From Chris Brown’s Usher-like dance moves, to his smooth sounding vocals, to that remarkably hot bod – girls around the nation considered him to be number one in the R&B game and number one in their hearts. But since his 2009 violent episode with singer Rihanna, some are finding it hard to let the once beloved artist back into their good graces, while others maintain their devoted loyalty.
February 11th marks the three-year anniversary since Brown (sometimes known as Breezy) put Ri in the hospital with visible and gruesome injuries. The Barbados-born beauty claimed that the fight had started over Brown receiving a text message from another woman, which lead to a violent altercation. Three years and many fights later, Brown is still at it – fighting with other musicians, riling up random people at nightclubs, and making derogatory comments about women and homosexuals.
With all this controversy surrounding this once great artist, why does our generation continue to openly support him? Our culture seems to have come a long way from the days of hidden (and accepted) spousal abuse. We openly recognize that a man assaulting a woman is unacceptable, degrading, and dangerous; it goes against any sane person’s moral standings. So with these advancements in knowledge about abuse and battered women, why do we still download Brown’s music, claim he’s still a hottie, and bash on those who no longer support him? Is our culture so ingrained with foul rap lyrics and violent movies that a man openly hitting a woman is now just part of who we are?
As time goes on and certain social media expand, the signs point to yes. On multiple occasions, girls have been noted tweeting, “I don’t care what anyone says. Chris Brown is so hot, I’d let him hit me.” Wait, what? Do these girls understand the severity of spousal abuse? Why is it that our generation can no longer find sympathy for women like Rihanna and contempt for “men” (if you can call them that) like Chris Brown? It may stem back to the notion that society has taught us the following: men can do no wrong and, somehow, the blame lies on the woman. Our generation may claim they don’t feel this way, but various tweets and Facebook statuses seem to say otherwise. “Rihanna got what was coming to her.” “It’s her fault he got so mad.” No. No woman (or person, for that matter) deserves to be subjected to abuse, and it’s time we stop blaming the victim, and recognize Brown (and those like him) for what he is – a classic abuser.
Our generation is in serious danger of losing all the social graces, class, and privacy of the decades before us. Because we can post from any location at any time, we no longer have to filter our thoughts; we can openly admit that Brown having hit Rihanna is “not that big of a deal.” We can tweet, post, and blog without the fear of consequences. Without this fear, we are apt to say anything extreme. Nothing seems to shock us anymore because we have become so accustomed to violence, anger, and hatred being submitted via Internet at the tip of our very own fingertips. Without this shock or amazement, an abused woman seems nowhere out of the norm.
It’s time that we take back this new (and frightening) social norm, and replace it with some poise. I believe it is crucial for our generation to rally around this idea. Never take it upon yourself to post such inconsiderate things about abuse victims; you appear uneducated and very cruel. By submitting such insensitive posts you are perpetuating the situation, making it harder for advocates against abuse and easier for abusers like Chris Brown to justify their actions.
There are numerous steps we can collectively take to help eliminate the promotion of abuse:
- Monitor your posts: When in doubt, always remember what your momma told you – THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK, only this time you need to be conscientious before you post. This can help eliminate the promotion of bad behavior. Would you really let Chris Brown “hit you because he’s so hot?”
- Unfollow and delete: Stand up against abusers and other celebrities that promote bad behavior by not buying their music or supporting their pages. (I’m not saying you can’t get down when “Run It” comes on at a party). Be conscious of what type of musician you’re supporting when you buy songs on iTunes or follow them on Twitter. They will lose some of their power if you rally behind other, more respectable artists.
- Support the victim: Even if Rihanna’s not your favorite, or you’re angry she’s back with Breezy, remember that she’s been through a lot. Don’t hate on her for her personal decisions, and don’t forget that there are outlining circumstances that we will never know about their personal relationship.
Our generation has the power to end the promotion of celebrities who don’t have their sh*t together. There are tons of artists out there that have just as great (if not, better) music. For example, Beyoncé (yeah, we won’t be forgetting that Super Bowl performance anytime soon) is a great role model – strong, independent, talented, and charismatic; her list of scandals is limited. This is not to say that any musician is perfect (we are all human), but there are current artists out there that remain respectable and manage to not casually beat on another person.
So take a vow to end the promotion of abusive celebrities; think about how 1 in 3 girls your age are physically assaulted by an abusive boyfriend, or about how 50% of girls who grow up in an abusive home will end up with an abuser.* Think of these facts before perpetuating an already out-of-hand situation, and before granting someone like Chris Brown permission to lay a hand on you. Don’t allow the easy access of social media to corrupt your views on issues like abuse, and remember that our generation isn’t about speaking your every thought, but rather using your words to promote peace over violence and moral standings over celebrity.
If you or someone you know is suffering from spousal abuse, please contact the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh’s 24 hour hotline
at 412-687-8005 or toll free at 1-877-338-TALK (8255)
or visit them online to find out what constitutes as abuse or get help
(http://www.wcspittsburgh.org)
If you are not from the Pittsburgh area, please visit
(www.thehotline.org) or call at 1-800-799-SAFE (7223)
*Source: http://www.wcspittsburgh.org/
Photo one courtesy of http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news
Photo two courtesy of http://silencenogood.net