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a-womans-rhetoric · 3 years

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Natalie Wynn's "J.K. Rowling" and Disruptive use of Women's Rhetorical Tropes: A Defiant Reply to Transmisogyny

ContraPoints, surrounded by an opulent, candle-lit set and adorned in witch's garb, leisurely pours champagne into her glass — she's ready to breach the internet's hottest topic of January, 2021: her childhood idol being outed as a transphobe (link here). The video itself being over an hour and a half long, I would be hard-pressed to claim that I could ever hope to cover its entirety, comprehensively, in a single post. So to save-face, I'll be dedicating this space only to breaking down her most frequently used rhetorical tropes, one by one.

Irreverence

"Joanne, I wanna talk to you, Joanne! [Fans herself with a rainbow paper fan with the word "BIOLOGICAL" written across it] What is it about Joannes? I can't catch a break from these people" (00:23-00:29, emphasis added).

Wynn's introductory lines immediately open a dialogue with J.K. Rowling — however, this invitation of discourse is defiantly "irreverent" (reminiscent of Nomy Lamm's punk-feminist style in "It’s a Big Fat Revolution” (1995)). Contrapoints, herself a transgender woman, is aware that her very existence is considered in opposition to the TERF-ideology that Rowling subscribes to. Thus, she's rather playful — even openly disrespectful — with her diction: calling the British author by her first name in a mocking-tone and flaunting her own trans identity to the camera (in a way that would likely offend the fragile sensibilities of a transphobe). Her personal tone (with ample use of the pronoun "I") servers a duplicitous purpose: a simultaneous message of "sit down and listen" and a fair degree of "I don't care if you can't accept me."

"So, now that 2020 is finally over, I think we can let the record conclusively show that it was a year whomst is bad. And on top of everything else going on, truly the last thing we needed was the author of Harry Potter coming forward to announce there's two things she can't stand: bigotry, and the transgenders. (00:31 - 00:50, emphasis added).

Finally broaching the subject at hand directly, Wynn employs kairos alongside her irreverence. Kairos, or the rhetorical use of an "opportune moment," holds incredible weight in the first month after 2020: the year in which the whole world fell into a stasis. Characterizing Rowling's transphobia as a collective "the last thing we needed," is also rather dismissive — she unites herself with her audience with the pronoun "we" and invites us all to groan at the exasperating nature of Rowling's bigotry.

Claiming the Right to Speak / Personal Experience

"This is a painful topic for me all around because, as a transgender woman, I am honestly really hurt by a lot of the things Joanne has said in the last year. But I also know what it's like to be the target of a Twitter mob" (01:36-01:47).

As she begins to touch on the topic, Natalie Wynn claims the right to speak on the issue of Rowling's transphobia — a type of bigotry that directly effects her. However, Wynn also situates herself partially with Rowling in her acknowledgement that receiving Twitter backlash is a terrifying experience (an experience, she argues, that the human brain is not prepared to handle the scale of, 01:49-02:39). In treating her subject with such dignity — and adding her own deeply personal account— ContraPoints creates a credible ethos in the beginning of her video essay. The audience is inclined to listen to someone who has been directly effected by the subject of Rowling's controversy (transphobia) and someone who is, rather compassionately, willing to empathize with those who would wish her harm. Although the generally sassy, glamorous, and irreverent tone of the video still appears soon after (see: the above image), her opening up for this somber moment garners a fair degree pathos in the viewer — we, as human beings, are inclined to sympathize with people who are open about being hurt.

Metis (Embodied Rhetoric)

[The following ContraPoints quote is addressing the above J.K. Rowling tweet, content warning for transmisogyny] "Transphobes love to play this game where they pretend that trans people just don't understand basic biology, that's our problem! As if I didn't start taking female hormones because I'm acutely aware that my body is not the same as a cis woman's body, that sex is real. "[Fictional TERF character] You will never be a woman, Nathan. Every cell in your body is male and has a Y chromosome." Really? That's crazy. How you'd you learn so much about science? You know I don't really feel the need to have a second X chromosome, I get by with only one, I make it work. I actually like the Y chromosome, I think it's a little more dainty, you know, it's little softer, a little more petite. The X chromosome has a lot of extra appendages, and don't you think? I don't need anymore of those, thanks. No trans person thinks it's possible to change chromosomal sex and to pretend otherwise is to argue in bad faith" (08:47-09:34).

