Cosby, ritual of rape denial virtually written in stone in much of public opinion, Huffington post

[Beringia]

FULL ARTICLE
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/earl-ofari-hutchinson/we-love-you-bill-cosby_b_6204616.html


Earl Ofari Hutchinson
Author and political analyst



The scorecard on Bill Cosby reads like this: A dozen or more women have said with only a slight variation in the time, place and circumstance that Cosby seduced them, propositioned them, promised them favors, put them up, even paid them, then drugged or plied them with alcohol and sexually abused them. One Bill Cosby publicly says the charges are a lie. One man denies the charge. The dozen plus women stick to their stories. Yet a seemingly disgraced but unfazed Cosby took to the stage at King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne, Florida for 90 minutes to the wild cheers of a sold-out crowd that bombarded him with shouts of "We love you, Bill Cosby!"

The Cosby audience love fest was not simply an aberration of groupie fan mania. Legions passionately believe Cosby is being wrongly crucified on the cross of raw public opinion by a pack of greedy, publicity-seeking, career-wrecking liars and schemers.

It happens to be Cosby. But the ritual of rape denial is virtually written in stone in much of public opinion and far too many police stations and courts. Days before the alleged Cosby rape victims paraded forth to retell their sordid stories, literally a sea and an ocean apart, two shocking reports came out that cast yet another brutal and ugly glare on the still rampant rape culture. An Amnesty International commissioned report in Britain found that one-third of Britons said a woman rape victim was as much if not more to blame for the rape. This wasn't all. The overwhelming majority of respondents was absolutely clueless on how widespread rape was in the country, and in nearly all cases sharply downplayed the number of rapes.

(I think this article is right on the mark, re, why Cosby has his supporters as well as detractors)

[DesertFlower]

1. even if he's innocent he's already

been tried in the social media.

his reputation has been tarnished.

[pbmus]

2. Unfortunately he has only been tried in the social media ...

and his reputation is now just like any other famous rapist ....

"even is he's guilty, the women probably asked for it"

The statement above can only be perpetuated in a male dominated society like ours.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

3. I don't think so at all. In the black social media in which I'm a part of, being black myself...

A vast majority seem to be on Cosby's side--even a solid majority of black women. Why?

Several reasons:

First, many blacks feel, with good reason, that there has been a real backlash in this country directed towards us. Latent racism has risen to the surface as a reaction against Obama's election. Many blacks feel that whites are acting out and targeting them as a result. Whites are buying more and more guns. White cops are killing more unarmed black males especially. These unnecessary gun laws, like Stand Your Ground--it's not lost on us. The scaling back of voting rights laws, weakening civil rights; affirmative action; gerrymandering, etc. Relentlessly targeting prominent blacks in Obama's cabinet or Executive Branch in general (e.g., Eric Holder, Shirley Sherrod) and/or nominees like Susan Rice and now Loretta Lynch. Going after blacks in Congress and few white Democrats (unless they're no longer in elected office like Jimmy Carter) seemingly mute and/or not strong enough to admit that racism plays a key role in how this president is being mistreated.

In addition to that the focus on famous black entertainers, stars and athletes who make mistakes are taken to the woodshed but their white counterparts are at least just as guilty of similar transgressions but never held to the same standards. Divide and conquer stories that pit black stars against each other are plastered on the front pages; loving black couples like Jada Pinkett-Smith/Will Smith and Beyonce and Jay-Z who have been married for years endure constant rumors of divorce or separation where no such thing is happening. All these things to bring negativity to the black family; stereotyping black folk. Twerking is considered o.k. now that Miley Cyrus does it. Taylor Swift mocks it not knowing that the stereotyping of black women is offensive. Having a big butt and big lips are now fashionable because J-Lo and Kim K have them but black women have always had them but were told how ugly they were for it. I could go on and on.

Second, many blacks are frustrated with white people's lack of empathy when it comes to racial insensitivity; their unwillingness to open their eyes; refusal to accept white privilege as a reality. That white people don't have to think of having to alter their behavior, how they dress, talk, move--all these things could very well determine if a black man, in particular, is killed or a black woman is accused of shoplifting. These things--all of them--don't even cross white folks' mind. And all we want is for them to acknowledge the impact on our daily lives and what that means for race relations in this country, in this society. All we want is for white people to understand how these things affect the ways in which we are treated, and often disrespected in this society. Not to make them feel bad at all. That there is even such a thing as a "Stop And Frisk" is shameful.

And finally, because black men were often killed if they were even accused of glancing at a white woman (ref. Emmett Till), many blacks find it hard to believe that in the 60s and 70s--and even to this day--Bill Cosby could get away with allegedly raping/sexually assaulting at least 16 women and not be held accountable regardless of how much money he had. Many find that unfathomable.

