different.
    Well, here's THIS Black woman's response to your title. I could THROW A ROCK & PROBABLY HIT 50 WOMEN WHO'D GLADLY TAKE TURNS KICKING R KELLY GREASY SLIMY ASS. I'D HOLD HIM DOWN PERSONALLY. AND IF I EVER MET HIM FACE TO FACE I'D TELL HIM HE WASNT WORTH THE DYNAMITE IT'D TAKE TO BLOW HIM TO HELL..
    Go on keep telling your lies. Cash that check. Karma is a *** with long red nails and she never sleeps.

  • Posted By: sepiasteel @ 07/16/2008 5:30:48 AM

    Allison Allison Allison. I read it because the title demanded that I do so, so I could first hand experience how I was "supporting" the not guilty verdict. Yes, all us Black women threw up a "Hallelujah" when the verdict came in.
    It may be one of the stupidest things Ive read in a long time. Hamhanded. Unsubtle. Pandering almost for a visceral response. Gee I bet you & your colleagues must have a real giggle over the misspellings and nonsensical retorts. I'm 47 and well aware of the jaundiced, judgmental and withering public opinion about me as a Black woman. Ive struggled all my life to be seen as a PERSON NOT A COLOR. My being African American means mostly my COLOR has nothing to do with my CULTURE. There are many types of Black people in the world, but they arent like me, EXCEPT FOR THEIR COLOR. So that means that "WE" dont "ALL" automatically agree with each other. yES, WITHOUT ACCESS TO JUNGLE DRUMS WE JUST DONT THINK ALL THE SAME LIKE WE USED TO. (For racists readers, I'm being sarcastic - since you're dumb I thought I'd point that out to you - keep reading) But I do know that anyone who thinks ALL Black women applauded this scumbag's acquittal is either a slack jawed idiot or a disingenuous opportunist looking to post an inflammatory byline for her own self aggrandizment. Picture the erstwhile Ms Samuels, sitting disenfranchised, possibly marginalized in the editing conferences. Dismissed, not taken seriously, givren fluff pieces ignored MAYBE because of the color of her skin AND HER SEX, or maybe she just didnt pick good stories to write about. Sitting there, seething, ineffectual, how it must gall to see others get taken seriously. FIlled with anger she probably overheard colleagues talking about the verdict, laughing or saying dismissive things about Black women. Maybe at that moment, filled with disgust at her OWN predicament, or trying to fit in. Maybe it was those few morons who applauded the acquittal, in that moment of weakness, she lashed out at her own. Laying the blame on her fellow Black females for her plight must have taken some of the sting out of never being taken really seriously in the newsroom.
    So she sits down to call "us" to task. Set herself as judge jury and clear eyed executiuoner. And I'll be damned if we werent all (pardon the pun) tarred with VERY broad sweeps of Ms Samuels brush dipped in the most bitter paint. Well since ALL BLACK WOMEN are reading this and we're ALL IN AGREEMENT. Damning words werent they? Well arent we all trite and stupid? Low class? Questionable? Immoral? Sketchy at best? Made you feel despised didnt they, the commenters? You felt outraged, maligned, mislabelled and you worried the next day if blame would be heaped on your heads, the disapproving looks and disgusted glances.
    Looks like Ms Samuels wanted to share the "wealth." of HER bitter bile.

  • Posted By: sepiasteel @ 07/16/2008 5:28:28 AM

    Allison Allison Allison. I read it because the title demanded that I do so, so I could first hand experience how I was "supporting" the not guilty verdict. Yes, all us Black women threw up a "Hallelujah" when the verdict came in. It may be one of the stupidest things Ive read in a long time. Hamhanded. Unsubtle. Pandering almost for a visceral response. Gee I bet you & your colleagues must have a real giggle over the misspellings and nonsensical retorts. I'm 47 and well aware of the jaundiced, judgmental and withering public opinion about me as a Black woman. Ive struggled all my life to be seen as a PERSON NOT A COLOR. My being African American means mostly my COLOR has nothing to do with my CULTURE. There are many types of Black people in the world, but they arent like me, EXCEPT FOR THEIR COLOR. So that means that "WE" dont "ALL" automatically agree with each other. yES, WITHOUT ACCESS TO JUNGLE DRUMS WE JUST DONT THINK ALL THE SAME LIKE WE USED TO. (For racists readers, I'm being sarcastic - since you're dumb I thought I'd point that out to you - keep reading) But I do know that anyone who thinks ALL Black women applauded this scumbag's acquittal is either a slack jawed idiot or a disingenuous opportunist looking to post an inflammatory byline for her own self aggrandizment. Picture the erstwhile Ms Samuels, sitting disenfranchised, possibly marginalized in the editing conferences. Dismissed, not taken seriously, givren fluff pieces ignored MAYBE because of the color of her skin AND HER SEX, or maybe she just didnt pick good stories to write about. Sitting there, seething, ineffectual, how it must gall to see others get taken seriously. FIlled with anger she probably overheard colleagues talking about the verdict, laughing or saying dismissive things about Black women. Maybe at that moment, filled with disgust at her OWN predicament, or trying to fit in. Maybe it was those few morons who applauded the acquittal, in that moment of weakness, she lashed out at her own. Laying the blame on her fellow Black females for her plight must have taken some of the sting out of never being taken really seriously in the newsroom.
    So she sits down to call "us" to task. Set herself as judge jury and clear eyed executiuoner. And I'll be damned if we werent all (pardon the pun) tarred with VERY broad sweeps of Ms Samuels brush dipped in the most bitter paint. Well since ALL BLACK WOMEN are reading this and we're ALL IN AGREEMENT. Damning words werent they? Well arent we all trite and stupid? Low class? Questionable? Immoral? Sketchy at best? Made you feel despised didnt they, the commenters? You felt outraged, maligned, mislabelled and you worried the next day if blame would be heaped on your heads, the disapproving looks and disgusted glances.
    Looks like Ms Samuels wanted to share the "wealth." of HER bitter bile.

  • Posted By: CreativS8 @ 07/16/2008 12:53:05 AM

    I am shocked that this article is depicting that Black women support R. Kelly. I am not a Black woman but work in a very diverse workplace wth all nationalities. The general consensus I've observed is that any person -- male or female that could and possibly would, violate the innocence of a child is a force to reckon with. Women of all races wouldn't support this kind of craziness. This article is unwarranted and portrays a negative stereotype. The article should be titled "How musicians use sex to violate young women." Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, and numerous others have behaved inappropriately. I would imagine a lot of over-sexed teenaged girls who don't know any better would support this kind of chaos but to label a specific race of women is immature. I am saddened that Newsweek would do this and you have officially lost a subscriber.

