Discussion
  • Read More
    Duke ThompsonJenn M. Jackson
    3/28/17 10:27am

    At what point does the mental illness become irrelevant to the fact that someone is just a complete piece of shit? It’s one thing if that kind of behavior is the breaking point of establishing that there are serious mental health issues but his responses have never shown even a smigdeon of self-awareness or remorse.

    Reply
    • Read More
      NobodysHomeAnymoreDuke Thompson
      3/28/17 10:49am

      Chris Brown’s mental illness became irrelevant a long time ago.

      In my experience it’s actually very rare for someone with mental illness like bipolar disorder or depression to be mentally incompetent — that is, they maintain a pattern of abuse and self-destruction and don’t realize why/how it is wrong. They just don’t care enough to change, especially when they’re surrounded by yes men.

      Reply
    • Read More
      EvenBaggierTrousers5Duke Thompson
      3/28/17 10:58am

      Exactly. From what I understand he’s still hanging out at clubs which, I’m going to go out on a limb here, is probably not considered proper rehab procedures by the leading medical authorities. I mean, he just had a performance at a night club. In Las Vegas.

      Keeping the party going, Brown and friends opted to stay at the club past his performance and celebrated the singer’s return in a luxurious VIP booth alongside the stage. 

      Is he “cured” or something?

      Reply
  • Read More
    BlakeBortlesandJaymes: Thanos Won Because of NebulaJenn M. Jackson
    3/28/17 10:37am

    This article kinda missed one REALLY important development of dancing monkey’s treatment of women: his own mother’s abusive past. (I know it was diagnosing directly from monkey’s literal physical past, but this must be said.) Little boys who see that are likely (but not ALWAYS) prone to abusing women in some way, shape or form in their adult years.

    I’ve never liked the guy, musically or otherwise, so I may be coming at this with just a hint of bias. *shrug*

    Reply
    • Read More
      EvenBaggierTrousers5BlakeBortlesandJaymes: Thanos Won Because of Nebula
      3/28/17 11:00am

      What happened to his mother is bad and it can definitely impact him. But at what point does A) he need to get control of it and B) people need to wait to let him get control of it before hiring him to perform at nightclubs or appear on national television comedy shows?

      Reply
    • Read More
      World's Moistest Jheri CurlBlakeBortlesandJaymes: Thanos Won Because of Nebula
      3/28/17 11:23am

      dancing monkey? really? you really just called a black man a dancing monkey in 2017? doesn’t matter what race you purport to be - that’s some dumb racist shit.

      Reply
  • Read More
    OctoberSurpriseJenn M. Jackson
    3/28/17 9:48am

    What I dont understand is how ABC, owned by Disney, one of the more risk averse megaconglomerates out there okayed this. I know the episode would have been shot some time ago, but Chris Brown was in trouble then, or the dust was settling from him being in trouble, because Chris Brown stay in some shit. I enjoy Black-ish and I will still support the show but I have to wonder what was going through Kenya Burris’ head with this casting decision.

    Reply
    • Read More
      FauxcusedOctoberSurprise
      3/28/17 9:49am

      “I enjoy Black-ish and I will still support the show” 

      That is your answer.

      Because, if they utilize him, people will still support the show.

      If this were not the case, if people did not support shows that cast woman-beaters, they would not be cast.

      Reply
    • Read More
      somethingsomethingburnekoFauxcused
      3/28/17 11:56am

      Exactly. The continued consumption (and celebration) of his music and performances has not gone under the radar either. It’s not news that people have moved on from the Rihanna beatings, that happened rather quickly tbh. At this point you have to look for criticism of Brown to find a continuing record of his abuse history, and the money is still there for his product. And all of that talking money tells Disney it’s not a problem to book him.

      Reply
  • Read More
    JustPassingThroughJenn M. Jackson
    3/28/17 2:45pm

    Black-ish has a Black man as its showrunner, correct? So, I’m not surprised that once again a Black man supports another Black man who abuses (Black) women.

    Black-ish has always been written from a Black male perspective instead of a Black people perspective. I still remember that episode where the Anthony/Tracee characters renewed their vows - everything Tracee appreciated about her husband in her vows was about him as a person. Everything Anthony’s character appreciated about his wife was what she did for him. And the show had the nerve to present that as real love.

    This is how many, not all, but many, men view women and Black men are not an exception here. As cliche as it sounds, many men do not see women as human beings. We’re seen as human adjacent at best and objects at worst.

    It sure is great when your object does a lot for you, but sometimes your object gets out of hand. Sure, you shouldn’t hit your object, but we’ve all been there, right? Let’s give the real human another 50 chances even though what he did was wrong. Don’t worry about the objects, though. They are strong. They’ll be alright.

