Was the Bill Cosby Prison Sentence Fair?
After the disturbing news about legendary iconic actor comedian Bill Cosby sentencing yesterday many have differing views. Brothers Darrin Marion and Khonsu Shesmu Amun discussed their thoughts on the Bill Cosby prison sentence. Both men were in disbelief about what had taken place.
What really happened with Cosby and Constand?
“Let’s take a look at the events leading up to Cosby’s conviction. Until she testified against Bill Cosby last June, Andrea Constand hadn’t said a word in public about the sexual assault he perpetrated against her in 2004. Under the terms of a 2006 civil settlement she reached with Cosby after the prosecutors declined to bring criminal charges against the comedian, Constand would’ve had to return the nearly $3.4 million payment he’d made to her if she spoke up about his abuse, according to Slate website.”
Constand’s account of events prior to the alleged assault
Constand was working at Temple University women’s basketball team in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania when she met Cosby. In 2002, Cosby and Constand became friends in her new role, Cosby is an alumnus of Temple and maintained a close relationship with the college. Constand attended dinner parties and private dinners at Cosby’s home in Elkins Park, a suburb of Philadelphia.
“In January 2004, Constand went to Cosby’s house in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania after a night out with friends. Constand stated that Cosby listened to her complaints about stress. According to Constand, Cosby gave her three blue pills he claimed would help her relax (Cosby would later, in a deposition state that the pills were the over the counter antihistamine, Benadryl, they made her semi-conscious and unable to move. Then, Cosby allegedly touched her breasts and crotch and put her hand on his penis. She further claimed that she woke up around 4 a.m. to find her clothing all over the room.”
Keep in mind, there was no physical evidence to convict Cosby only Constand’s word. And the testimonies of the other women who claimed Cosby drugged and sexually assaulted them. Also, some of the women could not bring criminal charges against Cosby because the incidents allegedly happened in the 1970’s.
Was the Bill Cosby prison sentence a case of white privilege?
White privilege is the societal privilege that benefits people whom society identifies as white in some countries, beyond what is commonly experienced by non – white people under the same social, political, or economic circumstances.
The Bill Cosby prison sentence is an example of the definition of white privilege. And here is why? The judicial system in our country is notorious for allowing whites to spend less time for crimes committed. Less conviction of crimes.
On the other hand, African Americans are convicted at a higher rate than whites for the same crimes committed. NAACP keeps records of crimes committed. Here is what the statistics show:
“In 2014, African Americans constituted 2.3 million, or 34%, of the total 6.8 million correctional population. African Americans are incarcerated at more than 5 times the rate of whites. The imprisonment rate for African American women is twice that of white women. Nationwide, African American children represent 32% of children who are arrested, 42% of children who are detained, and 52% of children whose cases are judicially waived to criminal court.”
Clearly, their is a problem with our judicial system. This is another reason why so many people are upset about the Bill Cosby prison sentence.
Other famous men accused of similar crimes as Cosby but not in prison
Film producer Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual allegations stemming from sexual harassment to rape. Some of the alleged victims are among Hollywood elite. Salma Hayek, Rose McGowan, Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Cara Delevingne, Mira Sorvino, Rosanna Arquette and Lea Seydoux all have accused Weinstein of some sexual crime including rape. However, Weinstein is not in prison.
In fact, actress Rose McGowan accused Weinstein of raping her by performing oral sex in a hotel at the Sundance Film Festival in 1997, when she was only 23 and had just appeared in the movie Scream. Emmy nominated former Sopranos actress Annabella Sciorra alleged that Weinstein forced himself into her apartment in New York in 1992 and raped her, according to BBC News.
Also, news anchor Matt Lauer of the Today show on NBC was fired after a female colleague made a complaint with NBC News accusing him of inappropriate sexual behavior during the 2014 Sochi Olympics. There was two other ladies that came forward with stories of their own accusing Lauer of sexually assaulting them in 2001, according to NBC News.
In addition, Bill O’Reilly, was ousted out of his anchor position over at FOX News for sexual assault when allegations made against him were revealed.
Sexual Assault Cases All the Way to the Supreme Court
In recent news, Attorney Brett Kavanaugh the candidate for supreme court has been accused by three women of illegal sexual behavior toward them when he was young and intoxicated.
On September 16, 2018 Christine Blasey Ford revealed herself as the author of a letter to Representative Anna Eshoo, Democrat of California, alleging that at a high school party in the 1980’s, Kavanaugh had pinned her down on a bed, tried to peel off her clothes, and covered her mouth when she tried to scream, according to Right Wing Watch website.
Severe Sexual Allegations
The allegations seem very severe against the men mentioned above. So far not one of them have spent a night in jail or house arrest. Why is that? What is really happening? As Darrin and Khonsu pointed out, were the Cosby crimes greater than these other men? Was the Bill Cosby prison sentence too harsh? What is to become of African American men?
Are we headed to a totalitarian government like in China, North Korea, and Iraq where the government does not permit any individual to have freedom and that seeks to subordinate all aspects of individual life to the authority of the state. Stay Woke!!!!!!
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