Camp Taz

      Since the verdict of the R. Kelly trial became public, there has been a disheartening amount of people defending wanting to continue to listen to his music and tossing fault onto others.  Granted, I am a FIRM believer that those that covered for him and knew about what he was doing should be brought to justice as well.  With that being said, bringing up Elvis Presley and other [now deceased celebrities] is UNNECESSARY!!!!! We ALL know that there were [and are] others that are predators, but that is NOT an excuse for the egregious behavior of Robert Kelly.  Additionally, why all of a sudden must we separate the art from the artist NOW? Any other time we are fervently reminded that an artist's art is an extension of them...it is a part of who they are...it is their "baby".  Yet, when it comes to the music of this particular ABUSER, people can't seem to leave it alone and are willing to turn a blind eye to his actions over DECADES.     ...

      It pains me to watch the current climate of [online] activism after witnessing the past year.  Within the last 12 months, most activists have explained in detail of previous movements have been infiltrated and dismantled.  From J. Edgar Hoover and Robert Kennedy sending misleading "wiretaps" to Coretta Scott King trying to distance her from her husband to William O'Neal setting up Fred Hampton after the FBI deemed him a threat.  How many times must we allow ourselves to be setback due to [either] ego, fear, or lack of faith in leadership?       What I find the MOST frustrating about the current climate is that [social media] activists are negating their own strides at this moment.  They are falling prey to those that proclaim to have NEVER been a part of the "cause" yet are always lurking in the shadows, waiting and willing to enact pure havoc.  Rumors, gossip, and utter hate are clouding the pathway to equity and justice...