If you can excuse my gargantuan quote, I hope you'll agree that the dialogue ContraPoints builds here was just too good to cut short. Within this excerpt, we see Wynn's use of irreverance and personal experience blended seamlessly together. For this YouTuber, the personal is perpetually political — especially when her own identity is constantly taken as an ideological stance. She uses her own expertise in trans issues to pick apart just how disingenuous Rowling's assertions are — even accusing her of "argue[ing] in bad faith" with her reductive claims (later, taking specific issue with how Rowling treats trans-ness as a costume). But, here, she also directly invokes another rhetorical trope: that of metis, or embodied rhetoric. Natalie Wynn specifically references her transgender body as a sort of counterpoint to the condescending "sex is real" claims by TERFs. She cites her intrinsic desire to pursue hormonal therapy as evidence that she — and other trans people like her — are all "acutely aware" that there are chromosomal differences between themselves and cis women. With this salient statement, she then follows with some humor: which, again, utilizes her trans body in her rhetoric. Her characterization of the Y chromosome as "more petite" and playful declaration of not needing "extra appendages" lightens up the often dark tone that arguing for trans rights and liberation can take. The clever points she makes are by no means weakened by her humor — if anything, the audience is more willing to listen to someone who can "joke about themselves" (so to speak) while still arguing an incredibly important message.

Naming and Defining Issues

"When I see Joanne tweeting about how trans people think sex isn't real and they're erasing same-sex attraction and they're silencing women, alarm bells are ringing because I recognize these as familiar transphobic talking points, specifically TERF talking points. "TERF" means trans exclusionary radical feminism. God are we still talking about this? I promise this is the last time. So TERFism is a hate movement that disguises transphobia as feminism. ... The fundamental problem with TERFs is not that they're mean. It's that they're politically reactionary, they want to reverse the progress of trans liberation." (14:05-16:02)

In her definition of TERF rhetoric, Natalie Wynn outlines some dog-whistles that are obvious to her, as a trans woman. She calmly explains to the viewer that, oftentimes in the present-day, rhetorics of exclusion are thoroughly disguised; TERFs, specifically, hide their rampant transphobia as a form of feminism. However, she further clarifies that the specific "danger" that TERFs pose is not from their cruelty — it's from their fervent dedication to strip away trans rights through political means. By specifying this danger, Natalie Wynn shifts the conversation away from empty discussion of offensiveness/terminology, to issues which directly affect the lives of trans people every day.

[This portion addresses the picture above] Also an act of naming and defining, ContraPoints makes a distinction between "Direct" and "Indirect Bigotry." She argues that many people envision bigotry as a festering, public, frothing-at-the-mouth hatred — a phenomenon she dubs "the Westboro Baptist Church theory of bigotry" (20:06). In bringing attention to the human tendency to think of people as exclusively practicing "direct bigotry" — envisioning them as a sort of delusional "other" — she then forces the audience to contemplate the relative omni-presence of the more covert (and possibly alluring) "indirect bigotry." This definition, crucially, requires introspection. By allowing ourselves to think of bigots not exclusively as "Westboros," we're made to adopt a much more nuanced view of subjects (most) generally prefer to keep black-and-white. Natalie Wynn uses her J.K. Rowling case study to complicate this 2D view of "The Bigot," inviting others to more carefully examine how politically reactionary views develop.

Phew, this was probably the longest post I've ever typed up on tumblr! Hopefully, I succeeded in demystifying (or at least adding clarity to) some of the specific tropes ContraPoints uses (that are common to women's rhetorics as a whole). Thanks for reading if you stuck around this long, and my ask box is always open!

#contrapoints #tw transphobia #tw transmysoginy

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suckmetal · 5 years

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BlackKrossHouse_01_ September_19th_2017_Don't wake up Jeremy*

"Don’t wake up Jeremy."

I open my eyes to find myself on the upstairs hallway, did I go in a trance again? How long has it been? I don't remember what I was even doing before hand...

It is so dark, I'll try to turn on the lights so I can see where I'm going....

No power sooo power cut?

From what I can make out in the darkness was that I was upstairs in front of a door, my bedroom door.

