Proud Black Men Promote R. Kelly Boycott

The not guilty verdict in the R. Kelly case triggered a wide range of reactions. For some it was sheer disbelief and disappointment.

For others, it was relief that the justice system "worked" for a black man. In any case, there haven't been any notable, organized protests from black men about R. Kelly's behavior on that nasty tape - until now.

Dr. William Jelani Cobb, a Spellman College history professor and author, is circulating a petition many are citing as an overdue rallying cry to African American men; asking them to stand as protectors of the community. The petition is called, simply: Statement of Black Men Against the Exploitation of Black Women. ...

R. Kelly Trial

R&B singer R. Kelly (L) arrives at the Cook County courthouse where jury selection is scheduled to begin for his child pronography trial May 9, 2007 in Chicago, Illinois. Kelly has been accused of videotaping himself having sex with a girl believed to be as young as 13 years old. Kelly faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

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Singer R. Kelly, left, arrives with a bodyguard for the first day of jury selection in his child pornography trial at the Cook County Criminal Courthouse in Chicago, Friday, May 9, 2008. Grammy-winning R&B singer R. Kelly faces child pornography charges, prompted by a videotape allegedly showing him having sex with a girl as young as 13.

(AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Singer R. Kelly, center, arrives with bodyguards for the first day of jury selection in his child pornography trial at the Cook County Criminal Courthouse in Chicago, Friday, May 9, 2008. Kelly faces charges he videotaped himself having sex with an underage girl. After six years of repeated delays, his trial begins.

Kelly arrives for the first day of jury selection in his child pornography trial at the Cook County Criminal Courthouse in Chicago, Friday, May 9, 2008. Grammy-winning R&B singer R. Kelly faces child pornography charges, prompted by a videotape allegedly showing him having sex with a girl as young as 13.

First, Cobb points out the lack of accountability on the part of R. Kelly and his music buying supporters:

But there is no doubt about this: some young Black woman was filmed being degraded and exploited by a much older Black man, some daughter of our community was left unprotected, and somewhere another Black woman is being molested, abused or raped and our callous handling of this case will make it that much more difficult for her to come forward and be believed.

And then Cobb suggests that black men must assert themselves as protectors of black women:

This is about more than R. Kelly's claims to innocence. It is about our survival as a community. Until we believe that our daughters, sisters, mothers, wives and friends are worthy of justice, until we believe that rape, domestic violence and the casual sexism that permeates our culture are absolutely unacceptable, until we recognize that the first priority of any community is the protection of its young, we will remain in this tragic dead-end.

As a black woman, I feel my heart swell when I read this. As I see it, Cobb has thrown down a gauntlet for black men, and some are picking it up. At the time of this post, there are nearly one thousand signatures on the petition.

But then again, maybe I've got it all wrong. What do you think? Is it about time black men stand up and speak out in defense of black women and children? Or do you think R. Kelly was found innocent; so just let it go and move on?