Run and tell that: musings on the Antoine Dodson video
This viral video of Huntsville, Alabama resident Antoine Dodson made the online rounds last week to the amusement of some and the consternation of others. Reactions to the clip indicate that many laughed at, rather than with, someone who committed a heroic act, but apparently is too Black, too gay, and too poor/working class to get much respect.
EDITED TO ADD: Fortunately, Dodson has wasted no time in making the most of online fame: http://www.antoine-dodson.com/ . You gotta make things work for you.
The clip has been reposted everywhere from Buzzfeed to Bossip, and unsurprisingly many of the comments are homophobic, racist, and classist (I usually ignore blog comments because of the sheer ugliness and pointlessness that anonymity brings out in so many people). People mocked this brave man for his appearance, mannerisms, and for living in a housing project in the first place. There is an attempt to conduct an intelligent conversation about Dodson's actions -- he saved his sister, and possibly his young niece, from being sexually assaulted by an intruder -- at Jezebel.
Antoine Dodson and his sister Kelly show admirable resistance to the crime and the situation they're in -- sarcastic, sardonic, defiant, they do not speak as victims now that they've survived an undoubtedly terrifying experience. They are angry that someone tried to commit rape. They don't use a euphemism for what happened -- Antoine Dodson calls him a rapist. They mock the perpetrator and warn him that they, and the community, are watching him and that he will be held accountable for his actions.
However, the self-confidence they display doesn't lessen the serious nature of the crime, nor does it make the context less important. A woman and her daughter were living in housing without adequate security, and an intruder could easily open a window and enter their home without worrying about being observed. Why is attempted sexual assault of a Black woman and child not something to take seriously? As viewers we shouldn't assume that just because Kelly Dodson speaks out against the crime she isn't psychologically affected or deeply worried by the crime. Perhaps Antoine Dodson is articulate and funny in his verbal defiance, but this doesn't strike me as a laugh-out-loud situation. It involves rape, and fear, and poverty, and knowing that if you don't defend yourself, no one else will, because so often people who look, talk and live the way you do are going to be written off.
Who is laughing at, or laughing with the Dodsons? Antoine isn't laughing about the attempted rape. Neither is Kelly, the victim. Nor, I suppose, are most of the other people living in that housing project, with the same easily opened, burglar-ready windows in their homes.
Naturally, within hours the video clip had been remixed into songs, parodies, etc. Antoine Dodson won't get a penny of the income generated by the people selling Antoine Dodson T-shirts, or from the websites earning $$$$ from every click . He does seem to be wealthy in family and community bonds. He seems to be a caring person and in a later clip, produced by the TV news station after Dodson shot to fame overnight, he is gently holding the little girl who was with her mother on the night of the attack, perhaps providing ongoing comfort following a traumatic experience.
The homophobic commenters need to learn a lesson from Antoine about what a 'real man' is. He doesn't diminish the seriousness of rape -- he's obviously still angry at the perpetrator. He acted selflessly to protect someone else, and although his warning to the community may sound humorous, he is serious. Bravery, empathy,awareness, humor -- in other contexts these might be called "leadership qualities".
So, yeah. Run and tell that.
Click to viewEDITED TO ADD: Fortunately, Dodson has wasted no time in making the most of online fame: http://www.antoine-dodson.com/ . You gotta make things work for you.
The clip has been reposted everywhere from Buzzfeed to Bossip, and unsurprisingly many of the comments are homophobic, racist, and classist (I usually ignore blog comments because of the sheer ugliness and pointlessness that anonymity brings out in so many people). People mocked this brave man for his appearance, mannerisms, and for living in a housing project in the first place. There is an attempt to conduct an intelligent conversation about Dodson's actions -- he saved his sister, and possibly his young niece, from being sexually assaulted by an intruder -- at Jezebel.
Antoine Dodson and his sister Kelly show admirable resistance to the crime and the situation they're in -- sarcastic, sardonic, defiant, they do not speak as victims now that they've survived an undoubtedly terrifying experience. They are angry that someone tried to commit rape. They don't use a euphemism for what happened -- Antoine Dodson calls him a rapist. They mock the perpetrator and warn him that they, and the community, are watching him and that he will be held accountable for his actions.
However, the self-confidence they display doesn't lessen the serious nature of the crime, nor does it make the context less important. A woman and her daughter were living in housing without adequate security, and an intruder could easily open a window and enter their home without worrying about being observed. Why is attempted sexual assault of a Black woman and child not something to take seriously? As viewers we shouldn't assume that just because Kelly Dodson speaks out against the crime she isn't psychologically affected or deeply worried by the crime. Perhaps Antoine Dodson is articulate and funny in his verbal defiance, but this doesn't strike me as a laugh-out-loud situation. It involves rape, and fear, and poverty, and knowing that if you don't defend yourself, no one else will, because so often people who look, talk and live the way you do are going to be written off.
Who is laughing at, or laughing with the Dodsons? Antoine isn't laughing about the attempted rape. Neither is Kelly, the victim. Nor, I suppose, are most of the other people living in that housing project, with the same easily opened, burglar-ready windows in their homes.
Naturally, within hours the video clip had been remixed into songs, parodies, etc. Antoine Dodson won't get a penny of the income generated by the people selling Antoine Dodson T-shirts, or from the websites earning $$$$ from every click . He does seem to be wealthy in family and community bonds. He seems to be a caring person and in a later clip, produced by the TV news station after Dodson shot to fame overnight, he is gently holding the little girl who was with her mother on the night of the attack, perhaps providing ongoing comfort following a traumatic experience.
The homophobic commenters need to learn a lesson from Antoine about what a 'real man' is. He doesn't diminish the seriousness of rape -- he's obviously still angry at the perpetrator. He acted selflessly to protect someone else, and although his warning to the community may sound humorous, he is serious. Bravery, empathy,awareness, humor -- in other contexts these might be called "leadership qualities".
So, yeah. Run and tell that.