  • Posted By: CreativS8 @ 07/16/2008 12:51:50 AM

    I am shocked that this article is depicting that Black women support R. Kelly. I am not a Black women but work in a very diverse workplace wth all nationalities. The general consensus I've observed is that any person -- male or female that could and possibly would, violate the innocence of a child is a force to reckon with. Women of all races wouldn't support this kind of craziness. This article is unwarranted and portrays a negative stereotype. The article should be titled "How musicians use sex to violate young women." Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, and numerous others have behaved inappropriately. I would imagine a lot of over-sexed teenaged girls who don't know any better would support this kind of chaos but to label a specific race of women is immature. I am saddened that Newsweek would do this and you have officially lost a subscriber.

  • Posted By: Karwhite @ 07/15/2008 11:34:59 PM

    How ridiculous and arrogant. I am a black woman who doesn't support R. Kelley or any sexually immature, repugnant or sexually abusive male....black, white, yellow, red. What arrogance and stupidity you demonstrate when you publish absurd articles that rely on inflammatory headlines and mediocre journalism. To call it racist would be too easy, to label it simple-minded and unconscious would be accurate.

  • Posted By: Tenekarey @ 07/15/2008 10:38:28 PM

    WHY IS THIS EVEN A RACIAL ISSUE, ALL WOMEN NO MATTER WHAT COLOR HAVE SUPPORTED A MAN THAT WE MAYBE SHOULDN'T HAVE, AND THE SAME GOES FOR MEN. THERE ARE GOOD BLACK MEN AND WOMEN. BUT WE ARE ALL HUMAN AND FOR MANY OF US OR STRUGGLES AND MISTAKES ARE STILL THE SAME. SO WHY IS EVERYONE FOCUSES ON RACE? FOR EVERY BLACK MAN OUT HERE THAT FEELS THE NEED TO DEGRADE WOMEN, THERE'S A MEXICAN, WHITE, RUSSIAN, CHINESE, AFRICAN OR WHATEVER COLOR, DOING THE SAME. SO LETS FOCUS ON ALL PEOPLE, NOT JUST BLACK, OR WOMEN. BLACK MEN SHOULDN'T KEEP BEING ATTACKED BECAUSE THERE ARE GOOD ONE'S OUT HERE.

  • Posted By: Tenekarey @ 07/15/2008 10:27:57 PM

    I can't believe that they would let someone publish an article like this! There were plenty of men who supported Kelly and Tyson, whether they were white, black, or brown. What does color have to do with it, after no one's really sure if it was him on the tape or if the girl was underage. We live in a system were everyone is innocent until proven guilty, so maybe his innonence was celebrated because he didn't commit a crime. There weren't many people who supported Micheal Vick in the black community, but there are millions of white people who supported Lindsey Lohan's behavior, or Brintey Spears. And to say that sex crimes aren't as big a deal as others because of the dispairities we face is insensitive and wrong! White women have been viewed as an object of sex and beauty for centuries, remember Kelly Bundy or those other flat ass white women in t.v. shows flaunting their chests and tight clothes, or white women grinding on the dance floor in videos, like Madonna, Britney, Christina, or Shakira. I think America has to much of a double standard on our culture. They need to spend more time writing articles that empower our country as a whole and less on ignorant, and demeaning things, like this!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Posted By: Buzzz @ 07/15/2008 10:11:34 PM

    I just wanted to say that I hate when Newsweek, CNN, or any news speaks for all black women or black people...Get this straight. I do not love or do I know of any other black woman that support R. Kelly. ..Just because I'm black woman doesn't mean I support him because he is BLACK. So if he was white is it ok for White women to support him??...I never see articles about why White women who loves sex offenders that prey on a small child. So stop speaking for all bLACK PEOPL(WOMEN) GET YOUR STORIES STRAIGHT
    bUTTERFLY

  • Posted By: oward @ 07/15/2008 9:14:54 PM

    I am strongly against any man sexual abusing a black woman or any woman. But when we have our own families not trying to make and keep our black families together and continue to seperate them by teaching ignorance of how they treat their women, it really depreciate the respect and dignity of black women/any woman. Women need to learn not to degrade themselves, just because... We as families got to unite together to make a difference for ourselves. Where there isn't love - give love, no hope - give hope, encourage each other as we look upon one another to not fear who you are and love the bodies GOD has given us and let no one use you no matter what fame of fortune they may have. Remeber you are priceless - you can't be brought. Society does just what they want, R. Kelly is a victim of his own circumstances - he needs help, it dosen't matter if he is declared a free man.

  • Posted By: oward @ 07/15/2008 8:44:38 PM

    I don't agee to a black man or any man sexually abusing a woman (black or white). Women shouldn't give themselves to any man because of there fortunes. Women should respect there bodies and appreciate what GOD has given them. Families has forgotten their way to respect, trust, love and to have dignity toward family. Women encourage each other as we look upon each other everyday, cause we are sister black or white. Black Men have lost the respect in themselves and that is clearly why they don't respect women of any color. R. Kelly is truly a victim of his own circumstances even though he has been declared a free man, but he still needs help. He has violated the women of his own families, as well as the young lady -n- family and he needs to repent to the Father to ask for forgiveness for his own sins. Remeber he has children and they often say "what goes around, comes around". Remeber we are not exempt from wrong doing and he has to look himself in the mirror everyday. Can his conscious live with that !!!!

  • Posted By: myivy08 @ 07/15/2008 8:44:10 PM

    "It takes two to tangle" is what I have always been told. While reding this article, as a young african american woman, I got the sense of belittlement. I believe that both parties should take blame for their actions. Yes R.Kelly was wrong but she sat there and let him do it. Instead of saying what the black community is doing wrong and how they seem to have no respect, values, self- esteem or dignity for themselves encourage them. Steer them in the right direction to make them want better out of live and maybe young black girls wont feel the need for a man to make them feel better about who they are. It (encouragement) has to start somewhere let that place be with us.

  • Posted By: freda747 @ 07/15/2008 7:45:01 PM

    iF BLACK WOMEN WERE MAJORITY "FOR" R. KELLY, THEN WHY ARE SO CALLED NUMBER DIFFERENT HERE?
    MAYBE ITS' BECASUE PEOPLE NOTICE THOSE "TYPES" MORE OR THESE SORT OF BLACK WOMEN TEND TO BE VERY AGGRESSSIVE AND "LOUD" ABOUT THEIR OPINIONS! it WOULD BE A NIGHTMARE OF MOST BLACK WOMEN WENT AROUND CHEERING, BOOING , AND SHRIEKING THEIR VIEWS ON THE STREET OR AT WORK THEY WAY THESE "TYPES" DO! HAVE SOME CLASS.....DISCUSS OPINIONS, OR DEBATE.
    GOD HELP US IF THE ONLY WAY WE CAN MAKE OUR RATIONAL OPINIONS HEARD IS BY SHOUTING, NECK ROLLING AND BULLYING LIKE THE BLACK WOMEN WHO GET THE ATTENTION DO.
    BTW- there seem to be more men saying pro-Kelly things on this site- than women (thought quite a few men are against R. Kelly here) AGAIN maybe it's the method of communicating or the venue that is defining when the black women are Pro-KElly or Anti-Kelly.

