Eat The Cake Anime
The abuse of black women is portrayed as a part of normal relationships in all media and music. There are several representations of domestic violence in popular Black movies including, “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “I Can Be Bad All By Myself,” “Baby Boy,” “A Thin Line Between Love and Hate,” “For Colored Girls,” “Monster’s Ball,” “Boomerang,” and “Precious.” These films, all notorious in the black community, highlight extremely abusive behaviors as a normal part of relationships as opposed to a dangerous behavior in relationships. For example, in “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” the movie not only outlines Tina’s abuse, but discusses the fact that the majority of society knew about the violence within their relationship, but felt as though it was a problem that was supposed to be handled in the home. These movies perpetuate normalized representations of domestic violence. They teach black women that they are supposed to remain loyal to black men because their position in society is already so difficult as it is.
We also see a pattern of black men discussing and detailing the fact that they abuse women and being rewarded for it. XXXTentacion was arrested and charged with aggravated battery of a pregnant woman and since his passing, he has been remembered as an icon. In March, news emerged that showed Fabulous threatening his girlfriend, Emily B after he knocked her teeth out, but his music still plays on the radio and he recently released a song with Lil Kim. In April of 2018, Kelis detailed the abusive in her marriage with Nas and not long after in June, he released a new album, Nas headlined One Music Fest in September, which also included Kelis. Other reputable hip-hop artists that have been accused but are still prominent figures in the black community include Nelly, Dr. Dre, Kevin McCall, Chris Brown, Big Pun, and NBA YoungBoy.
The lack of discussion for violence against women counteracted with the overt support of Black men in the Black community sends the message to Black women that they are either not worth defending or that the community does not care. The first step in progressing the black community is supporting black women.