Thanks for this. I had a friend challenge me on fb last week when I posted Rebecca Davis's piece at the Daily Maverick about Chris Brown. One of the other arguments often thrown around is the difference in how he, as a young black man, is treated by the media in comparison to how other known abusers and offenders (Sean Penn, Roman Polanski) are treated. But for me the point is that Brown continues to exhibit a shocking lack of remorse even though he apologised. (For example, in his exchange with Johnson, he tweeted at her to 'ask Rihanna if she's mad'). He doesn't seem all that sorry, and bouyed by the support of his mother (who is herself a survivor of GBV) and his fans, he feels safe to flaunt that lack of remorse rudely, loudly, aggressively. That is what sticks out for me, and, I imagine, for others who write and comment on him constantly. Which is not to say that Penn, Polanski etc. are not as objectionable. I object to the idea that because he is black (and yes, will experience racist coverage) we should let his repated BS slide.
Thanks for this. I had a friend challenge me on fb last week when I posted Rebecca Davis's piece at the Daily Maverick about Chris Brown. One of the other arguments often thrown around is the difference in how he, as a young black man, is treated by the media in comparison to how other known abusers and offenders (Sean Penn, Roman Polanski) are treated. But for me the point is that Brown continues to exhibit a shocking lack of remorse even though he apologised. (For example, in his exchange with Johnson, he tweeted at her to 'ask Rihanna if she's mad'). He doesn't seem all that sorry, and bouyed by the support of his mother (who is herself a survivor of GBV) and his fans, he feels safe to flaunt that lack of remorse rudely, loudly, aggressively. That is what sticks out for me, and, I imagine, for others who write and comment on him constantly. Which is not to say that Penn, Polanski etc. are not as objectionable. I object to the idea that because he is black (and yes, will experience racist coverage) we should let his repated BS slide.