Celebrity News:

After more than six years of delays, the R. Kelly trial officially began this week and even before the prosecution finishes its case, I find myself hoping that he goes to jail. Why? Because, like most black people, I have little doubt about R. Kelly’s guilt. Unfortunately, despite this general consensus within the black community, R. Kelly has received a virtual free ride. As a result, he has become a metaphor for the black community’s tragic indifference to the welfare of black girls.


Since being leaked to the public, the videotape showing R. Kelly (or his evil doppelganger) having sex with a teenager has become a lucrative commodity in the ‘hood. By categorizing it as another "celebrity sex tape" rather than child pornography, the viewing public is able to sidestep its own culpability in watching the exploitative flick. In the 72 months following his arrest, R. Kelly has sustained, if not increased, his popularity among black consumers. This success cannot be merely attributed to collective amnesia; "Chocolate Factory," which debuted atop the Billboard charts and has sold more than 3 million copies in the United States, was released barely a year after the scandal broke. Kelly’s prolific sales numbers are particularly staggering given the overwhelming number of young black women that comprise R. Kelly’s fan base. Unlike many gangster rap artists, whose prolific sales are often attributed to voyeuristic suburbanites, Kelly’s actions are being financed by the very people being abused on the tape: black girls.


Of course, R. Kelly’s popularity among consumers is only possible because of the continued support of his industry peers. To date, Kelly has yet to be banned from any major award shows, even those sponsored by black owned and operated companies. Since the release of the sex tape, R. Kelly has continued to produce, write, and perform with dozens of mainstream artists. Even image conscious black superstars like Jay-Z and Usher have collaborated with Kelly, largely because there are few stakes attached to working with someone accused of abusing young black girls.


Another measure of the black community’s indifference is the lack of outcry from traditional black leadership. Despite the existence of tangible evidence, far more than what was available during the Duke rape case, there have been no calls for protest marches, economic boycotts, or other sanctions against R. Kelly and his backers. When questioned on the subject, many leaders have suggested that they are "waiting until he gets his day in court." Such a response is patently dishonest, given the breakneck speed at which blacks have responded to the videotaped beatings of black men like Sean Bell and Rodney King. Sadly, the videotaped abuse of black women does not warrant the same outrage.