  • Posted By: Scorpio-Red @ 07/15/2008 7:44:30 PM

    I have very mixed feeling about this. For one the girl was raped because on a paper (a law created by white men... not saying it's right or wrong) says that sex with someone that age is illegal. I dont condone it but i am not going to sit here and say that girl was abused as the article and some of you are saying. Sorry I am going to call it like I see it.....it doesn't make it righ but she knew what she was doing. So I don't feel sorry for her or shall I say I don't look at her as a rape victim. Okay in spite of my last statement I don't see how African American women can support R-Kelly in the way that they have and did. He is another story....unlike the girl (who I don't feel sorry for in the slightest) R-Kelly was fully aware of what he was doing and knew what he was doing was wrong. For me this is simple and warrants nothing more than a little common sense. These young girls are hot in the a$$...no direction...living a fantasy life that is glamorized on t.v. and I am talk about not just black girls, but white, latino and otherwise. As men (especially African American) men we have a responsiblity to nuture and educate our younger generation. We discipline our children more than any nationality in the US (yet our kids are the ones going to jail...dropping out of school...dying in the streets) doesn't that seem odd to anybody ....Think about it....We have to stick together because the system is built on decomposing (yes decomposing) because it's a process of rotting away everything we were initially taught as young children.......Think About it..............

  • Posted By: manurse @ 07/15/2008 7:27:21 PM

    This is silly, I bet most black women who read this article, dismissed it. 12 women may have supported R Kelly, yet we are all being grouped collectively, foolish. I stopped listening to, dancing to and buying R Kelly music when this story first broke. He is talented, but he is not above the law, whether moral or judicial. He will have to answer for his behaviour eventually, maybe not now, but soon he will.

  • Posted By: honestly12 @ 07/15/2008 7:20:57 PM

    It's good to see these issues finally being addressed. For too long, the Black Community has forsaken Black Women. In some communities, this problem is more prevalant than White-on-Black Racism.
    While we're at it, let us remember the double standards that exist in the Black Community toward Black Women. Some of these are the Black Community's stance on Black Female interracial relationships, their expectaions of men, and how Black Women are treated in comparison to women of other nationalities by the Black Community.
    I'm called "high maintenance" for wanting flowers on holidays. I've been expected to sleep with Black Men in the workplace because "he's a good man with an honest job" and "I should be lucky.." there aren't many of those.." This is an attitude that you don't see among the other races of people. We are the only ones who are regarded so lowly!
    It's is even clear to me when I watch movies that Black Women have been "phased out" and yet I don't see the Black Male actors or Black Consumers challenging this!
    I often feel that there is no place for us in our own community.
    Our race will NEVER thrive as a whole until Black Women are given the value that is deserved us..

  • Posted By: va-native @ 07/15/2008 7:04:57 PM

    so, would it have been better if there were white or chinese women instead???

  • Posted By: freda747 @ 07/15/2008 7:03:31 PM

    Funny....
    I saw more BLACK MEN making pro- R.KElly comments than black women.
    The only black women I heard supporting R. Kelly were the slightly "ghetto" kinds. It was black men, on the other hand, who filled the chat boards with O.J. and Michael Jackson conspiracy theaories about R. Kelly.
    I think it is disgusting that some black women value black males so much that they support them when they are pedophiles, murders, drug dealers.....but I think this article may be another example of trying to blame BLACK WOMEN for the behavior of BLACK MEN.

  • Posted By: jasey @ 07/15/2008 6:14:26 PM

    i wonder the outcome if R. Kelly was white. Everybody would jump on the bandwagon to make sure that justice was served. As for the fans, it's easy to cheer until it's their daughter, Do i think that R. Kelly is talented, of course but the truth is this: R.Kelly is a Pedophile! PERIOD! He doesn't need cheers, he needs counseling, or better yet, cast out those demons

  • Posted By: jasey @ 07/15/2008 6:06:36 PM

    i wonder what would have been the outcome if R.Kelly was white. It is easy for women to cheer about his acquittal until it's their daughter or someone close to them. The problem is that as black people, we are afraid to call it as it is. Good, bad or, indifferent. R. Kelly has i problem. period! Do i think he is talented, of course, but nevertheless. He has demons that he needs cast out of his life.

  • Posted By: Jahcmh @ 07/15/2008 5:56:39 PM

    Seems Obama's comments hit home even more .... we need to clean house and make everyone accountable for their actions.

  • Posted By: Jahcmh @ 07/15/2008 5:53:47 PM

    Your headline is all wrong... I am not sure who supports this man, but I can tell you no one I know does. A matter of fact I wipe that man from my playlist for life. As well as my daughters.

  • Posted By: oward @ 07/15/2008 5:49:24 PM

    I am strongly against any man sexual abusing a black woman or any woman. But when we have our own families not trying to make and keep our black families together and continue to seperate them by teaching ignorance of how they treat their women, it really depreciate the respect and dignity of black women/any woman. Women need to learn not to degrade themselves, just because... We as families got to unite together to make a difference for ourselves. Where there isn't love - give love, no hope - give hope, encourage each other as we look upon one another to not fear who you are and love the bodies GOD has given us and let no one use you no matter what fame of fortune they may have. Remeber you are priceless - you can't be brought. Society does just what they want, R. Kelly is a victim of his own circumstances - he needs help, it dosen't matter if he is declared a free man.

  • Posted By: deidra.martin @ 07/15/2008 5:45:02 PM

    I understand why people are angry, but where was all the anger when R. Kelley was married to Aliyah? Double standard perhaps. Wasn't she underage?

  • Posted By: calabama @ 07/15/2008 4:53:39 PM

    I am an African-American women and I DO NOT support R. Kelly. It is a disgrace that he did not go to jail. I think his money bought his freedom

  • Posted By: calabama @ 07/15/2008 4:51:57 PM

    I am a African-American women and I DO NOT Support R. Kelly. Its a disgrace that he did not get jail time. I think his money bought his freedom.

  • Posted By: crackberry @ 07/10/2008 3:55:16 PM

    Let's not be superficial here, are you saying that black women and black people are lacking in intellectual depth? Here you have a trial in a system (created not by blacks but by whites) which has a history of prejudice. Being black in America I can speak to the fact that many of my brethren have been incarcerated for crimes they didn't commit, stopped not for violating the motor vehicle laws, but halted because of their skin color. It is your system that says that an individual is innocent until proven guilty and it is your system that speaks to society and says that if he/she is found not guilty then they are innocent. However when the tables are turned regardless of whatever realities are in place or germinate from the crime. Blacks are viewed as lucky; "how did that N***a get off"? Funny isn't it.

