Brown did not know what she did with the key and began punching her in the face and arms. He then placed her in a head lock positioning the front of her throat between his bicep and forearm. Brown began applying pressure to Robyn F.'s left and right carotid arteries, causing her to be unable to breathe and she began to lose consciousness.

She reached up with her left hand and began attempting to gouge his eyes in an attempt to free herself. Brown bit her left ring and middle fingers and then released her. While Brown continued to punch her, she turned around and placed her back against the passenger door. She brought her knees to her chest, placed her feet against Brown's body and began pushing him away. Brown continued to punch her on the legs and feet, causing several contusions.

Robyn F. began screaming for help and Brown exited the vehicle and walked away. A resident in the neighborhood heard Robyn F.'s plea for help and called 911, causing a police response. An investigation was conducted and Robyn F. was issued a Domestic Violence Emergency Protective Order. I don't say this to diminish the import of domestic violence. But there's a way in which the language of the trade can be anesthetizing. It's true that Rihanna (Robyn F) was a victim of domestic violence. It's more true that Chris Brown bashed Rihanna's head into a car window, threatened her with death, repeatedly punched her, bit her, and then choked her until she began to lose consciousness. It's important to understand that "domestic violence" is actual--often lethal--violence.



2.) I think that there is no guarantee that "empowerment" will be accompanied by "wisdom." We can empower groups who have traditionally suffered oppression--black people and women, for instance--but there really is no guarantee that every member of that group will be wise in the usage of that power. We can inform people. We can give them the tools of liberation. But the act of liberating has to include the individual.





There's simply no way to guarantee that this will happen. We can't force people to make good choices. I'm still working my way through this, but I might even argue that it is unwise to attempt to force good choices. But that deserves more thought. My point is that we can't really stop Rihanna from doing business with someone who once threatened her life, subjected her to near lethal force, and still manifests considerable violent anger when questioned about his behavior.





I think that energy could better be directed toward the women who lack the tools to excise themselves from violent situations. There are women in the world who live under this sort of constant threat, but because of children or finances or family, simply don't have an out. My heart aches especially for them.





You can't "make" people free. And agency is more than just a slogan.





3.) I think we should assess our relationship with celebrity. Nothing about being able to sing or dance or entertain guarantees sound thinking. Often such talents actively militate toward foolish thinking. Celebrity means the ability to surround yourself with people whose short-term finances depend on pleasing you. There's nothing about fame that encourages dissent or hard truths.





With that in mind, I think an expectation that the record industry, through the Grammys, would be our moral compass is to expect too much. Historically this is an industry that has shunned nothing, save red ink. And it is powered by the sort of people whose talent are regularly transfigured into moral virtue.





We should reject that thinking in all its forms. Even when it isn't convenient.