My own opinion? He's guilty as hell. I don't think it makes one bit of sense for these women who have absolutely nothing to gain; who would not be believed; who are NOT believed to this day--to lie about this man. No one has been able to answer rationally how it is they would gain from this. Some people keep saying MONEY. O.K., yes, money. But didn't they already get money years ago through a settlement. Why all of the sudden now again? More money? All of them again? I don't believe it. Doesn't make sense.

[DesertFlower]

5. i'm a white woman and i agree with you.

i'm 73 years old -- born and raised in queens, NY. my first job was in the garment center. blacks and puerto ricans only worked in the shipping department. but in '59 my office manager -- a jew (bless his heart) hired a black woman as an assistant bookkeeper. i was only 18 and sexually active and she told me things about sex that my mom should have told me. actually my mom didn't know i was sexually active. even after i left that job we stayed in touch for years.

it seems since obama became president racism is worst. it's been there all these years, but now the racists seems to be "coming out of the closet".

i am empathetic to the needs of black people. i'm still shocked by the trayvon martin verdict. over the years i've had black friends -- my hairdresser is mixed race. her mom is white and her dad is black. she only met him a few years ago. she was raised by white people and it was very hard for her. she lived in california and there were only 3 african americans in her graduating class. she vowed to marry a black man so her children wouldn't go through what she did. in fact she's pregnant right now with their first. even though she hasn't said it i know she's hoping for a girl because of how black men are treated.

even though racism still exists it warms my heart to see how many blacks are educated and have good jobs.

i'm also aware of "white privilege". i've had ups and downs in my life but being white and being good looking helped. back in the day when i was younger only good looking white women got receptionist jobs. a good looking white woman had a better chance of getting a secretarial job.

i've been living in phoenix for 25 years. when i first moved here it was rare to see an black person, but that has changed. i live in an upscale neighborhood and several of my neighbors are black.

please don't generalize all white people. i was raised to believe that everyone was created equal. no one in my family ever used racial slurs.

when my sister was in college she considered dating a black man. when she talked to my mom about it my mom said "if it were to become serious and you got married i know mixed race children will be accepted some day, but i don't want it to be my grandchildren who suffer". that was back in the early 70s.

back in '69 i dated a black man. he took me to a super bowl party. i was the only white person. i said to him "i feel uncomfortable". he said "now you know how i feel every day of my life". one regret i have about that day. there was a woman in the kitchen cooking chicken, etc. the door was closed. she only came out to bring food out. i should have gone into the kitchen and asked her if she needed help. i think about that a lot.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

9. Hi DesertFlower! And thank you so much for your response. Forgive me for coming off as generalizing.

I didn't mean to do that.

I think I've been writing more out of frustration than anything else.

But you see, my frustration has not only been with many white people, it has been directed at the black community, too, as a black woman in particular. We both have written of the racism that we've witnessed in the last few years and issues that we thought were resolved as a nation decades ago only to confront them again.

However, there's another dirty little secret in the black community that is often overlooked, and that is the rampant misogyny. With so much focus on black men and their trials, black women are expected--it's an unspoken demand--that we stand by our men through thick and thin. We must be on the front lines! Fighting for black men--even risking our lives for them if necessary. All of these battles--Trayvon Martin, Jordan Davis, Eric Gardner, Mike Brown...all of them--had the so-called "strong black woman" standing on the front lines, leading the fight. You saw us out there holding up signs in support of our men.

And yet, type in "black women" in the search bar on "YouTube". Go ahead. I dare you. The results you'll get are tens of thousands of YouTube channels devoted to the ridicule, the derision, outright hatred of black women. Despite the fact that black women are excelling in every aspect of social, economic and political life at rates never before seen; despite all of our successes, improvements in areas where we were once deficient; despite the fact that for many decades black women have been forced to hold down the black community--for a myriad of reasons far too difficult to fully explain--were are hated, blamed for all that is wrong in the black community; told that we are the ugliest, most undesirable, unfeminine, you name it. And the name-calling. Oh the horrible, unimaginable names we are called...

Anyway, what has me so upset is the fact that so many of us are falling over ourselves, once again, in defense of this black man Bill Cosby, who is another example of a black man who has disrespected his black woman; who has defiled her; offended her; mistreated her. And yet when awful things happen to us or our children, particularly when the alleged perpetrator is a black man, not only are the men dismissive of our claims, other black women are very quick to blame us first.

There's a much longer rant to this, but I don't want to get into it here.

