The backlash against Tiger Woods infidelity hasn’t really happened. The media is enjoying the tawdry details, but the general population’s reaction seems to waver between apathy and bemusement — but very little outrage. An athlete cheating on his wife is hardly an anomaly, no matter how many different ways media sites try to spin the story for maximum shock value.
But there is a sector of the population that treats the constant parade of fair-skinned, tow-headed mistresses as affirmation of a long-held stereotype about black athletes: they prefer white women.
Tiger had already committed sin No. 1 — he married a white woman. After that, many sisters wrote him off as the typical sellout sports millionaire, and as many will tell you, a lot of black women will never look at a black man the same once he “crosses over.” It’s treated as the ultimate act of betrayal.
But where is that indignation when it comes to black men who blatantly disrespect, degrade and dehumanize black women? And, no, I don’t mean via the lyrics of a song — we all know that, given the right timing and need for a PC sound-bite, almost everyone is happy to jump on the necks of rappers for using four-letter words and having scantily-clad women in their videos.
R&B singers Chris Brown and R. Kelly haven’t missed a beat in their respective careers. Despite child molestation charges, and an infamous video showing what strongly appears to be Kelly having sex with and urinating in the mouth of a 13-year-old, the poorly nicknamed “Pied Piper of R&B” has enjoyed continued multiplatinum sales and sold-out tours around the country. Throngs of black women still shell out money to help make this man rich, and he’s never done a second of prison time or community service.
Brown beat his then-girlfriend, pop star Rihanna, to a bloody pulp in February 2009, did a few hours of community service — and is set to drop a highly anticipated comeback album, less than 10 months after the incident.
How can we rail against misogynistic lyrics and images, crucify any black male entertainer who dares even look at a non-black woman, and then blindly support abusers just because they happen to be talented?
When the news is rife with heartbreaking stories of sexual abuse and violent behavior against young black women on a seemingly daily basis, what does it say about us as a people when we will sing and dance along with those who have committed similar crimes? Think about your daughters buying these records. What are you teaching them?
–todd williams