    Reply
  • Read More
    Thotline Bling: black girl supremacyJenn M. Jackson
    3/28/17 4:34pm

    It doesn’t say shit about me. I don’t watch the show (or any TV, really), and am not about to start. I don’t support Chris Brown, R. Kelly, Dr. Dre, or their ilk.

    I am very open in my opposition to violence against women and advocacy for behavioral health care within the black community, including sharing my own struggles and passing along resources

    I mean I guess I could go to Tracey’s social media and ask her what’s really good? I don’t fool w/Anthony Anderson, and am not really sure who runs the show.

    Reply
    • Read More
      Thotline Bling: black girl supremacyThotline Bling: black girl supremacy
      3/28/17 4:39pm

      Since I can’t edit my comment, as someone above mentioned, I don’t support Anderson or his projects b/c of his own issues w/women in the past.

      Reply
  • Read More
    TheFuriousFiveJenn M. Jackson
    3/28/17 4:35pm

    Very well written article, but how much surprise can be had about a show that has Anthony Anderson as its lead, bringing on Chris Brown as a featured guest?

    Anthony has had his own very troubling encounters with women that have been brushed aside because he brings in money. Of course, he supports Chris, they are peas in a pod.

    Reply
    • Read More
      Thotline Bling: black girl supremacyTheFuriousFive
      3/28/17 4:37pm

      Exactly why I don’t watch this show. Thank you! I knew I wasn’t the only one who remembered AA’s problematic past.

      Reply
    • Read More
      AP BearThotline Bling: black girl supremacy
      3/28/17 9:53pm

      Right .. I had to google. No word on what happened to his 2 rape cases.

      Reply
  • Read More
    StartingOverAgainJenn M. Jackson
    3/28/17 9:31am

    It’s mind-boggling to me that in 2017 this made it all the way through the loads of people, which would include both men and women, who look at this stuff on a show like Blackish.

    Yes, some of them are sure to be the same kinds of insular “empty suit” types that make up a large share of Hollywood, but undoubtedly some of them are not so insulated that they wouldn’t be aware that Brown is still regarded in a largely negative light by most people.

    The show has to strike this razor’s edge of being entertaining enough to a broad swathe of people so as to maintain a good timeslot on a major network while also wanting to be true to the creative vision.

    I just have a hard time thinking they would want to deal with the hassle of the controversy even if they fundamentally were fine with letting Brown’s “I’m a changed man!” shtick work in their own minds. 

    It would only take one of them speaking up to bring the issue to the forefront and point out that this sort of article and inevitable response would happen.

    Reply
  • Read More
    EmmaJ87Jenn M. Jackson
    3/28/17 12:17pm

    Is he playing himself, or a character? On one hand, I do understand your position. However, I am able and willingly to separate person from character, and person from artist for that matter. I think other people out there are too. There are many folks who feel the same way as you, but there are also folks who feel like me. I still enjoy Chris Brown’s music. His recent song, “Party”, has been playing on repeat at my dance studio, as most of his music does. He really is a talented guy. I think that is the reason folks who are troubled by his career are unable to surpress him completely, and he continues to get roles like this - he is talented. Troubled, but talented. I’m not willing to ignore his talent, even in the face of his personal issues. I don’t want too either, I enjoy his stuff. I’m not going to deny myself. Enjoying his work, as an artist, doesn’t mean I condone his personal actions though. I don’t. I just don’t like when people try to get him off the air, or a concert, or get a role cancelled, because they are unable or unwilling to separate his actions from his work. Seems unfair to the rest of us, especially when you, in a case like this, can simply change the channel when he appears on your television. And if you’re worried about the message it’s sending, again, remember that many people are able to seperate a person from their work, and having him appear on a show doesn’t mean the show condones his personal actions.

    Reply
    • Read More
      EvenBaggierTrousers5EmmaJ87
      3/28/17 3:14pm

      Is he playing himself, or a character?

      There’s a link above that goes to a description of the episode and he plays a rapper who Bow and Dre try to convince doesn’t need to reinforce stereotypes.

      So it’s not him but it is, but regardless... don’t make a fictionalized account of a “stereotypical” rapper using a “rapper” who is actually doing the stereotypical rapper things in real life. I dunno, maybe they consider themselves doing therapy for Brown and that maybe the ideas in the script will sink into him, but if I wanted to see a show about therapy and turn on TLC or something.

      Reply
  • Read More
    ariesdragon123Jenn M. Jackson
    3/28/17 4:42pm

    Whatever. This just proves to me that Kenya Barris is yet another black man that doesn’t love black women enough. Anthony Anderson also isn’t great when it comes to this, he supported Nate Parker when all that shit went down. So it don’t really surprise me.

    Reply
  • Read More
    Cali4lifeJenn M. Jackson
    3/28/17 12:49pm

    His repeated actions show he his a garbage person. For the show to showcase him is a garbage move by all associated with that show, including the actors. Although, I seem to recall some seedy shit with Anthony Edwards too so... birds of a feather...

    Reply