Lifetime recently debuted the docu-series “Surviving R. Kelly,” which depicts the rise and fall of the hip-hop and R&B artist. The launch of this show was rather controversial for both the Lifetime Network and the African American community.

This show surrounds the history of R. Kelly being a pedophile and the stories of the families affected in his raid against women of color. Victims of R. Kelly come forward in this docu-series discussing their experiences with this predator. Most of the women interviewed that had sexual encounters with R. Kelly during the early stages of womanhood or in other words, their early teens. At the time Kelly met these girls, he was in his late thirties.

R. Kelly has allegedly committed several counts of pedophilic acts and domestic abuse and has exhibited predatory behavior. The reason this television show is so controversial for one is that many people simply don’t believe R. Kelly committed these crimes. Specifically, women of color don’t believe he has committed these crimes against women of color. These supporters of R. Kelly ignore the substantial evidence stacked up against him and push their efforts to silence the alleged victims instead of silencing the perpetrator.

Once this docu-series aired the amount of R. Kelly music played skyrocketed which really shined the light on how much we as a people value someone like R. Kelly over the voices and lives of the women of color who were taken advantage of. Some might say these women would have been better off keeping quiet because the world doesn’t want to hear their story.

Personally, I feel that Lifetime has gotten an important conversation started where men should be held accountable for their actions despite their cultural influence. This sets a whole new movement in motion for the already thriving Me Too Movement and Black Lives Matter Movement.

In this docu-series, it has been said that the reason R. Kelly has been free all of this time is that he attacked women of color. It was suggested that America doesn’t care about women of color, which is why R. Kelly isn’t under the jailhouse to this day. Despite all the evidence suggesting R. Kelly committed these crimes, the women who suffered at the hands of Kelly are expected to suffer in silence.

I think this television show highlights the rape culture in the African American community. It highlights how people in the African American community would rather silence the victim than face the predator. This show is changing the dynamic of rape culture in America and making us face what we have allowed to ensue in our own homes.

This show also highlights how hard it is to condemn a person who brought you joy on more than one occasion. It is important for us to hold powerful men accountable for their actions because as long as Robert Kelly walks around without being held responsible, men like him roam freely as well, waiting for their next victim. This docu-series is giving a voice to the voiceless, and as a woman of color, I stand behind the victims. It’s time to end the madness.  

UPDATE: After turning himself in on Feb. 22, R. Kelly posted bail for $100,000 on Feb. 25 and has pleaded not guilty for the indicted charges.