English Catholic historian and writer, John Dalberg-Acton, in a letter to an Anglican bishop in 1887, penned the now famous lines:
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority...
Years later, these lines continue to hold true in almost every sphere of life where power is wielded. In the past few years, however, we have seen somewhat a shifting of the tide as "great men" previously deemed untouchable by mainstream society have been toppled and their feet of clay exposed.
There are countless examples which can be drawn, of course, but this blog proposes to zero in on the fall of prolific musician and songwriter, R. Kelly, in light of recent court developments on Friday last (September 9th, 2022) which saw his inmate commissary seized to contribute to a victim restitution fund following his sex trafficking conviction in New York.
Coming from humble beginnings in Chicago, R. Kelly's rise to stardom was dizzying and his impact on the black entertainment industry indisputable. Sadly, his legacy was tainted and spoiled by allegations of sexual misconduct leading to federal charges and ultimately his conviction in New York.
It's important to note though that while his victims have finally had their day in court, concerns about R. Kelly's sexual conduct are nothing new and the fact that he was able to continue his deviant behavior unchecked for years is something that, as a society, we must all take collective responsibility for.
I was a teenager in 1994 when there was an outcry over reports of R. Kelly's marriage to the singer Aaliyah who was only 15 years old at the time. Yet, though many gave R. Kelly the side eye even back then, we continued to bop to his songs, and we didn't stop when reports surfaced of an indictment for child pornography and myriad rumors of other deviant sexual behavior.
Of course, with more than 75 million records under his belt, and successes not only with his own songs but on the songs he has written for countless others including Michael Jackson, there is no disputing R. Kelly's genius and impact. In some circles, he was even known as the King of R&B. Unmatched.
But royalty does not make you a good person and royalty does not make you worthy of the reverence you may seek to claim. And so, this is where, collectively, as a society, we must all accept responsibility for the things we allow to continue.
For aren't we, by empowering R. Kelly, by celebrating his music and not holding him accountable, in essence, little more than enablers?
When we selfishly found ways to separate the artist from his work in an attempt to make the musical dish he served more palatable, we accommodated him in his position of power as a celebrity, and made it possible for him to, with impunity, not only objectify but sexually abuse women and children.
Over the past few years, with the rise of the MeToo Movement contributing to female empowerment, R Kelly's past ghosts rose en masse to haunt him, and in September 2021, he was convicted of racketing and eight counts of sex trafficking. In June 2022, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
And so, the boy from the Ida B Wells public housing project in Bronzeville, Chicago, who sang his way to a seat of power, rocked and rocked and rocked his chair so far back, the legs gave out under him and he fell. And now, after having sold more than 75 million records, having won three Grammys, having written for some of the biggest names in R&B and pop, R. Kelly is now himself a prisoner, and even his inmate commissary is up for grabs as the judge swoops in and scoops up the majority- $27,828- leaving him with a paltry $500 survival sum.
And even if he never admits it in public, how tough it must be for him to now look in the mirror and see the outcome of past sins.
Today, as we continue to examine and discuss the R. Kelly lesson, I'd argue that this is an opportune time for all to take note- perpetrators and those who enable wrongdoing. Because it's definitely a reminder that ill deeds do not go unpunished, and one day, the ghosts of our past rise up. Ask Macbeth. Or better yet, ask R. Kelly.
Resources:
- https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/kelly-robert-sylvester-r-kelly-1967/
- https://time.com/5546990/r-kelly-timeline/
- https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-40635526
- https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-jail-commissary-account-victims-restitution-1234589605/
This article was first posted to my blog on Read Cash
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