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The #MeToo movement exposing Hollywood’s most well known and titans and Louis C.K. being taken down due to his past perverted nature, should we expect our favorite Black comedians to be next?
Dave Chappelle just brought up a very interesting thought in #TheBirdRevelation. Considering all that is going down with the Me Too movement, aren’t you surprised a whole lot of 70s-00s Black comics haven’t gotten accused of something?
— Wherever I Look (@MadMan_Writer) December 31, 2017
Let’s explore this. As of now, Bill Cosby is perhaps one of the few, big time, stand up comedians, Black comedians, who we have seen exposed. The only other one that comes to mind is Martin Lawrence when it comes to his treatment of Tisha Campbell-Martin. Something which got so bad she decided to quit the show and sue not just him, but HBO.
For those who don’t remember or, like me, weren’t of age to know about this when it went down, let’s recap things real quick. According to this LA Times article by Greg Braxton, during the last season of Martin, Tisha Campbell, at the time not married, [note]which doesn’t matter for any reason besides a slight explanation why I’m not including the usually added -Martin[/note] experienced a level of inappropriate behavior, read harassment and sexual battery. Something which could be defined as, with them being a couple on the show, him making hugs uncomfortable by pressing upon her a certain way, an agreed-upon way they will be intimate as a fictional couple not being followed, and things of that nature.
Bringing this topic into 2018, so begins the question how how come that one instance, alongside Bill Cosby, is one of the few you can find on Black comics?
Now, let me state, I’m not calling for a witch hunt or anything like that. However, you got to admit with many of the things said in Black comedy, with “Bitch” being widely used by all but the clean comics, alongside what we have seen with rappers, R&B artist, football and basketball players go through, the fact there is nothing coming out about anyone but Russell Simmons, who but created a platform for Black comics, you gotta admit is strange.I mean, just trying to Google something, the only thing I found was Tim Kenneally’s article for The Wrap referencing a physical assault case involving Katt Williams.
But could what Dave Chappelle said in The Bird Revelations be true or even hinting at something? Could it be, because of the history of Black men and our relation to Black women, that perhaps they have stayed in the shadows and haven’t joined the #MeToo movement just to keep the likes of Martin Lawrence, Eddie Murphy, or others from being punished? Is racial solidarity truly that deep?
Which, again, isn’t to say the men named have done anything besides party and have consensual sex. More so, in a field which flourishes on the idea of saying and doing outrageous things, a field filled with rags to riches stories, is anyone else surprised Bill Cosby is the only one with an illustrious history, followed by Martin Lawrence, and then nearly virtual silence?
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Here’s how I see it. Hollywood is a still built echo chamber. Where the people on top create an atmosphere to control everything the way they want it. It’s not that people didn’t know what was going on in Hollywood, they knew and choose not to say anything for the sake of money and their careers. There are still names that the brass in Hollywood know about but they don’t want to be the ones to blow the doors open because they are comfortable with their spots. As far as black comedians, we’ll see. I don’t think Hollywood likes the look of going after black people whether warranted or not but nothing coming out of that town would surprise me at this point except for an underground bible study club.
Backlash. Arguably, both sides get marked for life and while the accused may get jail time, lose money, or maybe their career, the accuser also takes a major life hit. Especially in the age of social media. Exposing a beloved figure is dangerous, even exposing your boss is if you don’t have a new job lined up. But, even then, if your name gets online, that will define you.
At this point, it depends on the political motivation of the accuser. Not to say it didn’t happen because 80% of these guys are ousting themselves but why are people naming some while staying silent on others is a question for the accusers.
A catalyst, but isn’t it strange he is one of the few Black comics that have been named
Bill Cosby is the #MeToo movement