During the Summer of 2014, I wrote about radio host and former half of the duo “Opie and Anthony”, Anthony Cumia’s violent alleged violent confrontation with a black woman. Afterwards, getting a hold of Twitter, Cumia then vented his rage in a way only a true racist would know how. Recently, the troubled shock jock, was arrested for domestic violence against his live-in girlfriend Dani Golightly. Last year, I caught a lot of flack from Cumia supporters for highlighting his racism as well as how the media supports the mindset and the men who flaunt it. I wonder what they think of their idol now that he assaulted a woman. Most likely, they will still look up to him.
Several weeks ago, porn actor James Deen was accused of rape by several women. The embattled actor and “feminist” has denied the allegations. To date, a total of – at least – nine women came forward saying they were raped or sexually assaulted by this man. One of them is former reality TV star Farrah Abraham. Some people refer to Deen as the “Bill Cosby of porn”. And like the former spokesperson for pudding pops, he will still have people who fawn over his work over his alleged sexual abuses.
However, unlike the Cos, the outrage seems quite minimal. There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of noise about Anthony Cumia either even though there’s an online video out of him beating his lover. Frankly, I expect those who consider themselves as conservative to be as quiet as church mice, especially when it comes to their champion Cumia. But why is the so-called left, for the most part, not making examples of these men as part of today’s social problems?
I notice that on some news and opinion sites deemed as ‘liberal’, the problems of rape, domestic violence, misogyny and the like are almost never addressed or commented extensively unless the subject in question is a black celebrity or black athlete. This isn’t to say they completely ignore white people’s problems. But why are black folks always chosen as poster children for problems that transcend race?
When professional athlete and football star Ray Rice socked the hell out of his then-fiance Janay and it was all caught on tape for the world to see, there was an indepth discussion on the problem with domestic violence. Famed singer and songwriter R. Kelly has been known to have a perverted passion for underaged girls. The topic of conversation is on the problems of celebrity worship. As mentioned earlier, comedian Bill Cosby is accused of raping over 50 women. The subjects of talk is rape and, of course, the privileges of fame and power. This is not to say these men shouldn’t be held accountable for their bullshit against women. We must hold them responsible. But where was the same interest and anger when another football star Ben Roethlisberger, a white athlete was accused of rape twice? Where were the conversations when hockey player Patrick Kane, another white athlete, was accused of rape? And how come where was no social commentary when conservative pundit and resident Fox News host Bill O’Reilly was accused by his own daughter of beating his wife?
Keep in mind, there are folks who feel the need to bring to light those issues whenever a white person is at center stage. Mass murders, police brutality and racism are definitely discussed, for examples. However, again, it appears only certain topics are cause for attention whenever there’s a black face responsible.
It seems like there’s something about black skin that makes social issues seem a lot worse compared to white skin. And they only ‘matter’ to so-called ‘liberals’. Violence in any form against women is not limited to one race. Domestic violence and rape are not ‘black problems’. Using black folks, famous or not, as examples of social problems that plague everyone appear to be just a cloak-and-dagger attempt to suggest that they are black problems which only black people must be held responsible for.
Granted, the black community has its share of issues as well as any other community anywhere. Yet, if one continues to choose their indignations based on race, voluntarily or involuntarily, one is not a true ally, let alone a true progressive.