By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
Though one of the beloved characters is no longer in the mix, the show continues to go on for the long running sitcom 'Girlfriends.'
And the Mara Brock Akil created series -- which centers on black woman in Los Angeles -- always hits home with tackling topics and issues that affect their target demographic, such as adultery, paternity, sex addiction, interracial dating and HIV/AIDS.
On the Feb.12 episode, domestic abuse will be at the center of the plot.
While dining at Chili's, Maya (Golden Brooks) and her husband Darnel (Khalil Kain) meet another couple Alicia and Ray (played by 'Boston Public's' China Shavers and television veteran Carl Anthony Payne) in the episode titled "Time to Man Up." Excited at the prospect of befriending another Black couple in their new neighborhood, it seems like destiny.
The attractive couple hails from Atlanta and turns out to live right next to them, and after spending some time with the couple, the always over-the-top Maya (best-selling authoress of the self help book 'Oh, Hell Yes') grows suspicious that Ray is abusing Alicia. When she tells Darnel, her friends and even calls the police, no one believes her and she is told to "mind her own business."
If you watch 'Girlfriends,' you know that words like that don't bode too well with Mrs. Wilkes.
However, when Darnel overhears violent yelling from Ray and Alicia's house he can no longer ignore the signs and decides to "man up." Get it? That's the title of the episode.
"I believe the measure of a country is how well women and children are treated, protected and revered," Akil told The BV Newswire today regarding her motivation for dealing with domestic abuse on the show. "In America four million women a year are assaulted by their partners. By this number alone and my theory, America has a lot of work to do and it's not in Iraq."
Okay!
"So we at Girlfriends thought we would, one, shed some light on domestic abuse and it's continuing problem, as well as offer a solution to the problem - men in the community have to get involved and make these abusers know that abusing women is not all right. Not only will this help to end abuse, but perhaps salvage the American family."
The episode, well executed and masterfully done -- as always, leaves the door open for continued discussion surrounding this topic.
It's definitely worth seeing.
Comments: (147)
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By: DRJOHNSON on 2/10/2007 1:32AM
well, i just like to say' keep up the good work' be bless'
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By: DRJOHNSON on 2/10/2007 1:36AM
i think that people/couples with each should be able to talk about anything...and be honest with each other'
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By: DRJOHNSON on 2/10/2007 1:46AM
first of all no man should put his hands on any women. if/or when he does, that man should remove himself from the house hold and the women should leave this man, no matter how much money he makes, or what he does for the family, once the trust/dishonesty/or abuse has taked place the relationship should be over' no matter what...
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By: DRJOHNSON on 2/11/2007 8:54PM
first of all no man should put his hands on any women. if/or when he does, that man should remove himself from the house hold and the women should leave this man, no matter how much money he makes, or what he does for the family, once the trust/dishonesty/or abuse has taked place the relationship should be over' no matter what...
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By: DRJOHNSON on 2/10/2007 1:45AM
first of all no man should put his hands on any women. if/or when he does, that man should remove himself from the house hold and the women should leave this man, no matter how much money he makes, or what he does for the family, once the trust/dishonesty/or abuse has taked place the relationship should be over' no matter what...
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By: Rebecca on 2/10/2007 8:28AM
I agree with Dr. Johnson, too many women stay in bad relationships thinking it is going to get better or he promised it will never happen again. If a man hits you once he will hit you again, and in alot of relationships its not the physical abuse that hurts, its the mental abuse and that keeps a women there because she thinks don't anyone wants her but that man. I think this issue should be discussed so women and men with know that there is help if they want it.
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By: tony johnson on 2/10/2007 5:16PM
i put it on the woman i say that im a man woman bont call the police and when the police is called the man talks her out of it he hit you and them you drop the case for what he say im sorry i love you you let him back in next time you die for what a man you let hit you now your gone he with someone else too do the same
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By: verily on 2/10/2007 4:50PM
I've seen the show a couple of times and was pretty impressed with the acting. But why does the description of the show's topics HERE say it's merely tackled interracial "dating" when one of the main characters was actually MARRIED to a white man? In case they're wondering, that's called interracial MARRIAGE!
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By: LADY D on 2/10/2007 3:44PM
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH THE COMMENT THAT STATES THAT ONCE THERE IS DISHONESTY IN A RELATIONSHIP IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO BOUNCE BACK FROM IT. I FIND IT TOTALLY AMAZING HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE RELATIONSHIPS WITH VERY LITTLE COMMUNICATION. FROM MY EXPERIENCE THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION IS ON THE GUYS PART.
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By: KC on 2/22/2007 10:26PM
Go on with yo bad selves, Girlfriends! To think they said you wouldn't make it without Toni. Thanks to touching on real issues. For a minute when Joan lost herself I admit, I was a bit worried.
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