Like any deviancy that focuses on hurting others for amusement or pleasure, I think it’s a bit of both. I think some folks are hardwired for certain “bad traits”, but in the presence of abuse, neglect, etc. that hard-coding emerges more.

I let out an audible gasp and teared up after reading that.

I am so sorry you dealt with all of that. It’s horrendous to think there are people out there who would suggest and actually believe that a child is capable of seducing someone or enjoying abuse. Any physiological responses aside (only mention because people tend to think that if there is any positive response at all…

Regular folks turn a blind eye to child sexual abuse for many reasons. I can imagine that large sums of money would make it more prevalent for a parent not to notice.

Anne Hathaway. Christina Aguilera. Justin Timberlake. Mila Kunis. There are more. The common thread with all of those examples are parents. For each of them, I can remember a time when they talked about their parents and how they had some “normalcy” away from Hollywood during their teenage years. Some started in the…

I definitely agree with that as well. He said he didn’t get caught up in stuff because he had a strong family structure. If you don’t, I can see how that life will eat you up at a young age.

Yeah, I remember that was on Feldman’s reality show a few years back. In one of their autobiographies, they go into a lot of detail about the industry and the abuse. I think it was Feldman and the media wrote him off.

Yeah. There seems to be a lot of unhealthy stuff that child stars publicly exorcise as young adults and it’s a very common occurrence for such a small population. I’m not a conspiracy theorist on this by any means, but I do believe Wood’s comments, however vague they are right now.

I haven’t really paid a lot of attention to the Kesha situation recently, but I know about some of the updates in passing. I’m glad she’s doing better and her career is still in tact because sexual abuse, harassment, rape (I think those are all the allegations, if I’m off, I apologize) and STILL being signed to the…

Agreed. Sometimes, it’s easier for someone to accept that type of help from someone they don't know. Either way, I hope it gets better for you all.

Honestly, I understand. I have been off my meds and doing relatively well with my moods, but recently I realized that I need some help. My work life is suffering and I feel like I’m drowning. I am the “rock” of my family so I don’t tell people how I feel or what I deal with because “I’m so strong.” I am looking…

I’m about to play armchair psychologist for a moment so bare with me. First, in some instances, you cannot do anything to ensure people see you a certain way. Meaning you can do all the right things but his parents, some of his friends or other family members might see you as a “hanger-on.”As long as you know that’s…

I closed my first business deal as a business owner. It was a lot of planning, learning, failing, doing, re-doing and doing some more to get it done, but I did. My SO and I started a company last year and I am so proud that we were able to accomplish it. I took myself out for lunch today with and old friend and used…

I get that. One of the things I firmly believe is that it’s not always on the bucket list for black American women to play these roles because we live racism every single day. Be it subtle or overt. It’s exhausting just being black in America but to go and take on a role that exacerbates that 10 fold might not be the…

One of my friends was married to a guy and they had what seemed like a happy marriage. A few years ago, her husband started getting into what I call “hotep theory” where black (mostly) men youtubers go in about how white folks are the devil and everything wrong with the black community can be traced back to some evil…

I know I could not, which is why I am not an actress. Kudos to those who are and endure for the sake of art and storytelling.

Eh, I get what she’s saying though. Some foreigners of African descent (whether they come from Nigeria or Spain by way of the Congo), have an issue with African Americans. While I have never heard any one of those reasons being “not African enough”, there are struggles in how some first (and second) generation African…

Outside of this casting and the ones for 12 Years a Slave, I’m not sure that I’ve seen many foreign actors play slave characters. Oh, there was Amistad where Honsou (sp) played the lead but no one complained because he killed in the role. My point is that this epidemic that you seem to think is happening simply is…

I don’t think folks will care much about that. She resembles the real life Loving and it’s not as if Hollywood cast Claire Danes in blackface for the role. I, at least, don’t think many folks will care about that.

It’s not slut shaming. Goodness. It’s “that was some fucked up shit to do” shaming. This narrative that any critical assessment of a woman’s sexual choices are slut shaming is bullshit. As a woman (or man!), you willingly have sex with someone else’s spouse, that’s a shitty decision that deserves criticism. If a…