Chris Brown and Whitney Houston: Entertainment Industry Fails Black Women

I don't think either the Chris Brown or Whitney Houston examples is as bad as the decision to produce all these garbage reality TV "wife" franchises that project the worst stereotypes about Black women (& are probably creating a few new ones).

- Basketball Wives: Blacks are violent, Black women are angry & difficult

- RHOAtlanta: "bourgie", materialistic, former trophy wives, Black women are difficult

- Love & Hip Hop: video vixens turned baby mamas & all the accompanying drama, Black women are difficult

http://todayentertainment.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/22/10477597-report-bobby-brown-peddling-tell-all-book-about-life-with-whitney-houston

As a black woman, I don't believe at all that Clive Davis moving forward with his annual pre Grammy party had anything to do with Whitney Houston being black. Was it disrespectful? Yes... but racially driven? I think not. To connect the two is beyond "hyper-sensitive".

As far as Rihanna feeling disrespected by Chris Brown being let to perform; Rihanna is as we speak working on two musical collaborations with her heavy handed ex lover, so I'm sure she had no qualms about him performing.

I DO believe that there are times that the entertainment industry has been "racially insensitive" but to make that correlation in these instances is a bit much. As you, I'm sure, I would like for society to see us all as equals. It's kind of hard to do that when we (black people) are always so quick to point out our differences and non-existent racial indiscretions.

I do not see how what happened to Chris Brown has to do with what happened to Whitney Houston and what has happened to both of them have to do with the entertainment industry failing black women. No one fail Rihanna. Rihanna did not fall; she was hit pretty badly but she did exactly what you suppose to do, report criminals and move on. As far as Whitney Houston goes, what happened to her was her fault and her fault alone. As far as the pre-Grammys party still going on, the same artist that were at the Grammys were at the pre-Grammys party; all types of artists of all types of races. What is the difference between the pre-Grammys party still going on and the Grammys? No one suggested to postpone the Grammys. Or would it have been better if the pre-Grammys' host was not Whitney Houston's Clive Davis but another music producer? Personally, I am not for disrespecting the living or the dead but the pre-Grammys party had been planned in advance just like the Grammys. As far as Sherri Sheppard comment, I do not know if she feels that way personally but what she said is true. As long as artists continue to entertain people will forgive or forget what happened. While I do not believe Chris Brown totally gets what he has done to Rihanna down to his soul yet, I do believe he will be a better man for it. I do not forgive Chris Brown because he did not do anything to me to forgive him about. I see what he did to Rihanna as another sad and horrible news story but life goes on. I will continue to listen to his music and watch him perform like I do a lot of these Hail the I am a Saint Artist, but I would never want to hang out with him or be his friend. I treat artists & entertainers like they did back in the day because they did not have access to what an artist every move was back then like they do now. I get excited about their music and their performance and that is it. I save all my time and energy for my own kids, family, friends and community. I do wish him the best because people with anger management problems like him is going to need it. I prayerfully support him. I hope people continue to support him as far as him becoming a great man and hopefully in the near future he may very well be the face of a wave of how men suppose to treat women starting with the man in the mirror himself. The problem is not with support but what you support. Whitney Houston was trying to get herself together although she had a few relapse here and there. People booed her at her concerts, went online and blog so very negatively about her, called her all kinds of names like crack w.... and saying social service should take Bobbi Kristina from her and she does not deserve a second chance and that black people condone what she is doing. Pretty much the same way people are doing Chris Brown. America fails to realize when someone is trying to get better they are doing just that trying to get better, they are not better yet. It seems that our forgiveness has to come at the expense of someone knocking on death's door or going through it. It is amazing how, negatively, people commented about Whitney Houston before she died but now she is dead are singing her praises or blaming her shortcomings on everyone else. Isn't that backwards or shouldn't it be done at the same time, criticize the negative but praise the positive? Every community has its rising stars to fame and its shooting stars to shame. When I think of what happened to Whitney Houston a few names come to mind: Whitney herself, Cissy, and Clive Davis. I know Clive Davis is a music producer but he made himself known (front & center) to be more than that when Whitney Houston was very successful and like the saying goes you have to take the good with the bad. That is why artist need to understand that fans are not going to be there for you like your family and close friends will be. I laugh when I hear artist say they do what they do for their fans. You should not do what you do for your fans, you should do it because you love to do it. Because fans stray just like any and everything else does over time. But your true love and passion for your art will not and so you should do it for the love of it and keep strong & supportive family and friends close because it seems like this business is cut throat and it is all about the almighty dollar. I know Beyonce's mom & dad are no longer together but I do have much respect for how they kept their daughter bubbled.

