Kendrick Lamar’s performance served as an unflinching mirror, compelling White America to confront its reflection. For some viewers, the layers of meaning may have been difficult to fully grasp – and understandably so. This wasn’t just entertainment; it was an artistic statement deeply rooted in America’s complex racial history, that has been shaped by generations of mis-education about Black experiences and our contributions to this nation. The very elements that made some viewers uncomfortable were precisely what made the performance so powerful: it refused to look away from hard truths about race relations and systemic inequities that many Americans have been conditioned to ignore. Many Americans, particularly those who are Black, have not been taught a comprehensive view of our heritage, including both the significant contributions Black Americans have made to this nation and the unfulfilled promises made to the Black community throughout history. Our educational system often presents a grossly false narrative, omitting crucial parts of Black history and experience.
Lamar’s performance served as a mirror to American society, particularly white America. Based on social media reactions I read, many White viewers appeared uncomfortable with this reflection, having expected traditional Super Bowl entertainment. However, this discomfort wasn’t Lamar’s responsibility to manage – he was announced as the performer months ago, and he chose to present an authentic artistic statement that challenged viewers to confront important social realities. In addition, his performance transcended a simple rap rivalry which was the focus of some reactions. Its profound symbolism and messaging will likely be recognized as one of the most groundbreaking halftime shows in history, worthy of academic study for years to come.
The performance confronted an uncomfortable but critical issue in the Black community – one that often goes unaddressed because we don’t want to address it. But we need to start having honest conversations about predatory behavior toward young women and children, behavior that we have normalized for far too long. We didn’t know if Lamar was going to say it, but when he turned around and said “say Drake” we knew it was coming and it needed to be said on that world stage. Calling out Drake on that global stage, represented something momentous. A Black man had a world stage, and he used his platform to publicly condemn predatory behavior. As I mentioned earlier, this was not traditional Super Bowl entertainment focusing on one individual like Michael Jackson, Alicia Keys, Usher, Whitney Houston, or Jennifer Hudson – this Pulitzer prize winning artist addressed a broader pattern of systemic exploitation that Black women have long asked men, particularly Black men, to help combat in our communities. The significance of this moment cannot be overstated. Here was Lamar Kendrick, at the height of his influence, using the world’s largest stage to confront not only systemic issues, but also specific patterns of predatory behavior toward minors and young women. Drake’s documented history of inappropriate interactions with underage girls and young women exemplifies exactly what needs to be called out.
The Multi-generational Curse / Cycle of Sexual Predatory Behavior
I know this issue of sexual abuse resonates deeply with women’s experiences. A lot of women can recall an encounter from their youth when they were targeted by a predator, though at the time they may not have recognized it. Only in retrospect, with adult understanding, do these interactions reveal themselves for what they truly were. Lamar’s bold stance deserves recognition not just for its artistry, but for its courage in confronting this pervasive issue on such a massive platform. Having grown up with a predator in my home, I understand firsthand the profound and the long-lasting impact of childhood sexual abuse. The healing process continues well into adulthood, shaping who we become and how we move through the world. We must confront an uncomfortable truth: these predators don’t just harm their immediate victims – they create ripple effects that can span across generations, as traumatized children sometimes grow up to perpetuate the same harmful behaviors. This cycle of abuse has become deeply embedded in the Black community, and it demands our attention and action to break it.
Breaking this multi-generational curse/cycle (it’s both) requires three crucial steps: openly discussing the issue, addressing it head-on, and holding abusers accountable – exactly what Lamar did in his performance. At the core, his message was also about accountability, and the reactions we’ve witnessed from predators are textbook predatory behavior: the gaslighting, the denials, the anger, the threats. These are the typical responses when abusers – whether they’re pedophiles, racists, or other types of predators – have light shed on their actions. It’s time to be bold in exposing those who harm our community, particularly those who prey on Black children. We must shine a light on these destructive forces within our own community, even when – especially when – it makes people uncomfortable because it will. The cost of silence is simply too high. We must confront this difficult truth: our silence often stems from the fact that predators are woven into the fabric of our own families – they are our sons, our husbands, our grandfathers, our uncles, our brothers. But this relationship dynamic should never overshadow our responsibility to protect children.
Vilifying Victims Protecting Sexual Predators
Let me be absolutely clear: blaming victims must stop! A child cannot be “fast” enough to “catch” a grown man who doesn’t want to be caught. Placing responsibility on underage victims instead of the adult predators is not just misguided – it’s morally reprehensible. When we protect these men at the expense of children, we become complicit in their predation. If your first instinct isn’t to protect the child, you need to examine yourself deeply. The impulse to shield a sexual predator, regardless of your relationship with them, while dismissing the child’s trauma, may reveal uncomfortable truths about your own mindset. I’m not talking about condemning family loyalty – it’s about recognizing when that loyalty perpetuates and enables harm.
To the Black women in particular: I understand the complexity of these situations, especially when the predator is your own child. But at minimum, we must stop vilifying victims. When we fail to protect children and then blame these same children for their own abuse, we compound their trauma in ways that can echo through their entire lives. Consider the tragic case in Detroit: even after a man raped, impregnated, and murdered her niece – having previously had access to thirteen children – his fiancée still referred to him with terms of endearment. This is a stark example of misplaced loyalty. No relationship with any man should take precedence over a child’s safety, especially when that child is in your care. If you find yourself prioritizing a predator over a child’s wellbeing, that’s a sign you need to seek healing for yourself. Go to therapy and drag that man with you because he needs help.
If we truly want to rebuild our Black community, we must learn to hold people accountable. No more hiding uncomfortable truths. Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl performance showed us how to shine a light on predatory behavior – that “A” on his chest representing a minor sent a clear message to all predators targeting young women, children, and little boys.
Sexually Abusing Black Children is NOT Normal!
We must also stop normalizing relationships between teenage girls and grown men. Though teenage girls may have adult bodies, but they don’t have adult minds or emotional maturity. This is precisely why predators target them. These men often lack the emotional intelligence to maintain relationships with adult women, so they prey on young girls who haven’t yet learned to recognize predatory behavior or even advocate for themselves. The power imbalance is extreme, especially when the predator has fame or money.
Look at how long the Black community defended R. Kelly because we wanted to keep “Stepping in the Name of Love.” Despite video evidence and victim testimonials, we blamed everyone but him – we blamed the victims’ parents, the victims themselves, we blamed their schools – everyone but R. Kelly himself. When he went on national television crying about “fighting for his life and women,” insecure women rallied behind him as if they might be “chosen” next. Meanwhile, other predatory men supported him because they saw themselves in his actions, targeting 14- and 15-year-old girls or even younger.
This is how predators react when truth comes to light. If we want to heal our community, we must stop defending predators and start protecting our Black children. Think about the children in your own family – your sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, grandchildren. If you can dismiss their potential trauma so easily, you need to seriously question your fitness as a caregiver. This is the business we need to mind or there will be no Black legacy to pass on. Our community cannot heal until we address this issue of sexual predators head-on. The protection of our children must take precedence over protecting predators’ reputations. Period. Mic drop.
Think about this carefully. Seek help if you need it. Do not stay silent. See something, say something.
Blessings,
Dr. Paula
