25/02/2025
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LAST POST ON THIS! I know some of you loathe my commentary on celebrities almost as much as I loathe writing about them. But bear with me for one last word on my brother ASAP Rocky.
I recently wrote about the unwavering loyalty of Black women—their boundless love, their steadfast faith, their prayers that move mountains. I reflected on how Rihanna’s faithfulness to the father of her children was not only warming to witness but also worthy of acknowledgment. Because, brothers, let’s be honest: many of us are still searching for that kind of love. A love that sees us at our lowest and refuses to waver. A love that believes in us when the world won’t.
And let’s be clear—her faithfulness wasn’t in vain. It wasn’t misplaced. This brother was not guilty.
By all accounts, ASAP Rocky has been a phenomenal father, a successful entertainer, a man who stands on his own two feet. And more importantly, he had the integrity to stand on his innocence. I watched that video. He was not the aggressor.
Yet, when I spoke on this before, the attacks in my comments were relentless. He was slandered beyond recognition. Reduced to something less than a man. Called a bum, told he wasn’t worthy, as if he hadn’t built his own name, his own career, his own legacy. And now, where are those voices? Where is the peanut gallery that insisted he was some thug that fumbled his Queen and was unworthy of her profound loyalty.
This brother turned down a plea deal—one that would have spared him jail time—because he refused to admit to something he didn’t do. And when the dust settled, a jury saw the truth.
As Black men, we live in a world that is quick to accuse and slow to grant grace. We are often judged by proximity—our worth tied not to who we are but to the worst examples of those who share our skin. But let this be a reminder: we are not all villains, we are not all guilty, and we deserve the benefit of the doubt just like anyone else.
And to the Black women who stand by us when the world won’t, who hold us up in our darkest hours—you are the heartbeat of our existence. You are the mothers of civilization. And we see you. We love you. We need you.
Please, don’t lose faith in us.