One of the best known verses in the Bible is John 8:7. To paraphrase, “let he who is without sin, cast the first stone”. This is a valuable lesson, as scripture states that a woman, who had been caught in the act of adultery, was brought to Jesus Christ by the scribes and Pharisees as a test to see if he was a wise, fair and liberal decision maker in matters of the Law of God. To their surprise, Jesus didn’t condemn the woman, not because he was liberal or condoned her sin, but because the men who brought the woman before him were hypocrites. Being the only person free of sin on that occasion to pass judgment and “cast the first stone”, he forgave the woman and told her to “sin no more.”
Fast forward to modern times, everyone with the ability to type on a keyboard or “share” with their telecommunication device now has the ability to be judge, jury and executioner. And in the court of public opinion, Mimi Faust has been found guilty of doing a disservice to herself, her daughter, and by in large the Black community as a whole. Gone are the days when the four (4) major networks promoted Florida Evans (Good Times) and Claire Huxtable (The Cosby Show) as the matriarchs of the Black family. Now generations three (3), maybe four (4) times removed from that era are watching Olivia Pope (Scandal) and Mary Jane Paul (Being Mary Jane) be the symbols of Black womanhood. This writer is aware that other television shows exist (Meet the Browns as an example) that promote positive imagery of both the Black woman and family. However, gauge their popularity against those of Atlanta Housewives, Basketball Wives, the Game and the other aforementioned; there is no comparison.
Now social media is ablaze by the antics of one Ms. Faust and her lover Nikko Smith. If you haven’t seen the trailer of Season 3, Love & Hip Hop Atlanta or the full clip of the alleged sex tape, the attached link provides an explanation as to why the tape was leaked: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aIxY0UUtTQ.
“We are very good lawyers for our own mistakes, but very good judges for the mistakes of others.” This statement is the epitome of our human nature; quick to cast stones but never fully taking responsibility for our errors in judgment. So now comparisons are being made between Ms. Faust, Paris Hilton and Kim Kasdashian. Questions are being raised as to how detrimental and non-profitable a sex tape can be for a Black female. Comments from around the Facebook, Twitter, Instagram social media communities speak to the following: “The price for fame and celebrity. Some like status, some go for that dollar!” Some people have grown tired of the chatter, stating, “Okay, can something else happen. I’m tired of this MIMI crap! Who cares? She is a grown ass woman. Why should we judge her and what she’s doing? We not helping her raise her daughter, nor do we have hell or heaven to place her. Geesh! Give it rest!” Another person reveals, “I’m not saying what Mimi did in her sex tape was right or wrong. I’m just tired of women getting judged at the time. Yes it’s not what you would want to show the world, but she is in show business.” Et cetera and so on; the range of emotions varies from post to post. It has gone from surfboarding and “drinking watermelon” in tribute to Beyonce’s “Drunk in Love” song, to Home Depot being sold out of shower poles.
Now opponents of “ratchet” behavior and fighters for the liberation of Black people will point to this incident and say, “We like to point fingers, make a mockery of ourselves and overlook black knowledge! We refuse to love ourselves.” They would also say that network television isn’t promoting a positive image of people of color, encourages that Black women be whores and endorses the feminization of the Black male. (Sigh) Ms. Faust is the same young lady who was calling her arch nemesis, Joseline Hernandez, a “hoe” and “prostitute” on television for engaging in a relationship with her past lover Stevie J. For those of you that rationalize that Mimi’s daughter “probably” won’t see the video until she’s an adult, you’re forgetting that her daughter’s classmates’ caretakers may have perhaps seen the footage. And though children may be full of innocence, joyful and full of glee; they can also be cruel, unforgiving and unrelenting. Her daughter may be the butt of all jokes based on what’s transpired since the release of the video. Whether for publicity, through coercion or whatever the decision, the matter has long since passed and this is a moment she will forever be linked to. I think the disappointment with men lies in the fact that men are expected to behave in that fashion; make poor, irrational decisions. Women are held in high regard and carry a heir of virtue. Men have chimed in and said, “Who’s gonna wife her now? Nobody’s trying to have her come over to their parents’ house and help prepare macaroni and cheese for Easter dinner. Their relationship won’t make it to the 4th of July!” BOL (Bust Out Laughing)! That’s narrow minded thinking and I’m sure someone will give her a chance to establish a long standing relationship if her current one fails. The fact is this is Mimi Faust’s truth. Only she can hold herself accountable for her actions. As a society, we don’t have the right to condemn anyone when we all have skeletons in our closets. We should all put our rocks down, wash our hands and go about our lives trying to be better people as opposed to judging others. (b)