BY R.D.

The show must go on, but does it pause domestic violence?

We’ve missed several personal and business resolutions this year. No one can predict which story will dominate this year’s headlines. However, if history remains our guide, despite today’s cynicism and lack of trust in government and leadership, many communities should be focusing on policies and resources for several women who will become victims this year.

This issue affects extended family, neighbors, schools, and friends; the list goes on.

In late November 2014, the Soul Train music award on Black Entertainment (BET) and Centric TV captured many who tuned in to witness Kool and the Gang receive a lifetime award for their 50 years in the industry, not to be distracted by the glamour, fashion, music critics, or the gossip about who attended with whom. Once the show concluded, the phone rang.

Oh, guess what? Chris Brown showed up! Everyone deserves another chance.

If you don’t have the opportunity to take the next correct steps, how can you overcome certain issues?

But, you know, being accountable is also important, especially when you have a platform where millions of people admire you.

I have always believed that you are your own role model, even if others do not perceive it in that way.

Oh, not even your parents, huh? Oh, I learned from a friend that some individuals actually prefer to receive love from a distance.

What if Chris Brown had said, “Violence against women is horrible,” before his performance? Would that have changed anything?”

You may disagree for whatever reason you may have, but the show must go on. It’s time to dance, not focus on your busted lips or blackened eyes.

I get it again—millions of records sold. I receive it again; it’s record sales, stupid!

Domestic violence is an epidemic beyond your shores.

One in five women who may have watched these events are either victims or know someone who has been abused, raped, coerced into sex, or subjected to other forms of abuse.

In addition, nearly one in five adolescent girls has been in a relationship where a boyfriend threatened violence or self-harm if presented with a breakup, according to the Washington Coalition Against Violence.

Even the US Army noted an increase in criminal assaults in 2014.

Domestic violence is a persistent problem that profoundly impacts numerous lives. Even in the Caribbean, where silence weaves, the laid-back atmosphere creates a fertile ground for the emergence of pain. Case numbers are staggering, like waves crashing strong against women’s faces, like the ocean’s song.

The Trinidad Express reports that around 11,382 domestic violence cases were filed two years ago.

In Jamaica, research has revealed that approximately 9,000 and 300 sexual assault instances were reported in the same year.

Today, I’m also wondering what would happen if international soca superstar Machel Montano of Trinidad and Tobago, who won an award at the BET Awards, and Jamaica’s Tessanne Chin, a former winner of The Voice USA, were given the opportunity to raise awareness and potential impact with their massive audiences.

Whose responsibility is it?

Television networks have been instrumental in raising social awareness regarding significant matters such as AIDS, technology, fashion, voting, and marriage equality.

These issues have a global reach, especially in impoverished and developing nations, and any rise in awareness can have a substantial impact on society.

This year, we should utilize more cameras to raise awareness about domestic violence in these regions, where it continues to be a critical issue.

The issue at hand requires a comprehensive national strategy, particularly in impoverished communities where the disparity between the privileged and the underprivileged has been increasing.

This phenomenon is applicable to individuals of all races, cultures, and social classes.

In addition, given the high per capita murder rate observed in various nations within the region, it is worth considering the potential urgency of addressing domestic violence.

The issue is further exacerbated by the prevalence of images in music videos and other contexts that perpetuate a narrow perception of female beauty, despite the ongoing challenges.

We should focus on possibilities in 2015, not on what is popular. Many more global award presentations are scheduled, including the Carnival, Reggae Sun Splash, Grammy, Super Bowl, Golden Globe, and Oscars. Other networks will continue to pursue the “Big Get” by featuring another high-profile domestic abuse story.

These “gets” can provide the misleading impression that because the perpetrators and victim are wealthy and well-known, the problem can be remedied quickly.

In actuality, re-victimization is generally overlooked, although a television rating can skyrocket.

A powerful abuser can be charming. The victim frequently assumes it is a one-time incident. Regrettably, many of these significant stories are merely premeditated statements.

This case is just one of the numerous concealed instances of domestic violence abuse.

He would quickly apologize, but due to a lack of resources and her inability to cope, she accepted the abuse as normal.

When she reported evidence of abuse to the local police department, the officers dismissed her claim, saying, “She must have done something to him.” She also remembered a coworker who wore thick make-up to conceal her bruises and a friend she lost when her husband severed her skull.

The fear of financial hardship, neglecting children, and safety concerns, along with a lack of support, remains a significant hurdle.

We must disprove the notion that it is acceptable to stay silent out of shame. This only leads to more abuse.

This is what has not moved on:A compilation of studies from the United Kingdom was conducted by an advocate group.

These studies quantified the costs associated with pain and suffering, as well as the expenses incurred for victim services and the reduction in economic output resulting from domestic abuse.

The findings of these studies concluded that domestic violence incurs a total cost of approximately $23 billion for individuals, the state, and businesses.

The Disconnect:

In the context of the gay, lesbian, and transgender community, socio-economic status hinders the pursuit of equality for all and poses a significant obstacle to inclusion when facing these challenges.

W We must put an end to the xenophobia that excuses criminal behavior related to domestic violence, as this is deeply concerning.

W When pop superstar Rihanna became a victim, her Barbadian nationality was prioritized over the abuse she suffered. One woman suggested that Rihanna’s Caribbean heritage might have influenced the violent incident. 

“She was overly enamored with this American boy and failed to comprehend his cultural need for space.” Another comment was, “He better watch himself; those island women are crazy.” He just smacked down the Caribbean, and she lost the fight.

When does it become a crime?

YOften, you can hear the minimization of domestic abuse cases when the perpetrator comes from a privileged background or culture.

This situation resembles implicit bias that arises from factors such as fame, cultural differences, or national origin.

Domestic violence impacts individuals universally. The objective here is to address and minimize violence against all individuals.

Next Up!

All geopolitical, criminal, economic, and societal challenges are critical to address immediately, but awareness of domestic violence has quietly diminished from public discourse when other issues surfaced.

Delaying this topic puts many women who have been in toxic relationships for decades at risk.

Domestic violence, like Santa’s Wish, should be a significant theme on popular television.

It is a serious issue in many parts of the world, where criminals often go unpunished and remain unrecognized.

A celebrity’s accusation of this problem may prompt a time-out, the whistle to blow, everyone to see the replay, the live game to resume, society to move on, or someone to serve time in jail to convey a message.

Unfortunately, it is often too late for them to receive help in managing their behavior.

Despite being abused, many continue to move forward and gain authority.

According to multiple studies, a significant majority of women—specifically 75%—identify as the primary shoppers for their households.

Additionally, these studies indicate that consumer electronics purchases total $90 billion. If she chooses to stop, my products will remain unsold.

It is critical that more local and international performers use their platforms to raise awareness. When women lose their trust in the judicial system, it can create silence, especially in the poor and developing nations and communities without resources.

Let Tango for safety, and beyond the camera

Many abusers will dance back into your life or appear at your local concerts like shadows in the night. Like a sea of stars, millions of young women will be screened, and even you will have the chance to dance, but I hope that at least a few of you will attend, holding a picture of the abused women and their families who have been lost, like whispers in the wind.

We should not view domestic violence as a mere opportunity for transformation but rather as a pivotal moment that allows everyone, including men, to attain safety and comfort.

“I felt as guilty as a cat trapped in a room full of rocking chairs because this article should have been published much sooner.”