WHAT A SHAME!

As always we here at the Bastille invite contributors and our most recent, Montgomery Carlo, has some things to say about recently acquitted, R & B singer Robert Kelly aka R. Kelly.

It was no surprise that R. Kelly was acquitted last week. The justice system has repeatedly demonstrated inequities toward, and disregard for the powerless as it has bent over backwards to show favoritism for wealthy and well connected.

The paralyzing sensation I feel is a collage of emotions when reflecting on the crime that Robert Kelly committed. But his crime is only the opening act of a grander more conspiratorial crime that was committed by our Nation's radio stations, T.V. Stations, magazines and other media outlets following Kelly's crime. The media continued to "push" R. Kelly after repeated accusations of R Kelly's never-ending appetite for young girls. This time, though, the accusations weren't delivered via anecdote or hearsay. They were delivered via visual evidence.

However, to no surprise, our justice system ignored the most damning forensic evidence- VISUAL EVIDENCE. This is not a case of a bloody glove, a time line, a DNA sample or a barking dog. This was a case of "Is this guy I see on this video, really the guy I see on this video?" But unlike O.J., R. Kelly has won in the court of public opinion. His records have continued to sell. Ironically, his VIDEOS have sold as well, all despite the overwhelming evidence against R Kelly.

Therein are some compelling questions, that have yet to be asked.

If R. Kelly had urinated on a 13 white girl, would he be free, much less wealthy?

Finally, here is a tougher introspective image for African Americans.

Imagine a celebrity who is loved by all. His career has spanned two decades as he has demonstrated the ability to cross all genres of music. However, there are rumors that this celebrity has a problem. His problem is one that even the most hardened criminals frown upon. Still, he sells hip-hop music at a frenzied pace to fans world wide. He packs coliseums selling out shows around the globe. Then, something happens. The horrible rumors that have swirled around this mega-star are supported by a video of him with a 13 year old inner city girl from Chicago. Some of the sexual acts shown on this tape are objectionable, even for most consenting ADULTS. The video culminates with the hip-hop star urinating on the 13 year old girl. Imagine this. And in the spirit of Matthew McConauhey in the 1990's movie "JUST CAUSE", "Now imagine the mega-star is white".

Would we have witnessed the parade of Sharpton, Jackson and the usual contingent of picket sign carriers singing "We Shall Overcome" or shouting "NO Justice NO Peace"? Would CNN have been outside the courtroom with "earliest results from the racially charged child pornography case and words" from Rev Al, Jesse, and the scores of other corrupt, self-centered, self-indulgent, self-aggrandizing, vain black-preachers and other media appointed leaders-of-the-black-community? Of course!

So I ask, "What is the difference?" A child was sexually abused at the hands of a sexual predator with a reputed history. Yet, we did nothing but enable and therefore facilitate his crimes.

Recently, we witnessed history as Barack Obama was nominated the Democratic Nominee. Our Nation showed that it is evolving- growing up. However, we as African-Americans have once again shown that we may have taken a step backwards.

Now follow me! Follow me to freedom!

AIN'T NOTHING WRONG WITH A LITTLE BUMP-N-GRIND

“I don’t see nothing wrong, with a little bump-n-grind.”

Lyrics by R & B Crooner and all around nasty motherfucker, R.Kelly.

This just in from the Second City justice system.

A Cook County jury on Friday acquitted R&B superstar R. Kelly of child pornography charges, marking the end of a high-profile trial rich in courtroom drama and celebrity intrigue.
The 41-year-old singer, whose real name is Robert Kelly, long denied charges that he videotaped himself engaging in a variety of sex acts with his then-underage goddaughter. Authorities said the female in the video could have been as young as 13 at the time.
The jury of nine men and three women deliberated for 7 ½ hours before finding Kelly not guilty on all 14 counts.
The verdict ends a bizarre case that had languished for nearly six years. During almost four weeks of testimony, the jury heard about three-person sexual encounters and watched a sex tape in which the male participant is seen urinating on a female.

The prosecution presented 22 witnesses including several childhood friends and four family members, who identified their then 13 year-old young lady. Twenty-two people recognized this perverted man as having sex with this then underage young lady and the cherry on top – urinating on her – let me restate that -- pissing on a little girl. We here at the Bastille hopes he never sells another CD. May he be banished to selling home-burned CD’s on the streets of Chicago out the back of an Escalade. There is not a song in this world – at least I thought so – that should have gotten this bastard off, but obviously it did. I will assume the girl and her family have been paid off. Now that Mr. Kelly is free I assume he will record a CD like Trapped In Closet – forgive me-- a mini-opera. I can see the title now, “Junior High Love”. After this pedo was originally arrested he started wearing masks in public, came out with an album called the Chocolate Factory and started calling himself the Pied Piper of R & B. How much does this man have to dare society to convict him. I’ve spoke on karma before and if there is such a thing, there are going to be five men resembling, mixed-martial artist Kimbo Slice, who are going treat his sphincter like NASA treats the planet Mars – exploring a new frontier in perpetuity.

Now follow me! Follow me to freedom!