I should be getting to bed before my housemates notice I'm out of bed and have a go at me for whatever reason, I don’t want to be blamed for another fight.

Supported Living wasn’t as fine and Dandy as I thought it to be, in my head I thought we’d all be a big happy special needs family, it’s more a prison and I’m rarely out of that stuffy shoebox room due to bullying.

I’m not allowed to stand up for myself or else I’ll be accused of bullying. I’d want to get back in my room before they notice I’m outside!

The doors locked? Damn!

and I can't find my keys in my pocket so I'm hoping maybe they are downstairs? And still there I hope for my sake that she hasn't taken them, I don't want her breaking into my room, stealing and violating my stuff, like those last few times she was able to get her little fat fingers on my keys.

I walk down the stairs untill I reach the middle landing, an unpleasent feeling stops me in my tracks as I stand before the wall of black hiding the stairs below, shouldn't it be illuminated with the moons light at least? like the other areas? I'm getting a sense of intense unease like something about this was wrong, like I felt...targeted?

I could always get my keys tomorrow I'll be up early enough anyway before she wakes up.

I turn away when a scream blasts into my ears

"RUN"

My legs automatically obey the voice and I run up the stairs hearing thundering footsteps behind me and once I see my door in sight I slam my body onto the door.

Shit it's locked! DUH Why didn't I think? My keys are down stairs!Now I'm dead!

Maybe it’s for the best...

I am bracing for it, the footsteps are slowing as it draws nearer possibly savouring my torment, my heart almost escaping my chest as I wait there accepting my fate.

I close my eyes crying, waiting.

"Don't move and control your fear"

"Wha?"

"SHHHH! do as I say!" the voice whispered.

I take a big breath and I freeze instincts compelling me to do so, as I let my mind go blank remembering my techniques for whenever I have the paralysing panic attacks in public.

I feel it breath down my neck and I restrain the need to even shiver or give up and let it have me.

After what seemed a long time I felt it leave and I heard it return to downstairs.

I let out a shuddering breath feeling faint as all that compressed panic returns with a vengeance, the door unlocked from the other side opening revealing my best friend, the voice who guided me.

He opens out his arms and I run to embrace him tears spilling down my cold face and my form trembling, he locked the door behind me comfortly swaying me side to side securing me in his arms, I'm so scared and I stay close to him.

"It's okay, it's okay I'm here" He says soothingly.

"It's want it to stop!" I whimper letting out ugly sobbing noises and sniffling noises unable to breathe proberly "I want to get out of here and never come back! I hate it! I hate it! I HATE THEM! I hate seeing these things! I want it to end! But I can’t do it because I’m a fucking coward!" I choked my airways tightening.

"Now what good would that do to anyone? You still have so much ahead of you and one day you’ll escape from this and never turn back. Then everything will be okay and I’ll make sure your okay.... shhhh" He hushes continuing to sway.

His name is Dejavu (although I like to call him VuVu)hes my best friend who's like family to me, who’s the one been with me since I was little and is my guide throughout life, he helped me through all the times my Gran humiliated me, hit me, patronised me and degraded me, he healed every hurt inflicted on the cruel words of my family and now the cruel actions of the staff and my housemates.

I have tried remaining optimistic, you know like”at least I have a roof over my head” and “it could be worse and besides it’s not like they know better, they have higher needs then you”

I just wish that optimism was there when I needed it most, when at times I feel nothing matters, not even the things I enjoy doing, when I had those urges...

Anyway! Let’s get back to the tale, I do have a funny feeling he took most of my memories of Gran, I don’t know I just do.

I know they are still there but I can’t remember, sometimes I think it’s a good think I don’t remember because anything that’s associated with them fills me with a heavy feeling I’m unable to recognise, that’s why I put all those memories in a box and put it away.

Maybe that’s where Dejavu gets his name from.

I would spend days in my room like a prison, starving, unwashed and tired afraid to dare venture out my room because every time they will start drama with me and if I stood up for myself it would be seen as bullying.

I have Anemia, and due to starvation I hallucinate as I’ve never in my life hallucinated before, I don't have any other Disorders other than Aspergers to make me see things sooo it must be something to do with my living habits, stress, lack of food and sleep likely being the main culprits, all of which are directly linked to my housemates and staff.