  • Posted By: baybluv @ 07/10/2008 1:12:41 PM

    I am sick and tired of the news media exaggerating numbers. Why wasn't a specific percentage (number) given. What is so many? I agree with most people on this blog, I was not happy to see R. Kelly not do time, he is a disgrace to the Black community. Maybe if so many Black men were not in jail for crimes they didn't commit, people wouldn't react the way they do. It's surprising that the media never advertises that more White men are in jail for sexual crimes than Black. Most Black men are there because of unfair drug laws. But it's amazing how the media always want to protray Black men as sex offenders and uncontrolled animals. Those of you Black people who are intelligent enough to read and pick up a book buy "Don't Believe the Hype.

  • Posted By: VIRGINANDTHECITY @ 06/30/2008 6:50:14 PM

    "so many"
    (?) Please be more specific. Is this not Newsweek? I studied journalism and so many was never to be just thrown around because "so many" is so vague and propagandistic.

  • Posted By: hotttchocol8 @ 06/28/2008 11:05:59 AM

    Comment: I'm a black woman, and I'm about to air some real, funky, dirty laundry about black folks...


    Wow. When did it become ok to blame others for one person???s wrongdoing?
    Why is it that when a young white man does something wrong we don???t turn around and say oh it was his mom, or dad who didn???t raise him up the right way? No one passes on the blame, but turn the tables around and it is a young black man then WHOAAA STOP THE WORLD - It wasn???t his fault, it was because his mom brought him up with out his dad, because she must not have taught him right from wrong, because his dad wasn???t around enough or at all, because black society is failing at bring up our children right. When did it become ok to do this? When did the indiscretions of the individual be a consequence of everyone but that one person? Neil Entwistle (the guy who killed his wife and baby) is a white man, and from what I have read, he grew up in a well off family with his moms and pops. So who is to blame by your logic? In this situation he had the ideal upbringing so what went wrong?
    And as for your comment about the reason why it is black women???s fault (???not providing decent fathers???.??? and ???raising children alone???..???) I just have to say that NOT ALL BLACK WOMEN fall into that sweeping generalization. Ideally every single one of the single moms out there would want to have their partner around but sometimes it doesn???t happen that way. It that case they have to do the best they can. When pple make the statement that they ???don???t need a man??? they mean that in a self-supporting, self encouraging way. Even though they may not have that ideal situation, they will do their best to overcome that problem and try to be independent.
    LET???S STOP BREAKING EACH OTHER DOWN AND START BEING MORE SUPPORTIVE!!!!
    HERE???S TO ALL THE STRONG BLACK MEN AND WOMEN OUT THERE DOING POSITIVE THINGS AND MAKING IT !!!!!!

  • Posted By: duane774 @ 06/28/2008 10:07:20 AM

    Posted By: Liliana23 @ 06/20/2008 7:11:21 PM : i am a black woman and I do not even associate with black Americans because I honestly believe they are an embarrassment to the black race.

    Quit lying! this is a message posted by someone white. Our black women date and mate men of any race and that is okay. Many of our black women have issues with us black males and I can totally understand them. However, to send in that article 'pretending' to be a black woman is the pathetic! Beyond your stupid ramblings, "beyond a resonable doubt" 'has' to be assumed for a conviction. If that were someone who looked just like you and 'you' were convicted and sent to prison for 15 years, you would then understand why this mostly white jury found Kelly "Not Guilty"! Yes, even I think it looks like him on that video, but I could not find him guilty because I cannot conclusively say: ' yes' that is him'. BEYOND A RESONABLE DOUBT, PEOPLE! One day I was charged with "Felony Assault". It was a complete lie made up by a neighbor who made multiple threats against my wife. I 'did' tell him that I would hurt him if he continued to harass my wife, but I 'never' pulled a gun, nor shot at him. In-Fact, after 1 year in jail fighting these false charges I was found "Not Guilty" by a jury of mostly white citizens. My accuser and his four witneses told five 'totally' different lies, not one agreed with the other. Their lies were so different, that you'd though you were listening to five different assault cases. Without: 'beyond a resonable doubt', every black man charged with a crime will be in prison, simply because someone 'said' that he did something. You 'know' people lies and that people carry lies beyond reason. One day, you or someone you love dearly will be charged with something they 'didn't do. Then, you will understand: 'Beyond a reasonable doubt'. If tomorrow people who know you say: they seen you having sex with a 9 year old boy, but you know that you did not, should you be convicted anyways? After all, the other women did look 'just' like you. The law 'is not' here to protect you, people. It's true nature is to capture you, seperate your families and destroy your homes. Protecting you, is just a side effect of the law. If R. Kelly was really the man in that video and not someone who looks just like him, then why did 8 white people who don't listen to his music and could care less about that black man finds him not guilty. Yes, you may have seen the video, but did you 'investigate', dissiminate or scrutinize the video to be 'absolutely sure' it is he? Well did you? Well, the prosecutor did people. The jury did also. Yet, they found him Not Guilty. Remember people: Beyond a resonable doubt.

  • Posted By: SharonClarke @ 06/26/2008 6:58:09 AM

    I do hope that anyone that reads your article, knows that not "ALL" black people supported R Kelly. As the previous post stated, I too stopped being a fan, not when I heard about his "marriage" to Aalyiah, but when I read saw the marriage certificate myself. I realized then, that Mr. Kelly is and will always be a child molester. Why anyone in their right mind support him? That is a good question. I haven't talked to many people about the verdict, but the people that I"ve talked to were stunned like I was. But at the same time I was suprised. I thought, surely the jury was mostly blacks and that's why he was acquitted. So imagine my suprise to learn it was 8 white and 4 black. So please, white america, be clear..Not ALL black people do everything..We are just like you. We work 8 to 5 jobs (some of us work more hours), we are educated, we strive for a better life for our children (for those of us who have children). So in other words, those stereotypes that are constantly shoved down our throats are not indicitive of our community (the black community) as a whole. Judge, as you will, each person individually, instead of inclusively.

