“Justice”, Cosby, & How We Continue to Harm Survivors
At times, the impact of existing at the intersection of Black and woman is glaring. Navigating and prioritizing two historically excluded and systematically oppressed identities can result in an insensitivity and a sometimes dangerous response to the other. As a person who works on the full continuum of sexual violence intervention and prevention, who does so from within the identity of Black and woman, the failure to believe survivors, misogynoir, unfairly prioritizing Black maleness over safety of Black girlhood/womanhood, along with the justifiable mistrust of the carceral system, effect how my community (rightfully or wrongly) responds to sexual violence.
Yesterday, Bill Cosby was released from prison. Not because he was innocent of causing sexual harm, but because the legal system, in having him speak on his sexually abusive behavior, made an agreement that doing so would not be used to prosecute him (NOTE: I am not an attorney, so I am simply speaking on the summaries provided). The reaction to his release has demonstrated the work that has to be done at the intersection of Blackness, Sexual Violence, and the criminal “justice” system.
1. We know that the criminal justice system disproportionately imposes harsher sentences on Black people relative to the same crimes committed by their White counterparts.
2. We know the difficulty that Returning Citizens have in gaining employment, being able to take care of their families, and fully reintegrating into society (because of the legal barriers put in their paths).
3. We know that our community, in its mission to “Save Black Malehood”, will demand emotional, sexual, and physical martyrdom from its Black Women and Girls to make this happen
4. We know society’s overall tendency to blame victims for their sexual assaults — -even if they believe (which is not always the case) that the sexual assault occurred.
Within the Cosby case, the collision of these views/practices have been used by some to either claim that those who were harmed by Cosby got what they deserved (by making references to being alone with a married man), or stating that they must have willingly engaged in sexual contact with him because “Bill Cosby would not have to rape anyone” (Please note: No one “has” to sexually assault anyone. Sexual assault is a choice — -from the continuum of poor understanding of what consent means, to –in Cosby’s case, planned, predatory action).
Even within those who do not doubt that Cosby sexually abused dozens of women (which he admitted to in his depositions in how he defined the behavior), the argument then becomes the need to not address the behavior because as Cliff Huxtable, he epitomized Black Fatherhood for many of us. This narrative that only people without any redeeming qualities commit sexual assault, does not allow for the fact that many of our brothers, sisters, fathers, grandfathers, coaches, teachers, faith leaders, etc. have committed sexual offenses. Failing to acknowledge such does not permit the necessary room for comprehensive prevention/education, reconciliation (if survivors so choose), or the understanding that horrible choices can exist within the bodies of those who matter to us.
The need to hold the Justice System accountable for promises broken in the case of Cosby is understandable. Because we know that system has been built on broken promises and lies told to and against Black people. Every person who sits in prison does not have the resources that Cosby has; yet, in whatever instances such a system acts unfairly, we know that the majority of such problematic practices will impact Black and Brown people.
Yet, in the rush to cheer for Cosby, the failure to support survivors is even more deafening. Lukewarm responses about supporting survivors that come afterwards present as meaningless afterthoughts. Our insistence on praising the release of Cosby, while our own family members and friends who have survived sexual assault remain silently in their emotional prisons because they cannot trust you to support them as vehemently. Or in the worst case, they see you denigrate or outright deny sexual assault because of your investment in redemption for the image of the person who caused the harm.
Cosby sexually assaulted dozens of women.
The judicial system is broken (or is truly operating as it should — -depending upon who you ask)
Survivors are to be believed
All of these things are true and must be beliefs that we speak — -all at the same damn time.
#SupportSurvivors #CosbyReleased #DrTyffani
Dr. Dent is a licensed psychologist. Her hardest job is being a Black Woman who centers the experiences of Black women and girls. She believes survivors. She recognizes that the Justice System is not fair to Black people. Make sure to “Like” her page and listen to her on the Centering Sisters Videocast on Facebook Live (@CenteringSisters) and on Youtube