Under the Shadow of Belief
What the “Diddy” Combs case tells us about religious influences on purity culture & homophobia within the black community.
To the black community…
I wonder what we choose to concern ourselves with sometimes. Looking at certain situations whether that be in news or pop-culture, I ask questions in my head regarding our tendency to focus on the wrong things. Even when we talk about the important issues, we manage to miss the mark of critical thought. I wonder why we fail in this way, though almost all of our missteps can be traced back to a singular source most of the time.
But even then, are we blameless? When we perpetuate narratives formerly used to underpin our own oppression can we still claim victimhood?
What about accountability?
But first, some context for this week’s post, because I trust there are at least some of you wondering what it is I’m rambling about this time.
Where religion made her mark..
In the historical context of slavery, Christianity emerged as a tool of control and justification imposed upon enslaved Africans by their white oppressors. Forced to adopt the religion of their masters, enslaved people faced the reinforcement of notions that upheld white superiority and Black inferiority through Christianity. Amidst this oppression, many managed to somehow transform Christianity into a source of resilience, finding solace and strength in its teachings, and in some cases interpreting them as offering hope for liberation and equality. And yet, narratives founded from white evangelical Christianity remained pervasive, with their roots having grown strong, and the manipulation of religious teachings to promote obedience and submission failed to dissolve. Concepts such as obedience to masters and the divine sanctioning of slavery were propagated, reinforcing power imbalances that subjugated black individuals, justifying systemic oppression.
Now, the legacy of white evangelical Christianity's imposition during slavery continues to shape the religious landscape of the Black community (whether or not we’re willing to admit it). Churches, community organizations, and family structures within the Black community are seen often reflecting this influence, permeating black pop-culture. Specifically, in relation to this weeks post - Conservative Christian teachings, including those related to purity culture, and homophobia were often upheld as authoritative and unquestionable, not-so-subtly making their way into the ways in which we perceive things happening around us.
**Disclaimer : Whilst I’m speaking about today about problems that exist specifically within the context of black America, this piece addresses the community more widely because our interconnectivity these days has led to the sharing of values and sentiments. Additionally, when we’re discussing religion as it has been used to condition the minds of black people, there exist remnants of these narratives all over the diaspora whether it’s the black community in the US, Europe, or their native regions.
A case against Sean Combs
(TW: Vague details of sexual abuse, sexual assault, grooming & physical violence)
I’m sure most of you are aware of this particular case for its infamy, but I’ll give a brief overview for those of you who aren’t familiar with it’s details.
Sean Combs (aka "Diddy") aged 54, identified as a prominent figure in the music industry known for his rap career and entrepreneurial ventures, has found himself entangled in a web of legal accusations that span over decades. We’ve seen accusations of sex trafficking, sexual abuse, rape, murder and more surfacing against him, leading to multiple civil lawsuits. Despite his various personas over the years, from Puff Daddy to P. Diddy, Combs is now facing a reckoning of sorts (one I personally am glad to witness).
Most recently, federal agents from the US Homeland Security raided two of his homes in Los Angeles and Miami. These raids signify an unworthy denial by Combs against all of the allegations, with his legal team dismissing them as mere money grabs and baseless claims.
The cascade of lawsuits began when Cassie "Cassie" Ventura, his former partner, filed a lawsuit in November alleging a decade-long history of rape, abuse, and trafficking. Ventura's lawsuit, brought under the N.Y Adult Survivors Act, was quickly settled for an undisclosed sum just one day after filing. Subsequent lawsuits included allegations ranging from unwanted advances to drugging and sexual assault dating back to the 90’s.
Among these legal claims is a lawsuit filed by producer Rodney /"Lil Rod" Jones in February 2024, alleging sexual harassment, drugging, and forced engagement with sex workers at Combs' instruction. Similarly, another lawsuit, filed by Joie Dickerson-Neal, accuses Combs of sexual assault in 1991, including claims of secret recordings and intimidation tactics. Here we can see the collective bravery of less influential players, where once again empowerment is a crutch on which those facing fear might lean on.
We’re probably all thinking about how shady the settlements are. Aren’t settlements reserved for the profoundly guilty?
His legal team would disagree, and repeatedly emphasize that settlements reached do not equate to admissions of guilt, reinforcing Combs' stance of denial. As legal proceedings continue, Combs and his legal representatives are gearing up to contest the allegations in court, where theoretically, true justice would be served.
In addition to the accusations already mentioned though, I’m going to talk specifically about two cases within this larger web that will help explain my intro today, where his crimes in tandem with our failings ultimately help to uphold tools for oppression first inflicted upon and now perpetuated by us (as seen explicitly by the following examples).
Caresha Brownlee & Purity Culture
Caresha Brownlee, aka ‘Yung Miami’, known for being one half of the City Girls duo, has broken her silence in response to allegations involving herself and Combs. After being named in a lawsuit filed by Lil Rod, she took to Twitter to address the accusations. These allegations were serious, as Jones claims she was employed as a sex worker for Diddy and was involved in transporting 'pink cocaine' for him. It is alleged that she received a monthly allowance of $250,000 from Diddy, though she vehemently denies this. In her response, Yung Miami refutes the alleged allowance, dismissing it as an internet gossip.
I mean it’s clear here that Caresha is trying to dissociate herself with this lawsuit and we can’t really be surprised. But now, I’m not bothered about whether or not she was involved at all. I’m far more interested in the responses from the black community online to her alleged occupation as a sex worker, which had me thinking about the influence that white evangelical Christianity has had on purity culture, especially when we’re not asking her why she would choose to align herself with an abusive figure like Combs, but instead choose to ask: ‘BUT is it true you did sex work?’
