"I hope she will stand up for women all over the world."
-Rihanna’s Father, Ronald Fenty, to People Magazine.

The recent headline-making fight (or beat-down) between R&B stars Chris Brown and Rihanna has reared the ugly head of one of society’s most vicious serpents—patriarchy. To avoid fawning over this sad occurrence, like most music columnists and bloggers have done, I would rather explore the underlying problem in this controversy, than exploit the pain and anguish both parties must be feeling at this moment. The details are sketchy, at best, but enough info has been provided to connote another troubling case of domestic abuse. Rihanna is reported, by a source, to have suffered a “black eye, split lip, and contusions on her face.” One would expect that the gripping details of this tragedy would arouse a moral impulse in the music community, but then again, a capitalism-controlled society cannot be expected to function with the concerns of the oppressed as front and center, in its motives—that would be socialist!

Ever since news dropped, like an atomic bomb, last Sunday, many outlets have sought ways to exploit, expunge, and capitalize upon, the emotional scars of all involved. MTV News is planning a “half-hour show,” intended to “take a look at the events and ramifications surrounding alleged altercation between the two singers.” Featuring, “journalists, industry professionals and other experts — as well as an in-studio audience of young fans—” it hopes to “provide insight and commentary about what the incident means for both artists’ careers and lives, and society in general.” But let not your heart be troubled, for MTV News simply hopes to “offer advice for young people who find themselves facing domestic violence issues.” Unless one believes in the tooth-fairy, it’s hard to take MTV for their word. The task proves more daunting, considering the history it has had in exploiting Rap beefs, over the years. Domestic violence against female R&B stars is not a new phenomenon—ask Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes  (R.I.P.), or Faith Evans, or Sandra “Pepa” Denton about it. Why now, MTV?

MTV is hardly alone in finding financial value in the tragic allegations swarming around, as many Hip-Hop news sites have published photo-shopped images—too grotesque to link to—of Rihanna, that display cuts, black-eyes, bruises, etc. These cowards, who would rather make jest than engage in a serious discussion about the plague of sexism and patriarchy (and begin implementing mechanisms to erode it) in our society, make a world devoid of these pathologies nearly unimaginable. The Los Angeles Times, which broke the story, wouldn’t even take a chance. To avoid being beat to the punch by a gossip site, the LA Times deliberately broke its own rule of protecting the privacy of the alleged victim, and publicly revealed Rihanna as the alleged victim. Simply an act “fair game,” as the paper described it, “The nature of this case — against the backdrop of the Grammy’s, the delay in changing things, the explanations put out by both camps,” made the decision irresistible.

Others have taken the easy (cowardly) route of defending Chris Brown, unconditionally, because of his childhood, which, ironically enough, involved domestic abuse inflicted on his mother. Many believe he would never do such a thing. After all, he is a “good guy,” without the mask of brutality society places on those it predicts to be capable of such acts—thuggish blacks, without the pretty-boy looks of a male R&B star. Chris would never do such a thing; he must have been “provoked” by Rihanna, another suggests. Blame the “white media,” for trying to “bring him down,” she says. Whatever happened to common sense?

I’m neither surprised nor shocked by the response of many Black female Chris Brown fans. This reaction is a staple in Black America—Bill Clinton (Monica Lewinsky). Ever since the European invasion of Africa, the ability to think straight, in a manner which champions the innocence of the oppressed over the guilt of the oppressor, has been stripped from our collective consciousness. To appease their powerlessness, Black folks with little (or no) self-esteem remain aligned with the oppressor, and defend empire, as a means of ignoring their disempowerment. This is why most male Rappers would gladly remain mute on the issue of sexism and patriarchy in the Rap industry.

Female Rappers, who dare speak out against the abuse dealt to them, are silenced, punished, threatened, coerced, and sometimes, murdered. Male Rappers, who possess the bully-pulpit to correct this wrong, would rather pretend as those it does not exist, than speak out and risk the ire of the While male supremacists who control the bulk of Hip-Hop’s traffic. The statements uttered by Kanye West, in relation to the Chris Brown-Rihanna fiasco, provides a ray of hope, for those disillusioned with Black male acquiescence to the abuse of their sisters. Terrence Howard and T.I. were forced to retract their initial pro-Chris Brown comments, soon after the backlash began titling unilaterally toward Chris. With a role-model-quality father suggesting his son’s actions are merely “unfortunate,” and the product of “shortcomings,” because there are “two sides to every story,” one can see how truly “remorseful,” Chris Brown is at the moment. Don’t “demonize him instantaneously,” if you’re a true fan, he warns.

Make no mistake: Young Chris would be okay. At worst, a fine or two would suffice. Before long, his career would be back on track; he’ll record a few specials—emotional ones—on the effects his personal encounters with a troubled childhood have had on him. He’ll release a public apology, renouncing his actions, and, right on cue, the rest of the world would move on, as though nothing ever happened—as though a young Black man did not extend the regrettable tradition of male violence against women; as though his actions, if proven to be true, are not criminal and worthy of legal prosecution; as though millions of women worldwide are not placed under the same shadow of terror, which Rihanna faced, on a daily basis; as though anyone is too big a star to be held accountable; as though the humanity of a female—and a Black one at that—is not worth the precious career of a successful R&B star. Shame on all those who know what’s right, but decide to do otherwise.