Laina, wonderful piece with many points that bear reflection and thought----neither of which, sadly, our empty celebrity culture supports. But we---we people with souls and intelligence and good intentions for all despite the fact that we humans fail every day---cannot just give up in the face of such emptiness. We must keep speaking these words and enlarging the circle of people who know we must find a way to keep being bigger than the small desires that fill our days!

What a great piece of writing. Really enjoyed reading it as you placed a different perspective on the Rihanna/Chris incident. So quickly we forget.

I always felt the entertainment industry is the most racist and sexist industry of all. I don't see how any black woman can be consciously okay with being in show business at this time. Black women are basically forced to look like white women with big butss. Even Beyonce is treated like a dancing Jezebel compared to Adele and Taylor Swift. I acutally feel sorry for her, Rihanna, and Nicki Minaj. They practically have to jump through humps and do the banana dance to get recognized. They could never just stand there and perform. They must put on a 'good' show for the white folks.

It very well could be that the black entertainment industry is quicker to forgive a sick abuser, and more hardline money-driven than the entertainment industry is in general, but, I swear, I am not so sure. Mel Gibson is making movies again and getting spoken softly about by Jodie Foster, of all women I'd expect to be no part of an abusive man's reputation overhaul. A long list of stars cooed about poor suffering Roman Polanski. Entertainment in general is a nasty, manipulative business and I think the embrace of these bad guys is driven by the ticket-buying, music-buying public. If the public pours $ into the career of a creep, the industry will craft the creep's "Rehab / Anger Management, I'm In Touch with my Issues" display on the talk show, magazine cover, award circuit. Money trumping decency and consequences betrays every victim every time.

Although I don't think the Chris Brown thing was right, why does everything have to be about RACE? Why can't they just be entertainers instead of BLACK entertainers?I'm so sick of hearing about race. We can all see their skin color, what does it have to do with Chris Brown or who he beat up?? or how black women have been failed? Do they deserve special treatment or something??

Excellent article! Thanks for the reminder about Chris Brown's behavior at the Today Show. I had forgotten about that. It makes the decision to have him perform at the Grammies (twice!) even worse. The original incident with Rihanna was reprehensible in and of itself but his lack of contrition and utter arrogance brings it to a whole other level. And yes, sadly, race plays into this significantly. What if Chris Brown had hit Taylor Swift instead of Rihanna? He would be ostracized from the music industry forever, if not rotting in prison.

I am APPALLED every day by the world's acceptance of what Chris Brown did. It makes me sick the way society is just sort of "accepting" it as normal to go around beating up women. I honestly can't even look at him. I didn't watch the Grammy's this year. I couldn't.

I totally agree with your opinion on domestic violence towards women, black women especially. I find the forgiveness of Chris Brown to be disgusting, and I think if he wasn't a moneymaker for so many, he would have lost his career, and rightfully so. I am disgusted by the all the hype that everyone seemed to be capitilizing on using Whitney Houston's death to create tons of hype and raising Neilson ratings. How terribly sad! She deserves so much more than what she is getting. Addiction is an illness, and terribly hard to break! I pray for her family and those that truly loved her and are hurting right now. I pray that Rihanna finds her own self-worth and realizes she deserves the very best treatment. We woman need to realize how strong we are, and should stand together to help each other through the many trials and tribulations we endure in our lives. Thank you for sharing your thoughs and opening up a much-needed discussion.

Very well written, indeed. Very few women on the internet are willing to talk about the train-wreck that is Chris Brown, without playing the "hurt people, hurt people" card. I am well aware of his upbringing and the abuse both he and his mother faced. Because of that knowledge, I expected his family and his management team to do more to assure he receives counseling on a long term basis. Domestic abuse while highly publicize, still remain a silent issue in the black community. We need to talk about it and take action. Should Brown be outcast for the rest of his life?absolutely not. But, his behavior and speech clearly reveals a man with very little remorse. Many preach about empowering our black girls, but few reach out to our boys. Unfortunately, no matter how empowered and well prepared our daughter's are, we are doing them a disservice if we forget to educated, groom and empower our boys.