, in that oh so familiar self-righteous tone.
The emphasis on sexual purity within purity culture imposes significant gendered expectations, particularly on women, portraying them as the guardians of morality and virtue, even when they never claimed to be present. A quick look at any one of the (very popular) city girl anthems would explicitly tell you about Caresha’s comfortability with her sexuality. The disproportionate burden on women in comparison to men to maintain their purity, has led to Diddy facing less backlash for his sexual abuse than Caresha for her engagement in sex work. Within the Black community, purity culture is further exacerbated by perpetuated stereotypes of black female hypersexuality and promiscuity as we’re so quick to point the finger at those in our own community.
(But there is hypocrisy here)
I’m surprised at the accusatory tones hurled at Caresha by black women on twitter for being a sex worker, especially when dating expectations circulating the black community uphold the reservation of sex for men with money.
The transactional element between men and women as seen in the dynamic of traditional heterosexual relationships validates the exchange between female sexuality & submission for male protection & security. So it’s so ironic that we uphold structures that emphasise the commodification of women but take issue when women commodify themselves. I guess this is indicative of a secret truth : that the real issue here is the threat of female agency (but I’ll save the rest of my comments on sex work for another day). If nothing else, at least Caresha is bold about it. Like I mentioned, she has admitted to being a sex worker in her songs since her debut, but by contrast, a lot of the women shaming her could never quite admit to the mutual exchanges occurring in their own relationships.
The prioritisation of heteronormative relationships seen in purity culture, also helps to alienate LGBTQ+ individuals within the Black community. This of course leads to the suppression of queer identities, isolation, and lack of support from a community guided by religious sentiment.
Which brings me to my next focus,
Meek Mill & Homophobia
In the same lawsuit filed by Lil Rod, he alleged that Diddy had made unwelcome advances towards him, as well as including allegations of Diddy's sexual encounters with unnamed individuals, sparking rumours among fans as to who these unnamed characters might be. Some speculated that one of the individuals mentioned in the lawsuit could be Meek Mill, sparking the beginnings of an ambush online. Once again, Diddy’s lawyer denied the claims, and Diddy himself staunchly refuted all accusations made against him. Meek Mill also denied any involvement in the rumours linking him to Diddy, stating adamantly that no one would approach him about things like this. The controversy surrounding the lawsuit led to a series of drama-filled incidents, with Meek Mill engaging in a public dispute with DJ Akademiks, who had discussed the lawsuit on a livestream.
In this instance, we see again the emphasis on a part of case which is for the most part, irrelevant. But once again, religious undertones to our line of thinking push forward an alternative agenda. In Black families and communities, we know that queer individuals who often face rejection or ostracism, and discussions surrounding sexuality and LGBTQ+ issues have historically been taboo. This silence surrounding such topics has over time fostered incredible ignorance, fear, and misunderstanding amongst us, and we end up perpetuating homophobic attitudes.
The legacy left by colonialism and slavery remains strong here (as intended).
What’s worse is that the emphasis on Meek Mill here has led to a trivialisation of a truly devastating case despite the fact that lives have been severely affected here, and people permanently scarred. We owe an apology to Usher, who was revealed to have been essentially groomed by diddy from as young as 14 (with Diddy being 24 at the time). The fact this is being framed as a sinful homosexual relationship rather than a predatory chase by Diddy says a lot about what we have deemed truly unacceptable.
But we know that abuse isn’t where the line is typically drawn. We only have to look at Chris Brown’s ability to bounce back after his history with abuse, or the fact that R.Kelly’s abusive nature was a known secret and the punchline for joke after joke within the community for years before his conviction. In a very real way, abuse has been inflicted on, perpetuated, and normalised within the black community.
Past my clearly frustrated tone, I guess the point today is to encourage reflection. Despite a history of brainwashing experienced by the black community, I’m no longer sympathetic to a narrative that allows us to move with ignorance and intolerance, especially when it pervades our perception of morality, allowing offenders to evade the court of public opinion. When there are people suffering at the end of our idiocy,
Are we blameless?
Asisa
Sources
Context for the Religious Influence on Purity Culture and Homophobia within Black America:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16864218/ ‘Homophobia, hypermasculinity and the US black church’
https://arcjournal.library.mcgill.ca/article/download/292/308 ‘Purity Culture’s Racist Fruit: Centering the Voices of Black Womanists and Feminists in the Deconstruction of Purity Culture’
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0021934717753730 ‘The Faith of Black Politics: The Relationship Between Black Religious and Political Beliefs’
Sources for Diddy case:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/p-diddy-allegations-sean-combs-b2521457.html Overview of Diddy Allegations : The Independent
https://www.complex.com/music/a/jaelaniturnerwilliams/yung-miami-denies-250k-monthly-allowance-from-diddy Yung Miami/ Caresha Allegations : Complex.com
https://www.nickiswift.com/1532263/diddy-meek-mill-relationship-rumors-explained/ Meek Mill & Diddy Relationship Rumours : Nicki Swift.com
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-usher-ended-up-living-with-sean-diddy-combs-2024-3 Details about Usher Groomed : Business Insider
this is my first time reading one of ur pieces, thank you!!! love how u covered the long reach of christian purity culture, especially with perceived black female hypersexuality and how it intersects with victim blaming towards the end!!
Been waiting for more discussion about this aspect of the whole Diddy case - everyone’s hung up on respectability politics when there’s a mountain of evidence this man took advantage of dozens of vulnerable people