Men: Speak Out Against Domestic Violence!!!
So the Internet is blazing with stories about Rihanna’s alleged post abuse pic.
The truth is that the pop princess is just one of millions of American women who suffer at the hands of abusive men. We don’t talk about it nearly enough, but we all know a friend, family member or loved one that has been abused, sometimes even murdered. Sadly, the issue only becomes headline news when some one famous gets beaten up.
While domestic abuse is a complex problem, the truth is that it will never stop until men hold other men accountable to living less violent lives. Far too often guys don’t proactively confront their male friends about their ignorant behavior, even if they believe that violence against women is wrong. Fellas, it might be a hard pill to swallow, but we simply don’t speak out enough against the issue!!
Today’s action video is from the multi-talented IllDoctrine, who interviews legendary hip-hop journalist and former LYVEF board member Elizabeth Mendez Berry about her classic Vibe article “Love Hurts.” As a hip-hop insider and woman of color, Mendez Berry knew that should would be outcasted by many men in the music world for “airing the dirty laundry” of abusive rappers like Big Pun, but that didn’t stop her from telling the truth.
We all gotta take action like Mendez Berry and speak out against domestic violence, but the truth is that guys need to speak out just a little louder. Men, we can’t keep quiet anymore…domestic abuse is wrong, even when it’s someone famous.
Today’s Artist: Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus are a band from Jacksonville, FL with a funny name and great message. This song, Face Down, highlights the overwhelming problems of domestic violence, symbolically highlighting the broken home that is created by it.
i lost so much respect for chris brown. i still think he’s talented and everything but beyond that is nothing great… sorry… u just cant hit girls…
there is no valid reason to hit a woman. none. men need to control themselves and actually begin to evolve from the primitive animals they are.
I was in doubt and was rooting for Chris Brown but I see he has been out of his mind for quite a while. If a woman pushes you to the point where you want to put your hands on her in harm, you need to see help, guidance, and therapy. I don’t think his pastor in Virginia can’t help this brother alone. There has to be a bigger and much deeper issue to this.
chris brown is a fool for that one. He had to of been in a rage to do that to her face
I’m waiting to hear both sides of the story. I’m not stating my opinion on the matter until Chris Brown and Rihanna vocalize THE TRUTH!
Thanks for posting this! Two of the youth I work with at Females United For Action in Chicago wrote a piece about the Chris Brown and Rihanna situation that got published in the Chicago Tribune. Check it out, and spread the word! http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/race/2009/02/beyond-chris-brown-and-rihanna.html
The kids also just did an interview on the issue yesterday evening on Chicago Public Radio’s vocalo.org, so they’re def using the opportunity to speak out about teen intimate partner violence, especially against young women of color.