Kevin Powell Speaks on Domestic Violence

Writer’s note:

Given all the hype and controversy around Chris Brown’s alleged beating of Rihanna, I feel compelled to post this essay I originally wrote in late 2007, so that some of us can have an honest jump off point to discuss male violence against females, to discuss the need for ownership of past pains and traumas, to discuss the critical importance of therapy and healing. Let us pray for Rihanna, first and foremost, because no one deserves to be beaten, or beaten up. No one. And let us also pray that Chris Brown gets the help he needs by way of long-term counseling and alternative definitions of manhood rooted in nonviolence, real love, and, alas, real peace. And let us not forget that Rihanna and Chris Brown happen to be major pop stars, hence all the media coverage, blogs, etc. Violence against women and girls happen every single day on this planet without any notice from most of us. Until we begin to address that hard fact, until we all, males and females alike, make a commitment to ending the conditions that create that destructive behavior in the first place, it will not end any time soon. There will be more Rihannas and more Chris Browns.

In my recent travels and political and community work and speeches around the country, it became so very obvious that many American males are unaware of the monumental problems of domestic violence and sexual assault, against women and girls, in our nation. This seems as good a time as any to address this urgent and overlooked issue. Why is it that so few of us actually think about violence against women and girls, or think that it’s our problem? Why do we go on believing it’s all good, even as our sisters, our mothers, and our daughters suffer and a growing number of us participate in the brutality of berating, beating, or killing our female counterparts?

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Open Letter to TV One: Reconsider...

To start with, let me state my unwavering love, admiration and respect for such a dignified and classy woman as Cathy Hughes. She is a pinnacle of inspiration to those who are familiar with her background and history. Cathy Hughes, for those unaware, is an effervescent entrepreneur who created a media empire from the labor of a determined soul. She laid the groundwork of her multi-million dollar company in the ‘60s, and has ever since, worked tirelessly to create podiums and platforms that advance Black thought, Black expression, Black vocalization and Black cultural-freedom. Through her admirable ability to cut against the grain, she has founded two monumental slates, upon which Blackness is appreciated and cherished – Radio One and TV One. Radio one is a company - founded in 1980 - which owns and operates 69 radio stations in 22 American cities; TV One is a television network, launched in 2004, which runs on both Comcast and Direct TV.

With the announcement of its(TV One) commencement, the anticipation of its arrival by the Black Community was overwhelming. It was predicated upon years of disenchantment with Black Entertainment Television, and its 24 hour music video fetish. A Boston Globe article defined it as an “alternative to BET.” Reporter Suzanne Ryan was fully aware of the expectations; she stated “already, some experts have rolled out a wish list that includes documentaries, news coverage and analysis, political commentary, explorations of Africa and its heritage, and the return of beloved series with black casts that failed on broadcast TV.” To the millions of viewers who had grown weary of Bob Johnson’s ‘experiment,’ TV One was viewed as inherently superior to BET. Nevertheless, with the revelation of the scheduled programs for air-time, some worried that TV One might metamorphosize into a house of sitcoms, just like the Viacom-owned BET. Overtime, both Radio One and TV One have received their share of criticism.

Last year, Hip-Hop artist, Jahi, wrote an op-ed in stark-dissent to Radio One’s Spring-Fest artist line-up. He outlined his dissonance saying; “So I pick up the latest issue of Rolling Out Magazine… I go to a page where it says, Spring Fest Miami 2007, hosted by AG Entertainment and Radio One. These are the acts performing live according to the listing: YOUNG JOC, Boy N DA Hood, RIC ROSS, YING YANG TWINS, TRICK DADDY, and D4L… RADIO ONE, owned by a black woman, Cathy Hughes, co signs for this type of concert where many if not most of these artist are talking about the very things "so-called" people want to be changed in Hip Hop… When will Radio One be held accountable for the music they are feeding to our kids, matter of fact, all of us?” In addition to that, TV One’s very own Michael Baisden – host of Baisden after Dark - was last year, caught in a web of his idiocy, as he had slandered a highly-venerated activist group, Color of Change, and accused them of embezzling donations procured for the Jena 6 families. With subsequent revelation of the truth, certain journalists took apart the “Bad Boy of Radio” for his “sleazy tracks” and immoral ambition. One of such was Black Agenda Report Executive Editor, Glen Ford, who was vehement in writing; “Syndicated hustler Michael Baisden, eager to become kingpin of Jena Six fundraising, launched a slanderous campaign against every Black group that doesn't have access to ABC radio's corporate reach... Every word from the junkyard dog's mouth was a lie. By November 9, Baisden was forced to tuck his tail between his legs and issue a half-hearted, disingenuous "apology" to Color of Change.” Such embarrassing stunts by Baisden, a golden child of TV One, cannot be healthy for the network’s reputation. Moreover, with TV One having the moral edge over BET, while ruin it by subliminally licensing the infantile antics of the self-obsessed Baisden after Dark host. These incidents notwithstanding, nothing comes off as more insulting to the moral fabric of the network, as the scheduled “Black Men Revealed” show – slated to premier Sunday July 20 at 10 p.m.

Trailers of the show feature grown Black Men – some of them comics -- berating Black Women -- for the sake of a “keeping it real” agenda. It is still puzzling to me, how some statements of unabridged cultural-retardation - made on the show - passes as acceptable social commentary? Aired clips of the new season feature Black men who detest everything from the color, taste and attitude of Black Women. On the show, a certain comic mentions that "Black Women whether they admit it or not, want to be scared of their men." This barrage of folly - masqueraded as Black Male independent conversation - is nothing but the empty drivel that harms the already decrepit Black Male and Black Female relations. The objective of the show is purported to be an unmasking of the innermost view-points of Black Males; unfortunately, it will undoubtedly send a potentially deadly message to impressionable young black teenagers, if TV One - by promoting the show - legitimizes the vulgar and tasteless commentary of certain guests. Regrettably, it might be too late for any moral retort vis-a-vis the already scheduled aring, but bear in mind that the unity of the Black Community is at this historical junction, very dire, and any accomplice in the disunity of Black folks will be unquestionably rewarded. Please beware that no individual nor institution is above the law of reciprocity.