Reasons for these problems is because these girls were allowed to steal my things if I dared to leave them unattended, or that one time I left the door open my remaining food went missing from the fridge in my room (I had a fridge in there because I was sick of them raiding my paid food located in the bottom drawer in fridge in the kitchen, but because I hardly leave my room to top up food from the shop I mostly starve), they're allowed to hit me, allowed to scream lies in my face for effect and talk about me behind my back.

They're allowed to do this simply because they've got more special needs then me, more rights then me whilst I'm just a mental case with Aspergers... according to the staff meant to have my best interests at heart.... sometimes I think that why should I take their needs in consideration when they don’t take mine in consideration?

Well that's my "Supported living" for you...

The staff hate me and I can’t imagine why as I treat them like guests and I always treat people with respect, I make sure they’re fed and give the beverages of their choices, cheer them up even though sympathy isn’t my strong suit and make them laugh even if my humour isn’t the best.

Was it because of that one time I yelled at my housemate and said those hurtful things because she yelled at me? I thought I was bad at letting petty issues go...

They call me a selfish Heartless bully and a useless lazy fuck because I won't come out my room, I hear them saying these hurtful things behind my back in the garden when I have my bedroom window open.

There's only been three staff that understood, but unfortunatly they aren't around often. Of course I have pros and cons to where I am now, I have freedom to do what I like away from my family now when when I lived with Gran I wasn’t allowed to do what I liked or even express anything, I wasn’t even allowed to get away so I had to fight for it.

My own family pretty much ignore the fact this is happening and remind me that I put this on myself by getting involved with social services and they are staying out of my drama, just because it got so hard with Gran that I couldn't do anything I wanted without being screamed and spat at and I got sick of it.

But the cons to it is that it’s damaging my mental health, I won’t tell anyone else because I will be labelled as an Attention seeker which is what I was called by my family for as long as I remember, I really really hate that word and how it’s thrown around needlessly.

It’s getting so bad that

I have paralysing panic attacks every single day and I usually lie in the fetal position on my bed as my body tenses in on itself in agony, attacks so bad I can't even scream.

Anxiety isn’t an unusual thing for me to have, as I’ve dealt with this as long as I remember but before I only had to deal with one panic attack each week or two.

It's no point to even scream anyway they'll just tell me how much of a drama queen or attention seeker I am anyway and VuVu would always be there when I need him, he’s always been there and that’s all I really need, he may not be “real” but he’s the only one who really cares and I care for him back.

I wouldn’t think he’s a hallucination or a delusion, he feels real to me, we grew up together and if it wasn’t for him I really wouldn’t be here right now..

I hope he is real because unlike everyone else, I don’t want to have more things wrong with me, I don’t want to be locked away in a mental ward like Gran tells me every time I suggest mental help.

-----------------------------------

He allowed me to cry into his sweater for some time until I composed myself.

"Better?"

"Yeah... best be getting to bed" I say wiping my eyes, all that panic and crying took out the remaining energy I had and boy am I drained, energy and patience has been in very short supply for me in these times.

I get into bed and he comes over sitting by my side. Just before I get comfortable I feel a vibration under my body which makes me jump, not like I wanted another mental breakdown thank you very much!

"Ugh! Oh.. it's my phone! Haha..." I laugh nervously unlocking it to see the text.

It was a text by nan and... a strange one, why would she text at 3:00 in the morning.

*You woke up Jeremy*

"Err VuVu?-" I ask but VuVu is gone and the air turns cold. --

--The supposed locked door opens, did he go out without me realising? I don't like this...-

-"Dejavu?-"

Without warning a deformed creature with a receding hairline and naked long bony arms bursts into my room on all fours and leaps onto me shaking it's hideous head wildly.

"ARGH!" I scream as I bolt up right in a cold sweat.

Another nightmare but thankfully VuVu is still here but... he's standing face against the wall at the bottom of my bedroom.

"Oh VuVu am I glad to see you..." I breath in relief.

He doesn't answer he stands over staying at the wall.

"Vu?"

"You have bought a lot of dark influences into this place... your negative energy is influenced by them-"

"What are you talking about?" I say cutting him off confused.

He slowly turns around slowly approaching me with a cold look in his eyes. My eyes widen and worry starts to rise.