What I'm trying to say that the irony of calling out the racism and the oppression on behalf of white society is there, but as I also stated in my concluding sentence, the fact that I am siding with the majority of the white women and not Cosby puts me at odds with a good number of blacks. The conflict that many black women grapple with but are afraid to speak out lest they become at odds with the black community is there and is real.

I guess the purpose of my initial post was to point out the duality; first, the real and very valid reasons for why blacks feel the way we do about why Cosby could be innocent, AND second, why I am personally conflicted because I feel that he is likely guilty for equally valid reasons.

[DesertFlower]

21. i did google it and i understand what you're

talking about.

many years ago (early 80s) i had a black friend whose man had a child with another woman. she was so hurt because she wanted to have a child with him. eventually she did and the 2 brothers got to meet each other. they were close in age. the point is she stayed with him and forgave him. i would have thrown him out, but then again i've known white women who have stayed with cheating men. my mom was one of them. of course back in the late 40s and 50s people didn't get divorced. eventually in '56 my parents did. my youngest sister was only 2. she was shamed by the catholic church. the family stood with her. in fact my uncle made sure my mom got a good lawyer. i remember one woman saying about her cheating husband "he always comes back to me".

my hairdresser who i talked about would never tolerate that. if anything she and her husband are extremely devoted to each other. now that she's pregnant he treats her like a queen. one day he came into the salon just to bring her a certain tea that she likes.

i feel terrible about cosby. he is a great comedian and was respected by black and white people. i really want him to be innocent.

look at how they ridicule michelle obama. i don't know how black women feel about her but i think she's great and a role model, but remember when he was running for office they had to change the shape of her eyebrows because it was said that she looked like "an angry black woman". she was ridiculed for wearing shorts on a trip to the black canyon. it was summer and hot. why shouldn't she wear shorts? it's not like they were very short. would they have said that about a white first lady? recently an acquaintance said michelle is a racist and hates white people.

[ReRe]

7. Possibly...

... and I repeat possibly, pure greed? As Bill Cosby and his wife just announced the huge collection of Art they possess? Maybe when he made a settlement with these women, he failed to include the value of his art collection and they think he owes them more? Just thinking out loud. I too think he is guilty and that he should have admitted the whole thing as soon it hit the media. Because this "Who?-Me?" charade is only going to hurt him in the long run.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

10. I thought they donated that collection to the Smithsonian? However, a possible motive could be...

I've learned that he did have a newly syndicated show in the works. And this was big. The conspiracy theorists have surmised that perhaps NBC put these women up to having it stopped.

[ReRe]

11. Gurgle....

Gosh, they just be making money all the way around, huh?

[niyad]

20. the statute of limitations has expired, in many cases, so there is no chance of any sort of

monetary compensation, which takes greed off the table.

[ReRe]

22. Thanks...

... I wasn't sure about that.

[TreasonousBastard]

12. Very well said. A lot to think about here.

[lexington filly]

14. I hear and agree with almost everything you said and have

some understanding because I'm really aware that I first see this as a male/female/power thing because I'm looking through the prism of being a white female. I don't have any emotional investment in Bill Cosby except as a female but if I were black..... Different background of experience and prism and so, response.
I do think that Cosby was able to keep this under the radar so long NOT because he personally was so wealthy, but because he made so very many white powerful corporations and men SO immensely wealthy! Look at the tv networks, studios, sponsors, ad agencies, agents, producers, directors, casts, on and on feeding off his talent and fame. Bill Cosby was an Industry, literally a gold mine. They enabled their bank accounts by enabling him; I see no difference between Cosby feeling entitled to drug females to get what he wants and white fraternity boys or military guys feeling entitled to have sex with females through any means to that end. Equally insidious and vile and criminal. These men are going for raping "smarter" by denying females the right to defend themselves or provide evident through obvious bruising, cuts, or swollen faces and the like. They're going for the perfect crime.....And we have to stop them.

[JustAnotherGen]

17. Great Explanation

And I'm with you -he's guilty as hell!

I'm so disgusted by him. How many more women did he hurt.

[AtheistCrusader]

4. Agreed on all points.

I think the people still supporting him, are mostly people supporting the characters he has played over the years, which they are emotionally attached to.

A very bad idea. They likely know little to nothing about him as an individual.

[lexington filly]

6. 100%, I back these women because they are

standing tall and claiming their own realities. It doesn't matter if you believe them or if I do because by social media finally providing them a public platform when MSM wouldn't over the years, they've now empowered themselves and de-fanged their bogeyman. I'm so proud to be a woman when I've seen that one or two spoke out then another, then another... and have supported each other by coming forth. Howdoya like your "truth to power medicine" Dr. Cosby?