  • Posted By: Three-D @ 06/25/2008 8:51:03 PM

    Regardless of how a child dresses, looks, or behaves that is a child and there is no excuse for a celebrity or anyone to abuse him or her. Stop with the excuses that she looked grown and make an effort to determine if she is grown. Brooklyngirl you are as clueless as they come. If this is your opinion that represents all Black women then maybe those are the only Black women you hang around. Birds of a feather flock together. I am a Black mother that comes from a family with numerous male role models including my father, grandfathers, great grandfathers, uncles, cousins, and friends. The majority of the men in my family are married, working, and don???t have children here, there, and everywhere. Contrary to popular belief I am not an exception but one of millions of Black women who come from two parent, financially secure, and stable homes, and by no means are we the Huxtable family. This is just another example of Black people perpetuating stereotypes initiated hundreds of years ago. You sound just like the Black women you are describing, so maybe you???re an expert on the subject. Again I say we Black women are not a one size fits all, so dust off your degree from BYU(Back Yard University) and get a clue, that is if you don???t mind leaving your comfort zone in Hatersville.

  • Posted By: NickiDrea @ 06/25/2008 8:34:39 PM

    Wow... generalization much? I'm a black woman, and I don't support R. Kelly. I have been hoping for some time (since he married 15-year old (Aaliyah) that he would go to prison. I don't know any black people who support him. If you read black blogs, people are outraged about the verdict.

    If the author this article is black, she should be ashamed of herself for helping continue the mainstream belief that all black people are "happy" when criminals get off and that we are sheep with one mindset.

  • Posted By: Brooklyngirl @ 06/25/2008 5:02:37 PM

    I'm a black woman, and I'm about to air some real, funky, dirty laundry about black folks...we don't like each other very much; in fact I'd go so far as to say we hate each other. And sorry, but black WOMEN lead the hate pack...the hatin' of other black women. The R. Kelly verdict is no surprise to me, the fact that black men are thrilled he got off, and most important, the fact that black women are thrilled he got off is no surprise to me, either. Black women have a reputation for supporting the worst black men, constantly making excuses for them and their foul behavior, and black male sexual predators are no exception. Hey, they can't help that they're predators; in fact they're not predators...the young black girls that they catcall and sexually use and abuse are the predators, in the minds of these women. Black women supported and cheered for Mike Tyson, while accusing Desire' Washington of lying about being raped, they blamed the latinas for the sexual abuse heaped upon them at the Puerto Rican Day Parade some years back, now they'e supporting Kelly. What is their excuse? "...she knew what she was doing..." "she wanted a grown man and she had one..." as if her knowing what she was doing, or even desiring an adult male makes him somehow less guiltiy. Black women have a reputation for coddling and upholding black men, from the time they are able to walk and talk and learn right from wrong, cries of "it wasn't MY boy" and "he ain't do it!!" resonate through the black community....right up to the minute he's in handcuffs, and on his way to prison....her fault, for not teaching him right from wrong, for not teaching him that with stupid, irresponsibile behavior comes consequences. And they are coddling R. Kelly...after all, he was just a poor, helpless man who was seduced by that "fast ass girl", and he couldn't resist. Be made with Allison Samuels if you will, but the woman is absolutely right about black women. Yeah, I know, black folks don't like to hear the truth, but the truth is the truth. It is the fault of black women, that the R.Kellys of the world are walking around, for two reasons 1) most of you have not seen fit to provide decent fathers for your children...decent fathers who can love, mold and shape a black boy, and 2) since so many of you decided you "dont need no man", you're raising them yourselves...and doing a crappy job of it. You're raising a generation of disrespectul young black men who believe that black women are nothing more than walking, talking semen receptacles. Nice job, moms. Allison you are my SHE-RO!

    • Posted By: calabama @ 07/15/2008 5:05:16 PM

      Brooklyn girl I am sorry something tragic happen to you(rape, incest, abuse...?) I am black and I had a fit mother and father to raise me, my sister & my brother. I also have a husband who is fit and we are raising two wonderful self loving, God loving, black people loving daughters. Yes there are some Ugle, mean in black people in the world. WHY do you HATE???

      • Posted By: freda747 @ 07/15/2008 7:21:35 PM

        Brooklyngirl...
        you got issues. First, there are very few black folks now adays how won't admot that black foks have a problem or that were are killing EACH OTHER!
        YOUR PROBLEM is that you are one of those nutty black folks who think you are smarter than most blacks and have these brilliant , NEW thoughts that most blacks don't have. What this does is it make blacks like you not question your way of thinking or your information. In most case, your type ends up spewing wacky , extreme version of "little truths". It's like when certain black militants or extreme black muslims talk about racism in the justice system or the Tuskegge Experiments and declare that "every black men in prison is a political prisoner and diabetes and sicyle cell anemia are inventions or racist doctors to kill blacks!"
        It's like...you had a little truth and you twisted it into nonsense. BLACK WOMEN DIDN"T CAUSE THIS BROOKLYN! I guess black women in Africa (SOuth Africa has a HORRIFIC rate of rape, pedophilia, and fathers abandoning kids) and parts of the Caribbean suffer at the hands of their own men because they INVITE it too? Black people, families, and male/female relationships arehurting all over the world.
        Brooklyngirl- Either you are "mental" or not black ( you remind me of one of those weird white gilrs or "mixed" girls).

    • Posted By: hotttchocol8 @ 06/28/2008 11:01:24 AM

      Wow. When did it become ok to blame others for one person???s wrongdoing?
      Why is it that when a young white man does something wrong we don???t turn around and say oh it was his mom, or dad who didn???t raise him up the right way? No one passes on the blame, but turn the tables around and it is a young black man then WHOAAA STOP THE WORLD - It wasn???t his fault, it was because his mom brought him up with out his dad, because she must not have taught him right from wrong, because his dad wasn???t around enough or at all, because black society is failing at bring up our children right. When did it become ok to do this? When did the indiscretions of the individual be a consequence of everyone but that one person? Neil Entwistle (the guy who killed his wife and baby) is a white man, and from what I have read, he grew up in a well off family with his moms and pops. So who is to blame by your logic? In this situation he had the ideal upbringing so what went wrong?
      And as for your comment about the reason why it is black women???s fault (???not providing decent fathers???.??? and ???raising children alone???..???) I just have to say that NOT ALL BLACK WOMEN fall into that sweeping generalization. Ideally every single one of the single moms out there would want to have their partner around but sometimes it doesn???t happen that way. It that case they have to do the best they can. When pple make the statement that they ???don???t need a man??? they don???t mean that in a self-supporting self encouraging way. Even though they may not have that ideal situation, they will do their best to overcome that problem and try to be independent.
      LET???S STOP BREAKING EACH OTHER DOWN AND START BEING MORE SUPPORTIVE!!!!
      HERE???S TO ALL THE STRONG BLACK MEN AND WOMEN OUT THERE DOING POSITIVE THINGS AND MAKING IT!!!!!!

