This blog post is a part of the series, “CARED Perspectives,” developed by the APAGS Committee for the Advancement of Racial and Ethnic Diversity (CARED). This series will discuss current events and how these events relate to graduate students in psychology. If you are interested in contributing to the CARED Perspectives series, please contact Aleesha Young, Chair of APAGS-CARED.

By Krystal Christopher

In January 2019 a docuseries entitled “Surviving R. Kelly” premiered on Lifetime igniting a firestorm of emotions and reopening several investigations against the singer. In February of this year (soon after the release of the 6-part docuseries), Kelly was indicted on 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in Chicago.

The docuseries consisted of six episodes spanning three nights examining the over two decades of sexual-misconduct accusations against Kelly. However, the details and reports in this series were not new, or unheard of. Quite the opposite. The subject matter of the docuseries has been reported elsewhere circa 2000 in a local Chicago newspaper. In 2002, Kelly was indicted on 21 charges related to child pornography. However, the jury selection began in 2008 with a reduction in charges from 21 to 14. Kelly was ultimately found not guilty on all counts. Over two decades of allegations Kelly also settled several sexual misconduct lawsuits, while retaining his innocence. “Surviving R. Kelly” did not expose R. Kelly as the details were known and readily available. Instead the docuseries highlighted how the court of public opinion did not convict Kelly; rather, his celebrity status protected him until the public could no longer remain silent.

The court of public opinion failed to bring charges to R. Kelly, yet the voice of the public has increased outside of the court to bring justice to victims of sexual assault. The #MeToo movement started by Tarana Burke, an African American woman, is a movement against sexual harassment and sexual assault. The power of public opinion has been at the roots of this movement, as it began in the realm of social media. As such, the perceptions of the allegations, and the context in which the abuse occurred have dictated how the public process the allegations. Since its inception, we have seen accusations levied against Harvey Weinstein, and Les Moonves- perhaps largely perceived as wealthy white men who used their status to fortify their behavior. Conversely, Bill Cosby and R. Kelly, may have been perceived (largely by the African American community) as black men for whom their success (in film, TV, music) represented beating the odds of living as a person of color, and specifically a Black man, in a country where racism is embedded.  In fact, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, Bill Cosby, R. Kelly, and Virginia’s Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax have all used metaphoric words like lynching and assault in response to accusations of sexual misbehavior.  Their words playing on the public’s (specifically African Americans) instinct to surround “people who are being subjected to potential injustice,” according to Jackson-Lowman, president of the Association of Black Psychologists.

It cannot be overlooked that the accusers in the Weinstein and Les Moonves cases were white and may have impacted how swiftly action was taken against these individuals. Additionally, recognizing that the #MeToo movement created a climate conducive to facilitating these changes. However, even in the #MeToo era there are some notable trends as it pertains to racial differences in sexual violence. Black rape victims remain less likely to see their rapist prosecuted (Stacey, Martin, & Brick, 2016) and black girls are twice as likely to be sexually abused as their white counterparts (National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (NIS-4),2010). Moreover, Tarana Burke, says African American females are often hypersexualized, and thus, are seen as more mature and ultimately bear the burden of being perceived to be responsible for what happens to them. In America, the sexual exploitation of African American females has been deplorable. Dr. Carolyn West, a clinical psychologist and psychology professor at the University of Washington West explains that rape was a part of the African American woman experience dating back to the slave trade. Cultural stereotypes insist that both African American men and women are animalistic, driven by uncontrollable sexual needs, which in turn attempts to justify inhumane treatment. Though as a society, we have largely moved past this perspective, implicit biases are embedded in the system. America’s deep seeded racially divided history is interwoven into its fabric.

How was “Surviving R. Kelly” able to move the needle on a well-documented history of questionable behavior to finally convince the public to convict R. Kelly? In a piece written in the New Yorker, Cobb and Cobb (2019) suggest it is plausible that because the docuseries was produced by an African American woman who has made a career as a feminist; dream hampton, it forced an analysis of Kelly that otherwise have been difficult for African Americans to digest. For one, hampton’s role demonstrates that the entities at play were no longer the institution trying to “bring down the black man.”  It is often discussed within the African American community that the majority of those in power in the United States (i.e., White wealthy males) are working overtime to continue the assault on the African Americans. These assaults on the community are mainly through incarceration or the stripping of accolades, and dates back to many historical events in the United States (e.g. slavery, Jim Crow Laws, the War on Drugs, etc). In this case, the docuseries was constructed by a member of the community, perhaps making it more palatable for African Americans, who also make up the majority of consumers responsible for Kelly’s successful music career. Perhaps hampton’s involvement in the docuseries aided in lowering defenses allowing the message of the docuseries to be heard. Whatever the case is, it is important to recognize the disparities is sexual violence, be aware of our biases, and understand the role of history in present day.

References

Cobb, J., & Cobb, J. (2019, January 11). R. Kelly and the complexities of race in the #MeToo                     Era. Retrieved from https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/r-kelly-and-the-                 complexities-of-race-in-the-metoo-era

Noveck, J. (2019, March 18). R. Kelly case spotlights abuse of girls in the era of #MeToo.              Retrieved from https://apnews.com/41bc5551f81949eb854bb243e87c96df           

Kelly’s arrest barely scratches the surface of a much-needed #MeToo reckoning for black girls. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/r-kelly-s-arrest-                          barely-scratches-surface-much-needed-metoo-n977816

Stacey, M., Martin, K. H., & Brick, B. T. (2017). Victim and Suspect Race and the Police                                Clearance of    Sexual Assault. Race and Justice, 7(3), 226–255.                                                           https://doi.org/10.1177/2153368716643137