YourGodbrotha’s blog: In My Humble Opinion

Do you recall how the media covered the accusations being brought against Bill Cosby? It’s hard for me to forget! Every news outlet, day after day, lead with the image of our brother posted on screen or in print. Talk about being tried in the public. He didn’t stand a chance, and anyone associated with him could get it too. Poor, Felicia Rashad. Women were coming out, left and right, claiming they were drugged twenty and 30 years ago.

Analysts were all over news platforms throwing facts around and giving expert opinions on how and why women are abused by men of high stature. Mr. Cosby was losing friendship, business deals were being broken off, and his reputation was declining faster than a poor man’s loan application. Comedians made him the punchline of jokes, memes were created and shared over social media mocking him, and feminist groups attacked anyone who would dare try to defend him.

The untrained followers of trending topics, would have no choice but to conclude that Mr. Cosby was guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting multiple women and therefore, deserving of the bashing he received. The trained, onlookers of what’s hot in the news, know that there is always an underlying agenda beneath the corporate medias chosen lead stories, especially when it pertains to Black people. The assault on the character and reputation of Bill Cosby is likened unto that of Michael Jackson. He was once beloved and adored by society and looked upon as an example of Black excellence that doesn’t threaten white supremacy. However, we must understand that Black excellence, in any form, threatens white supremacy.

Jay-Z masterfully covered the point I’m making with these lyrics from his song, “So Ghetto”,

‘Still they put me on they covers cause I earn for them,

but soon as I make to much watch them turn on him.

Cause that seems to be the shit that’ll earn for them.’

There is overwhelming evidence that popular Black people in America can rise but so high in power and prestige before major media sources begin to destroy their name, legacy and sometimes their life. None of us know whether or not, Bill Cosby is guilty of the accusations against him. What we do know is that he and his alleged victims were headline news for months.

If I were to ask the average nightly news watching American, who is Daniel Holtzclaw, I would not be surprised if very few of them knew of him. How could they know of him when mainstream media has all but ignored his criminal trial? Here is an Oklahoma City police officer who preyed on poor Black women and girls. He was so wicked, yet so confident, that he reportedly told his fourteen victims that no one would ever believe them. Fortunately, a jury of his peers did believe them. Holtzclaw faced 36 counts and was found guilty of 18, including stalking, forcible oral sodomy, and rape.

All of this happening while simultaneously mass protests are taking place in Chicago, following the release of the Laquan McDonald video. You would think that a connection could be reasonably drawn between the crime and corruption of law enforcement in different parts of the country where the victims are black. How could major media outlets miss this national narrative? How could over a dozen women be violated by the abusive authority of a cop and not be sought after for interviews? Why aren’t the so-called experts blanketing news programs with their analysis of how and why such acts occur?

Roland Martin of the black-owned television channel, TV One, has been on the frontline of exposing the “blackout” of this newsworthy story. He recently posted a clip of his news program on his Facebook page, where he called out the corporate media. “Go down the line, ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, MSNBC, CNN, FOX News, like this thing didn’t even exist,” Martin exclaimed.

Republican Political Consultant, Sharmichael Singleton, followed up Roland’s remarks by saying, “It’s very clear that the color of these women skin, because they were black women, dictated the media coverage. That is absolutely shameful.” I agree!