    • Posted By: hotttchocol8 @ 06/28/2008 11:00:33 AM

      Wow. When did it become ok to blame others for one person???s wrongdoing?
      Why is it that when a young white man does something wrong we don???t turn around and say oh it was his mom, or dad who didn???t raise him up the right way? No one passes on the blame, but turn the tables around and it is a young black man then WHOAAA STOP THE WORLD - It wasn???t his fault, it was because his mom brought him up with out his dad, because she must not have taught him right from wrong, because his dad wasn???t around enough or at all, because black society is failing at bring up our children right. When did it become ok to do this? When did the indiscretions of the individual be a consequence of everyone but that one person? Neil Entwistle (the guy who killed his wife and baby) is a white man, and from what I have read, he grew up in a well off family with his moms and pops. So who is to blame by your logic? In this situation he had the ideal upbringing so what went wrong?
      And as for your comment about the reason why it is black women???s fault (???not providing decent fathers???.??? and ???raising children alone???..???) I just have to say that NOT ALL BLACK WOMEN fall into that sweeping generalization. Ideally every single one of the single moms out there would want to have their partner around but sometimes it doesn???t happen that way. It that case they have to do the best they can. When pple make the statement that they ???don???t need a man??? they don???t mean that in a self-supporting self encouraging way. Even though they may not have that ideal situation, they will do their best to overcome that problem and try to be independent.
      LET???S STOP BREAKING EACH OTHER DOWN AND START BEING MORE SUPPORTIVE!!!!
      HERE???S TO ALL THE STRONG BLACK MEN AND WOMEN OUT THERE DOING POSITIVE THINGS AND MAKING IT EVERYDAY !!!!!!

    • Posted By: NickiDrea @ 06/25/2008 8:41:27 PM

      It is truly sad that you feel this way about your own people. I am a black woman and I have never supported criminals. I am an attorney and so are several of my black female friends. We are respectful, intelligent, educated women and we carry ourselves and act as such. None of us are "baby mommas" and many of us are engaged or married. None of us act in the ways that you describe in your post, nor do my sister, mother, grandmother, etc. When we do have children, we will be good role models for our children, just like our mothers were good role models for us. Have you ever considered that it is the company YOU keep who acting in this manner. I therefore suggest that you expand your circle of friends and stop generalizing about all black women.

  • Posted By: Jambera12 @ 06/25/2008 2:11:11 PM

    Am concerned with the generalizations about black women and blacks in general in this article. There are not enough qualifiers to really support the idea that Many Black Women support R Kelly. I know many black women (myself included ) who were dissapointed and discouraged by this verdict. Just because you interview a black person about why black people do something that does not mean they speak for all of this. We are individuals and do not a have collective way of thinking. This article is promoting the same tired old sterotypes that all blacks are the same. Tired of it.

  • Posted By: MissLisa @ 06/25/2008 9:00:36 AM

    Where did they find the people in this article?!?! I haven't talked to ANYONE who is happy about R Kelly getting off. They should check other blogs other than the random ones that prove their point. And as far as people blaming the girl because "she deserved it?" I haven't heard ANYONE say that either until I read this article. If anything, Black people aren't surprised at something like this because Black women are objectified every day, but that doesn't mean we're not angry about it.
    If anything, Black people aren???t surprised because Black women, have been objectified on a daily basis for the past three or four generations (aka since slave times???wasn???t that long ago people), but that doesn???t mean we???re not angry about it.

  • Posted By: thursty @ 06/25/2008 4:44:22 AM

    I do not support r. kelly. IT takes two to tangle so mothers next time your daughters walk out the house to go somewhere make sure they are not looking older than you. Do not allow the videos to dictate to your daughters how they should dress and act. I guess asking "How old are you", isn't sexy or appropriate any more. Men stop assuming, just ask.

  • Posted By: thursty @ 06/25/2008 4:24:46 AM

    ok,I guess its not sexy to ask a women are you legal. Now days young girls are looking older than what they are. Guys are not asking they are just assuming and its getting them in trouble. But, it takes two to tangle as they say. So mothers when your daughters leave the house looking older than you maybe you should say something.It starts in the home stop letting videos dictate how the young women are supposed to look and act. LETS GET PROACTIVE IN THE HOME, FIRST.

    • Posted By: freda747 @ 07/15/2008 7:30:44 PM

      Stop it with the "they look older" lie!
      The girl in the R. Kelly video LOOKS 13 years old!
      MOst of the girls black men mess with are 12 year olds who look 16 or 15 year olds who look like they might have just turned 18.
      WHAT ARE MEN IN THEIR LATE 20's, 30. 40's , and 50's DOING GOING AFTER GIRLS WHO LOOK LIKE THEY ARE 18 YEARS OLD?

  • Posted By: maxbianco @ 06/25/2008 2:52:26 AM

    sorry ladies but the numbers dont lie:
    Those of you who are "appalled/dismayed" are in the extreme minority. and for those of you clamoring about the sanctity of "our daughters" you can help the situation by getting rid of BET and stop sending your children to school looking like video "H@$s"

    • Posted By: freda747 @ 07/15/2008 7:26:45 PM

      What numbers?!!!!
      What number?!!
      And how are we going to get rid of BET?! White viewer out number black viewers and BET is shown around the world!
      And who sends their girls to school lookinglike video H0es? Have you ever seen black kids walking out of school?
      Maybe you shoould stop white mothers from letting their girls dress like Britney, Paris, Lindsey Lohan, or they Gossip Girl skanks!

  • Posted By: robdivine @ 06/24/2008 9:06:31 PM

    I, too, was apalled by the verdict. I was even more floored when some of the women in my office had big smiles on their faces. It actually made me sick to my stomach and lose another once of faith in the Black community. Why do we condone all the wrong things? People are happier that he was acquitted than who peed/sexually molested this little girl. And for those ignorant people, she was a child, only a child. How could she know what she was doing.. It all stems from her upbringing and maybe she was looking for that father figure or the fact a celebrity was giving that time, would capture anyone's attention. Young and old. Especially now with the media and videos glamorizing all of the negative images it can possibly fine. The reaction to this verdict only proves that we as a people are going back in time and that we dont care about our beautiful young girls. Its just a slap in my nieces face. It is a back turned to my cousins and its just a look of pure disgust to my god daughter. What in the hell is really going on. Are we saying that its okay to demoralize our black princesses? So what she was a child, he was a fully grown man that knew better. I dont listen to R Kelly or bother with him. It just hurts that all of these years, women have busted their butts for equal rights and to be treated fairly. We just took a huge chunk of that with this verdict. We as a people have got to do better...for real. But thats ok. God is watching us all and please believe, He is not pleased.