"Vu you're scaring me... please I just had a nightmare...don't do this..." I whimper, he stops and looks up.

"Sorry..." He says and a moments silence took over.

"Are you okay?" I ask concerned, why is he acting like this? It's unusual and it's creepy, there's something wrong.

He then returned to his usual smile like nothing was wrong.

"You know what don't worry about it! I'll sort it out now it's 3:00 am bed college tomorrow and you're not pulling off an all nighters again right?" He grins but no matter how much he hides it I can see fear in his eyes, something I never saw in him before, I drop it feeling it wouldn't be a good idea to ask.

"Goodnight"

"Night...."

With that he fades away in the air returning to my mind, what did he mean by dark influences? I hardly call hexes much of dark influences as they are low level dark magic of course.

I close my eyes forgetting what happened earlier for now, reciting my housemates name in my head, what I want happening to her and allowing as much hatred as I can muster to make sure this spell is a success like all the others I’ve casted.

I already caused a staff member to have an accident on her bike and giveing her a really bad sprain, I even tried it a second time and she broke her leg going down the stairs the next day.

The proof I needed that these things, work if you perform them right.

Memorising what's written on a peice of paper under my pillow, I await what's to come to her tomorrow with a grin on my face.

I don’t have it in me to dish out revenge directly in person, so this technique is just for me and the best thing is they’ll never know.

They’ll all be sorry

————————————————

Based on real life and on a dream I had. I hope you took no offence reading this and I’m sorry if you did but I like to turn my most horrible experiences into stories. I did change my friends name and the name of the house in this story but that’s the only changes I made. Or at least I’m aware of.

Stay awesome folks.

#horror #creepy #dreams

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terrablaze514 · 5 years

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Being Black + R. Kelly, Living With Secrets, and Writing Catatonic Fanfics

Hey everyone.

I'm up extra early, because this is bugging my mind and heart right now. The words might leave if I don't voice (write) it.

In a few hours, I'll be going to church again. Christian, yes. Predominantly Black, you've guessed it. Both of these cancel each other out. Why?

Despite my suspicions growing up, the vast majority of Black people I knew (family, friends, acquaintances, etc.) were still jamming to R. Kelly's music. It makes all the more sense why he's known as, "The Pied Piper", and that's scary as buck if you stop to think about it.

I've never understood why he was permitted to keep making music. Why the buck does Wendy Williams still have an audience? Why did 2Pac and Michael Jackson get destroyed by false allegations (until their sunset), while R. Kelly is still a free man in the music industry with proof of sexual deviance in multiple court cases?

I was 7 when I was molested by a grown woman. I couldn't approach my parents about it, because she became a close friend to my mother, got closer to other notable family friends, and I was already misunderstood at school and church (Grade 2 was a horrible year). My parents were also coming to terms with their breakup, so it didn't help (because what if they had another physical altercation?). Top that with the ongoing belief that men were innately predators...

October 2018, I've had a nightmare of her stalking me while visiting my hometown (the 514) - woke up in a sweat, purchased Black Panther on Google Play Movies, and watched the movie until my eyes shut again... Because mentally, I needed to feel safe. I wanted Wakanda's protection. And I ended up getting it in my dreams (occasionally). M'Baku and The Jabari Tribe are the best!

Back on topic... So, while I'm happy that justice is happening, I'm also disappointed. Deeply disappointed in The Black Community for sweeping this issue under the rug.👏🏾Every.👏🏾 Single.👏🏾Time.👏🏾 I understand firsthand why it's hard to come forward. Allow me to explain (and these are some of the reasons why going to church is a farce in my book).

I've shared with a few Gundam Wing fans (via Discord) that I've sung in three choirs (four if school curriculum counts). To this day, I still jam to my favourite songs and sing as a secret means to calm down when times are too stressful (and if I have no access to a pen and notebook). So why bring this up? Simply put, during my tenure in the third choir, I was spanked and grabbed on the buttocks for holding the door open for an elderly man. [This isn't funny, so if you're laughing, check yourself or leave my blog ASAP]. Not only did this trigger my fear and cripple my confidence as a young adult, but I wasn't able to focus. I've felt scared... Moreso when I've relayed the incident to a few choir members. They've laughed it off, because it sounded funny to them.