[ReRe]

8. Do you know...

... if the women are going to sue him class-action style? If there are, what?, 16 women who have come forward, it stands to reason that there were probably allot more than the 16. Imagine the ones who were NOT willing to go public!

[lexington filly]

15. No lawyer but think that's too few to qualify

as class action even if a few more come forward. This hasn't seemed to be about money for most of them to me. For some people, just having the courage or justifiable outrage to speak your truth aloud feels like enough justice.

[ReRe]

16. Watch out for Gloria Alred

Although, what about "statute of limitations" time constraint? Speaking my truth outloud damn sure wouldn't be enough for me.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

13. The Grio has come to my rescue. This article written by the brilliant Michael Arceneaux...

...who's a black man (I really needed for that to happen!):

My initial reaction to TV Land’s decision to cut The Cosby Show from its lineup was mostly tied to the notion that Bill Cosby is not being afforded the same luxury as his white counterparts like Woody Allen and Roman Polanski, who continue to see their films aired and celebrated even when we’re given detailed reminders of their sexual allegations. However, when it comes to Bill Cosby, it’s a bit more complicated than my knee-jerk reaction to the cable network’s decision suggests.

If you go on social media, you will see tweets like, “Remember..at one time Bill Cosby was about to buy the NBC network..a Black man with any kind of real POWER is not cool in America!!!!” Likewise, “They can’t never let a Black man be successful & respected by all at the same time….don’t try & dirty Bill Cosby’s name bruh.”

Then there outlets posing leading questions such as “We see Bill Cosby, a Black man, being accused by multiple white women of rape. Is he automatically guilty because of the racial layer?” Even some misguided white people have entered the fray, arguing that Cosby is being mistreated while white women like Lena Dunham are being let off the hook.

Some refuse to believe the ever-increasing number of women who have accused Bill Cosby of raping them due to the idea that this is nothing more than a concerted effort to bring an iconic Black man down. An iconic Black man who presented an image of a Black family that means so much to so many – exactly why the Black-focused networks like the BET-owned Centric and Magic Johnson-founded Aspire have decided to keep airing episodes of The Cosby Show.

No one can deny the reality that Black people – even famous, wealthy ones – are often treated more harshly than white people. Nonetheless, these Bill Cosby apologists conveniently leave out the part that Bill Cosby has long been accused of raping women over the years and he’s only now really facing public backlash for it. So if this was truly about the media “just trying to assassinate another Black man character” as some have suggested, why did it take so long?

What’s happening to Bill Cosby now is not an affront on the Black man. This is a testament to how one powerful man can no longer flex his muscle to shut people up in an age where new media and social media drive the conversation in ways a 77-year-old celebrity is not used to. Sure, TV Land’s decision is harsh, but it will likely be reversed the same way networks have returned to airing episodes of 7th Heaven despite its show’s patriarch, played by actor Stephen Collins, confessing to child molestation.

This isn’t about racism so much as it is a lingering lassiez faire attitude many have about sexual assault. There is not enough sympathy in the world for victims of rape and there’s even less when the accused rapist is an entertainer. People will put their entertainment value ahead of a person’s humanity. It is why Woody Allen, Roman Polanski, and yes, Bill Cosby, have managed to amass fortunes for their art with only small blemishes to their legacies.

It is why R. Kelly continues to have a career despite the charges leveled against him. This is a man who has been accused of raping children for several years and has responded by being just as sexually explicit in his creative works than ever before. If we go by the logic that Bill Cosby’s current media narrative can be attributed to racial politics, than why is R. Kelly still relevant? As much as many of us love 12 Play, his contributions to culture are far less important that Bill Cosby and he doesn’t possess a fraction of the prestige Cosby has.

If anything, Cosby is a Black man who has spent the last decade of his life condemning poor Black people – to the amusement of the very folks some now would argue are crucifying him. And unlike many of the aforementioned men, none of them positioned themselves as moralizer. It is Bill Cosby who has long fancied himself pristine and above others. It is Bill Cosby who has used that public image to denigrate his people. This is Cosby’s chickens coming home to roost.

Cosby may be a Black man, but as a man first, he’s long enjoyed the perks of patriarchy – the main culprit behind it taking decades for his reputation to be rightly challenged.

http://thegrio.com/2014/11/22/bill-cosby-racism-sexism/

Follow Michael Arceneaux on Twitter @youngsinick.

[Stargazer09]

18. Very interesting

Thank you for posting that.

[Stargazer09]

19. Interesting article

I think Cosby is definitely guilty. He has gotten away with his actions for far too long, and I can only hope that his reputation continues to take a nosedive.

As far as rape culture in general, sadly, I'm not surprised.