  • Posted By: robdivine @ 06/24/2008 8:05:22 PM

    I must put my 5 cents in. When I heard the verdict I actually got sick to my stomach. Of course, some black people cheered. They were more concerned with the fact he was found not guilty than a child being peed on. It actually scared me that we Black people are not looking at the problem at hand but just satisfied with a "not guilty". Who knows if he did this but a child was clearly abused. Damn R. Kelly and that horse he rode in on. What about this child? What about women? This sends an ugly message to your young ladies that this is what you may be subjected to. Society is not concerned with the welfare of our little black girls. And that my dear is sad. As a Black woman, I am truly appalled. I no longer listen to or support R. Kelly. Only God can judge him. I did warn a coworker to be on the look out whenever she plays an R.Kelly cd. He may be trying to court her daughter through sibliminal messages.

  • Posted By: Three-D @ 06/24/2008 7:14:45 PM

    I have read the article and I as a Black woman am dismayed that all Black women have again been collectively lumped together and treated like a one size fits all category. How many of the millions of Black women in the nation were polled about their opinion on the R. Kelly acquittal? Whether it was him on the tape or not he has been acquitted in a court of law. By no means am I condoning the exploitation of children of any race but I think the real issue at hand is how the article gives the impression that most Black women were in support of R. Kelly .Many depictions that you see of Black women in the media and on the nine o'clock news the majority of the time present a picture of mad, inarticulate, disheveled, women with a boat load of children by multiple men or as scantily clad gold diggers with low morals. These depictions are not a true or accurate representation of our women, but the media continuously bombards the public with false and misleading information .This is pure propaganda that we as Black people did not initiate but unfortunately we continue to perpetuate it by not addressing the social ills in our communities. In order for the world to get an accurate and true picture of what we Black people; not just Black women are about and the contributions that we have made to the world we all need to take a look in the mirror. We all need to think about what is right and what is wrong and ask ourselves??? how am I affected by certain decisions or who do I influence with my decisions???. Please let us remind ourselves that we are not a one dimensional people and one size does not fit all. And yes we discuss sexism and other major issues such as poverty, healthcare, teen pregnancy, and the economy in the Black community, but to depict this wouldn???t really fit in with main stream media now would it. As for Allison Samuels in an effort not to distort the truth or give the wrong impression in the future it might sound better if you stated the percentage of people polled, unless that was you intention in the first place, and if so you succeeded.

  • Posted By: cfallon4 @ 06/24/2008 4:38:12 PM

    I am not "overjoyed" that R. Kelly got off, but that girl knew what she was doing. She had no business being with that older man anyway. If black women would say NO more often and set some higher standards, then men wouldn't even think of doing ignorant things, like what R. Kelly was acquitted of doing. If women wouldn't strip, there would be no stripclubs. If we would what to have sex until we were married, there would be alot less disease, unwanted children, etc. in this world. Men have responsibilites also, but as I women, I am worried about my gender.

    • Posted By: freda747 @ 07/15/2008 7:34:30 PM

      THIS IS NOT A REAL BLACK WOMAN...SOMETHING IS ODD!
      THIS GIRL KNEW WHAT SHE WAS DOING? A THIRTEEN YEAR OLD?! AND "IF WOMEN DIDN'T STRIP THERE WOULDN'T BE STRIP CLUBS?!
      WEIRDP....IMPOSTER...

  • Posted By: wrillman @ 06/24/2008 4:01:17 PM

    our system found him to be inocent, enough said!! doesn't matter if black, white, orange, green, or yellow support kel's, right? as i said, before... those guy's jumped the gun. both the victim, and the suspect said it wasn't them. how do yuo go to trial on to convict someone of something the victim said didn't happen (not to mention 10 years after the fact). they (lawyers) wanted to get some publicity, and make some money... thats all this was about! thats lik saying i killed somebody, and they have video of the murder, but the dead person is alive saying, i didn't harm them!

  • Posted By: bailey85 @ 06/24/2008 1:02:38 PM

    This is such a generalization...its sad that NewsWeek would make such a claim on a whole gender and race....its more opinionated and down right silly

  • Posted By: MSEBZDC01 @ 06/24/2008 2:02:14 AM

    This article is crap......a lot of black women I know, myself included do not support R. Kelly and haven't for years. I'm highly pissed off at this article. Black women with common sense like myself don't support child molesters thank you very much.

  • Posted By: the1 @ 06/23/2008 12:59:46 PM

    I too find the article offensive. The notion that I, as an African-American woman, have a responsibility to support any claim made by an African-American woman is ludicrous. This country was founded on the notion that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. God made us sentient, intelligent beings. In this age of technological advances, a great deal of expertise isn't required to create a videotape that depicts anything the human mind can imagine. Why are African-Americans eager to judge one of our own so harshly, and without careful consideration?

    As children we learn by asking questions. This process doesn't change as we age. As a people, and a nation, too often our opinions are formed, and decisions made, based on snippets or sound bytes of information. On subjects that are presumably important to us; be it R. Kelly, politics or the economy; why are we so opposed to an investment of our time to seek out and examine the overwhelming amount of information now available to us? Why must we be labeled disloyal to race, gender or country; for simply questioning the voracity of what we're told and the motivation of those doing the telling? Could manipulation be the ultimate agenda of those who would belittle us for daring not to blindly believe? I submit that should we be unwilling to devote as much energy to the reasonable and rational evaluation of information, that we give to gossiping and denigrating one another; then we mustn't cry fowl, sexism or racism when we become the target of such attacks. Perhaps we are simply reaping what we have so often sown.

  • Posted By: the1 @ 06/23/2008 12:59:04 PM

    I too find the article offensive. The notion that I, as an African-American woman, have a responsibility to support any claim made by an African-American woman is ludicrous. This country was founded on the notion that everyone is innocent until proven guilty. God made us sentient, intelligent beings. In this age of technological advances, a great deal of expertise isn't required to create a videotape that depicts anything the human mind can imagine. Why are African-Americans eager to judge one of our own so harshly, and without careful consideration?

    As children we learn by asking questions. This process doesn't change as we age. As a people, and a nation, too often our opinions are formed, and decisions made, based on snippets or sound bytes of information. On subjects that are presumably important to us; be it R. Kelly, politics or the economy; why are we so opposed to an investment of our time to seek out and examine the overwhelming amount of information now available to us? Why must we be labeled disloyal to race, gender or country; for simply questioning the voracity of what we're told and the motivation of those doing the telling? Could manipulation be the ultimate agenda of those who would belittle us for daring not to blindly believe? I submit that should we be unwilling to devote as much energy to the reasonable and rational evaluation of information, that we give to gossiping and denigrating one another; then we mustn't cry fowl, sexism or racism when we become the target of such attacks. Perhaps we are simply reaping what we have so often sown.