It didn't help that this also happened a week after one of my closest friends had died from cancer (and I couldn't make it to his funeral). So being forced to laugh it off, take it with a grain of salt, and keeping it moving wasn't easy. Also, being Black means you don't cry. "Stay strong," is all people would ever say.

I've also been approached and stalked by some strange men, around my age (no older than 27). I'd be waiting at the bus stop so I can commute to work. Strange man shows up, and requests (to the point of begging) that I take the taxi with him. One week later, he begs me to skip work and come over to his place. For what, only God knows. I didn't go, but I've sent text messages to friends. The majority of them found it funny - except one, who also called to check up on me. If it were up to him, he'd drive across town and set the stalker straight.

That was then.

There was a fellow co-worker (cisgender woman) who used to touch, or feel up my inner thighs and buttocks without my consent, and in the presence of customers. How many times have I reported her, yet supervisors promoted her, and would say, "That's her way of giving people props."

What the heck?

Then, by the time I was 25, I've reached my breaking point despite graduating from college and acquiring two careers to call my own. My physical appearance (gaining weight), marital status ("let's find a boyfriend for you on WhatsApp Messenger"), and popularity were the only things that mattered. Damn it all to the grave.

Dating prospects were more like, groomers. And they were all Christian Churchians.💯 I've never given up the V-card, but I've tried to fit in to the point of mental starvation and social exhaustion. In the worst case scenario, I've heard adults (including a parent) poke rape jokes. What's so funny about that?

We sure as hell did not deserve Aaliyah, because the ignorance is real.

I've ended up writing a fanfic project that deals with the music industry, and emphasizes deep comparisons between a good rep team versus an evil rep team, by pulling bits and pieces of experiences by real artists, as well as my "inability to be more transparent/speak up/get out of my shell", and conceptions of what could go wrong if there was no access to a healthy outlet... Combined them into the realities of the characters I'm borrowing. It's still in progress; I'm a perfectionist, yet, the story needs to be told.

There's a second project where two cousins grow up together in the kingdom, get separated after the death of a family member, and the elder cousin searches for his bestie in America. Friendships are formed, but there's also a rampant rape culture against girls in the community where his cousin took residence... Pedophiles will get killed after witnessing the dismissal of reports by police. Go figure.

Writing these types of things, is an outlet. I don't condone abuse, murder, things of that dark nature, but honestly. I grew up in a rape culture. I need a healthy way to deal with (process) that.

Talking about it to people is only safe enough in therapy sessions. Outside of that, get laughed at. Mocked. Told that You deserve it (or did something to deserve it).

I've contemplated suicide last month. Resurfaced memories do more harm than good... And even if I followed through on December 29th (I'm glad I didn't), everything in this post, especially the woman predator who was a babysitter, is the secret I would've taken to my grave. Who could I talk to without feeling unsafe or unwelcome? Without laughing it off in a dismissive manner? Without assuming that I've done something to deserve it, like forgetting to pull on my panties first?

No one.

I've been taught that my big butt, juicy thighs, bust... Yet fat belly, rolls on my back, and somewhat bouncy arms, are something to be ashamed of. From 14 to 23, I used to sport Beyoncé's figure (used to be slimmer)... Yet I still had to feel guilty for embracing that, because if I didn't cover up... If I walked out late... If I didn't keep up with trends... if I didn't turn up for what... If I didn't drop it like it's hot, turn around and bump bump bump, my body too bootylicious for 'em, 'cause if it's worth it lemme work it... And whenever I did these things...

I am guilty.

Now that I'm older, and I don't do these things as often...

I am still guilty.

Because I grew up in a community and a society that hates rapists and pedophiles while making excuses for rapists and pedophiles if I spoke up. If other girls and women spoke up. If boys and men came forward with their true accounts without receiving homophobic comments, or the overused, "You became a real man, congratulations!" Canada's Supreme Court will not keep a sex predator behind bars for more than ten years. That's all the additional proof you need.

The hypocrisy was real, and it still is.

There was an incident where a little girl complained about a church elder touching her... No one believed her.

Later on in my teens, a teenage boy was falsely accused of sexual harassment, and everyone believed the lie (except his closest friends, whom told her to stop following them around).