Very well written. I don't know what the answer is. Like you stated Whitney had all the "grounding" I would have initially thought necessary to survive in such an industry. But it's not just that industry, I think we're faced with this challenge in every area of our lives. At some point the carrot is dangled across the line and, in our attempt to accomplish our goals and dreams, we end up on the opposing team. It's black women but it's also just women. There's always been more bend required on our side than on the side of men and women are most times blindly supporting it all. Again, you made some really good points.

Well said...

The Davis non-cancel really surprised me, but in retrospect the surprise should be anyone in the power positions of the entertainment industry acting in a responsible, non-exploitive, self-promotional way. And unfortunately, while Whitney can no longer benefit, she will be exploited. There will be repackaged material,'discoveries' of lost tapes, her memory marketed to people who actually loved her for something other than the money she put in wallets, and so long someone sees a buck in something with her name attached to it, onward they go.

We see and saw the same thing with Amy Winehouse, and I feel the same with Whitney as I did with Amy. It isn't about the music, it's about the person, struggling to find a good place, not one designed by another, but their own place, in this world. I've seen comments about Whitney making choices and being the root cause of her own demise, and while on a superficial level that is true, it really absolves those exploiters around her who only knew how to use her for their own purposes. It distances us as consumers of the exploited. Satiate our desires, and when someone falls, market their demise to us as well, so we can grieve over something we all helped bring about. We seem to be a nation of too bad, so sad - and what's in it for me today?

It bothers me. I know what it feels like to struggle against what can seem like insurmountable personal issues. And I know what it feels like to act irresponsibly, causing harm elsewhere. We lost our soul, this nation... we've eschewed how to nurture and encourage and help each other reach good places in life, realms where we feel we belong, in whatever shape it all works for us. We seek instant gratification and turn away when someone can no longer offer what we desire. We embrace punishment as the sole tool that matters, so if you use drugs, if you die, your fault. If you get caught, we won't help you correct the issues what brought you there, we'll stigmatise you and throw you in prison.

Unfortunately, in every equation on group power, women continue to lose, and I like how Patricia Collins illustrated this in relation to Black women. We don't even stand with each other, we focus on our sphere of issues to the detriment of other women, we don't even listen to each other, and as a result, too many women stand for status quo or curry favour within status quo to earn some elevated status over other women.

We need to remember we are people, persons first and whatever it is we do second. We need to understand one loss matters. Maybe then we'd stop exploitation before it consumes someone whole.

This was so well written, thank you for sharing it with us. I've been sickened by the Chris Brown hideousness. There are now whispers that he will be a featured guest on a Rihanna song. Now this could be complete gossip, but what it suggests is that the expectation of forgiveness and dissolution of the event as a significant piece of history is broad-sweeping.

The whole thing just makes me ache for women, black and white, and the spirit of justice.

Thank you for a well written, and thoughtful, commentary on all of this. I could not agree with you more, about any of it. I would further posit that the comments around the time that Whitney Houston was beaten by Bobby Brown prove your point. I remember a lot of, "I'll bet she gave as good as she got!" It was as if a strong Black woman could not possibly be the victim of domestic violence, no, she must have ALSO abused her attacker. It is just all so horrifying, and I say this as a White woman. I have a two year old son, and I will spend the rest of my days making sure that he respects each and every woman he comes in contact with in his life.

Thanks for the article. I was confused about the continuing of the party the night she died, too. Didn't watch the awards show, but was shocked that Brown performed... twice. Was disgusted when I heard of the girls' comments about him and am now even more disgusted after reading them. It is a shame that so many young (and old) girls and women are ok with being beaten by their men. I have several students in my classes that I overhear sharing tales of their beatings with other students like it is a normal thing... those comments make me better understand that maybe it is something they believe to be normal. Horrible. We really need to make sure that they have more pride and confidence in themselves to understand that it is NOT ok.

Police report from the brown/rihanna incident. The account starts on page 7. Really saddening, and something those 25 female tweeters should probably read and rethink their flippant remarks. http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/03/05/brown.warrant.pdf