  • Posted By: dotherightthing2 @ 06/23/2008 11:31:06 AM

    As an Aftrican American woman i am personally offended by this article. To generally lump one group of people together and to assume that majority of black women saw R.Kelly as inncocent before his trial. I did check in o the trial on occassion. The alleged victim said it was not her, R. Kelly said it was not him. The question your article should have address is, How can we live in a country that says that you are innocent until proven guility, try and convict a black man without being sure that it was even him on the tape. What if this were your son in this situation would you not want justice to be served.

  • Posted By: Boka @ 06/23/2008 11:29:04 AM

    There is nothing wrong with liking on fantasizing about underage girls. It's part of being a man to like young females. We live in a country with laws and society norms and that should be respected. But men should not feel like perverts just because we like young women. It's natural.
    Go R. Kelly!!

    • Posted By: Brooklyngirl @ 06/26/2008 10:02:45 AM

      I guess you wouldn't mind men fantasizing about your daughter...or perhaps even acting upon those fantasies...

    • Posted By: summer4077 @ 06/23/2008 12:12:08 PM

      Ok, I agree that it's natural for say, a 40 year old to find a 21 year old attractive. But a 30 year old having sex with 12-14 year old girls is NOT natural, and men should absolutely be made to feel like perverts for doing so.

      • Posted By: Boka @ 06/23/2008 2:58:33 PM

        Well it's illegal do have sex with a girl underage. Except in Canada. It's ok to have sex with a 14 year old. Another great thing about Canada. But it's natural to look. For instance go to any town and there is a highschool car wash in the spring. Best time of year when highschool girls wash my car in skimpy outfits. I should not be made to feel like a perv.

        • Posted By: thursty @ 06/25/2008 4:30:06 AM

          you cannot be for real. be careful before you know it the age may drop some more. DUDE BORDERLINE thats all i'm going to say.

          • Posted By: Boka @ 06/25/2008 9:10:32 AM

            I'm happy with my girlfriend, she is my age. It's a natural fantasy is my point.

        • Posted By: BLKSeaGoat @ 06/24/2008 1:02:58 PM

          You are a pervert and probably a man with pedophili tendencies. You're disgusting and I sincerely hope any police agency scanning this story is tracing your information as we speak.

          • Posted By: Boka @ 06/24/2008 4:49:40 PM

            You are a horrible person. Sounds like your the one with some kind of tendencies.

  • Posted By: BLKSeaGoat @ 06/23/2008 10:53:21 AM

    Allison, do you actually READ What about our daughters? I mean, seriously, if you had actually read the posts and comments about R. Kelly, you'd have come to very different conclusion. If you simply gave WAOD a cursory review, then I would suggest you return and peruse the site at your earliest convenience.

    You are simply wrong about the readers of WAOD and I'm just going to correct you so that you don't make the same error again. Stop generalizing black women and please stop thinking that you are the only one who feels the way that you do. In fact, you're not even the first person to write about as the blogosphere has been more active than ANY journalist or magazine providing an anti-thetical view to the black community's support of the pedophile.

    Please do a better job of reseraching your sources, specifically if those sources are blogs BEFORE you lump them all into one category in an effort to bolster your ridiculous claims. Black who read WAOD have the good sense to be righteously ouraged and had you taken the time to read you'd know that.

  • Posted By: BLKSeaGoat @ 06/23/2008 10:52:58 AM

    Allison, do you actually READ What about our daughters? I mean, seriously, if you had actually read the posts and comments about R. Kelly, you'd have come to very different conclusion. If you simply gave WAOD a cursory review, then I would suggest you return and peruse the site at your earliest convenience.

    You are simply wrong about the readers of WAOD and I'm just going to correct you so that you don't make the same error again. Stop generalizing black women and please stop thinking that you are the only one who feels the way that you do. In fact, you're not even the first person to write about as the blogosphere has been more active than ANY journalist or magazine providing an anti-thetical view to the black community's support of the pedophile.

    Please do a better job of reseraching your sources, specifically if those sources are blogs BEFORE you lump them all into one category in an effort to bolster your ridiculous claims. Black who read WAOD have the good sense to be righteously ouraged and had you taken the time to read you'd know that.

  • Posted By: Slyce @ 06/23/2008 9:59:21 AM

    I find this article highly offensive. Not all black women support R. Kelly. I do not personally think he is innocent, but there is such a thing as reasonable doubt. The prosecution unfortunately could not over come it. Also, just because most women in Kelly???s local jurisdiction supported him, does NOT mean most in the country support him. But, I guess saying ???all black women??? gets more attention than just saying the truth. I personally think that your behavior is UNPROFESSIONAL. If you had performed a national survey, you might have found out that most do not support the verdict. Most importantly, I don???t appreciate that you insinuate that black people are indifferent to criminal justice, and that we play favorites with celebrities. Black people can write the book on injustice; we know what it feels like to have been wronged. We are not the sort of people to just turn our heads on justice because someone is rich and famous.

  • Posted By: Slyce @ 06/23/2008 9:59:05 AM

    I find this article highly offensive. Not all black women support R. Kelly. I do not personally think he is innocent, but there is such a thing as reasonable doubt. The prosecution unfortunately could not over come it. Also, just because most women in Kelly???s local jurisdiction supported him, does NOT mean most in the country support him. But, I guess saying ???all black women??? gets more attention than just saying the truth. I personally think that your behavior is UNPROFESSIONAL. If you had performed a national survey, you might have found out that most do not support the verdict. Most importantly, I don???t appreciate that you insinuate that black people are indifferent to criminal justice, and that we play favorites with celebrities. Black people can write the book on injustice; we know what it feels like to have been wronged. We are not the sort of people to just turn our heads on justice because someone is rich and famous.

  • Posted By: bcollins446@tampabay.rr.com @ 06/23/2008 9:46:20 AM

    From what I saw in the video the girl seemed willing. These young ladys need to realize if you're going to act like an adult and do adult things, then you suffer adult consequences. NO SYMPATHY HERE!!! I love R. Kelly, just because he was accused of this does not effect his ability to make great music; this is why I'm still a fan. The man is a genius when it comes to music. I'm a music lover and know what real music is, maybe Letisha isn't.

    • Posted By: Nardwilly @ 06/25/2008 10:02:19 AM

      She was 14. She was peed on. Even if it is not R Kelly, no one should be peeing on a 14 year old girl. Just because he found not guilty does not mean he is not in the video. The jurors said they belived it was R Kelly, but they could not tell from the tape if she was 14 or 18. 10 people who knew the girl when she was 14 said it was her.

      He peed on a 14 year old girl.

      He peed on a 14 year old girl.

  • Posted By: mjacks @ 06/23/2008 9:25:50 AM

    I am one black woman who does not support him, nor will I ever buy his music again. I realize that there are numerous black men that our locked up when the "system" sometimes can work against them. However there has been too many instances where we turn our black on black women when they are the victims. The mainstream media certainly does not care about us. If we do not stand up and protect "