Another church elder (and a Bible thumper), fondled my breasts out of spite - and my mother blamed me! The next time I've seen that elder, I've set her straight, but who the hell am I for talking? She's still the most respected because she knows every scripture passage, from Genesis to Revelation, and also knows every volume, word for word, from The Spirit of Prophecy. So she has no sin...

THE LIES!

I was nervous shaky the entire time.

So growing up Black, in a church community, as a girl (now a woman) had many catastrophes. I'm not crazy for putting this out there, just keeping it real. I'll be in church in approximately less than three hours from now, and if anyone cracks jokes or makes demeaning comments about R. Kelly's current and former victims, talking about how they're fast, and how they should've come forward... Nah, Hollywood gets away with sexual deviance against minors. A large percentage of them have bought R. Kelly's music, at music stores and on iTunes/Google Play Music. No surprise, huh? As much as I love my church family, I cannot accommodate the ignorance that's gone on for my whole life so far. *Sigh* This has blackened my heart, I just... I am at a loss, not only for R. Kelly's victims, but every child and youth who will be targeted by men and women who cannot be trusted.

I will always support Black Empowerment, Black Lives Matter and Black History... But I have zero tolerance for the enabling of pedophiles and rapists. Even the jokes. It's distasteful.

If you are a supporter/apologist of R. Kelly, Sparkle, Marques Houston, and any other person who'd used/subjected minors to assault and/or grooming, get off my page. And stop pretending to be a huge Aaliyah fan... We've lost her because the adults in her life had failed in exchange for her fame. We also owe Michael Jackson's family an apology for destroying his character and career under false allegations, while R. Kelly was still a free man, preying on girls and grooming boys to become like him... And all the evidence of his crimes were readily available on the archives while I was in Junior High. While we're at it, Kitti Jones and Drea Kelly need to take several seats. They've had every opportunity to approach the police. They've known what R. Kelly did to all those girls and how it's destroyed their youth. They are the poorest examples of how to put sex offenders in their place, just so they can get money now that #MeToo (who never gave a damn about half of your experiences, unless you were penetrated by a man)... Nuh-uh! The lives that were destroyed by rape, molestation, grooming and exploitation matter more than the money anyone might make from a case that should've been dealt with decades ago! My heart is very heavy throughout this post. I know it's Sabbath hours, but I'm currently listening to "Don't Stay" by Linkin Park, because it truly reflects my thoughts and memories, in the wake of #SurvivingRKelly.

Everyone (especially Black people) who put on R. Kelly during weddings and birthday celebrations, I've taken notes. You will not be trusted around my future children (if it's meant to be). I've never healed, yet. The community does not offer a safe space to heal from the damage that's been done. So when I hear about Chester Bennington (Linkin Park -I hope I spelled his name right), AJ and Nick (Backstreet Boys - their parents stood up for their sons), B2K (especially Raz-B), IMx, Sammy, O'Ryan, the victim of Brock Turner, a few victims of Bill Cosby and that actor from 7th Heaven, the young girl who was sexually assaulted and exploited by that loser who was granted a chance to finish up his studies at UofC (University of Calgary), Natasha McKenna who was stripped, dehumanized and tasered in her last moments by eight men, the former victims of Eddie Long who were forcibly silenced, the girl who was raped, hospitalized and raped again in the hospital by her father and brother... This is real ish. I have no more words. Leave my page if you support R. Kelly... Special shoutout to John Legend for keeping it real. Another special shoutout to Terry Crews who spoke up. To the victims of Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey, you also need to get your voices heard, because you also matter. To the victims of Ryan Seacrest, the same also applies. May Corey Haim Rest in Power, because Charlie Sheen is getting his just reward for what he did decades ago. Although I'm glad B2K is reuniting for tour, I've been conflicted with how R. Kelly wrote your popular hits. That wasn't your fault, though. Your former manager (Chris Stokes - another pedophile) had that set up for your grooming - good thing y'all left TUG behind when you did. Other artists and notable faces in the entertainment industry - you don't have to comment, but I beseech you to STOP collaborating with R. Kelly. What he did to those girls is beyond me. If you keep enabling him, you're now guilty for proving that rape is okay.

It is not.💯

#r. kelly #terrablaze514 #memories #true story #surviving r. kelly

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