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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: Sekou on 2/14/2007 5:06PM
As a former law enforcement officer, "maning up", may not be a very good idea, unless said man can handle his business physically. All too often, law enforcement officers answer domestic violence calls and go to detain the husband and is attacked by both victim and assailant. Be very careful brothers for it is definitely a slippery slope from "maning up" to becoming the attack. In this case (which is television and we have the luxury of writing a happy ending) Darnell has a wife and a son to think about. In reality, is it worth being a hero, losing your life leaving your wife and son behind? Personally, I struggle with the question of what would I do as a man if I saw or heard a woman getting beat up, with the knowledge that I have of domestic violence being turned on towards the "hero" now that I have a wife and plan on having children. It doesn't ease my mind, thinking of all the accolades I would get, should I attempt a help and die during the course, for now my child and wife would spend their lives without their man in their lives. But then the man in me says calling 911 is not enough. It is a tough place to be as a man in that situation. As a youth I would intervene quickly and my own mother told me that I needed to stop doing that because I place myself in harms way. Yes the common perception is, why do they (women) stay in abusive relationships with all of the safeguards in place today and me intervening today is not going to guarantee that they leave the abusive relationship, so in the instance where it is a neighbor and one intervened successfully the first time, do I intervene a 2nd and 3rd time? Very interesting topic!
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By: Yvonne on 2/15/2007 12:17AM
I have been a sheriff's officer for over 18 years, so I dealt with domestic violence issues everyday.2 years ago I had to deal with domestic violence personally because my best friend and her niece were gunned down by the niece's husband.
Both men and women are victims of domestic violence, so it's not fair to always assume a man can't be a victim of domestic violence. Peolpe need to understand that abuse can be either physical or mental. If you are in a relationship that is abusive you need to use the sense that GOd gave you and get out. It sickens me when women stay in abusive relationships and use the excuse " I have to stay for my kids sake". Alot of the times the kid(s) end up becoming victims because of that stupid thought process.
I tell the men who are suspected of domestic violence if they wouldn't raise their hand to their own mother, then why the hell are you doing it to someone you are suppose to love. When a man hits a women, in my opinion it is a slap in the face to their mother because a majority of mothers don't raise their sons to hit women.
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By: jellybean on 2/19/2007 5:20PM
I AGREE WITH EVERYBODY, BECAUSE I JUST BURIED A CO-WORKER LAST MONTH FROM DOMESTIC-VIOLENCE AND I ALSO THINK THAT WE AS WOMEN SHOULD NOT ALLOW NO MAN PUT THEIR HANDS ON US. WE MEET SOMEONE THAT SHOWER YOU WITH GIFTS AND THINGS WE BECOME BLINDED WITH LOVE AND DON'T SEE THE SIGNS OF ABUSE AND JEALOUSY.
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By: sara on 2/17/2007 12:33PM
Thank you for that episode, it was so needed in our society today. To actually have men stand up to another man and say "stop", is very rare, but needs to happen more often. I myself was a victim of domestic violence and although I know the neighbors heard the screaming and crying NO one came to help, finally I figured I had to do it myself before I could even leave I had to take a stand for myself. So the last and final episode, I faught back, I faught back with all the anger I had inside, I faught back with the thought that my daughter will not see this anymore, she will not grow up thinking its ok because it happened to moma. I was tired and this was it. What surprise came over his face when he realized I wasn't as weak as he thought, he was no longer in control of my life and was not going to make me just accept anything anymore. Things have definately changed, we are no longer together, but we still keep in contact because of our daughter, but he now understands I am somebody too and you will respect me. WE HAVE TO STOP THIS VIOLENCE OF ALL KINDS, WE ARE ONLY HURTING OURSELVES AND DESTROYING THE FUTURE OF OUR FAMILIES.
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By: KEE-KEE on 2/19/2007 3:09PM
I'M GLAD THAT THEY CAME UP WITH THIS ISSUE. THEIR ARE FRIENDS THAT I HAVE OR HAD THAT WAS IN THE SAME SITUATION. PEOPLE LIKE THEM DON'T WANT YOU ALL UP IN THEIR BUSINESS BUT REALLY THEY DO. THEY WANT HELP BUT ARE AFRAID TO SEEK HELP BECAUSE THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR MAN BEATING THEM UP. I USED TO BE ALL UP IN MY FRIENDS BUSINESS BUT WHAT I LEARNED IS TO MIND MY BUSINESS. IF I FEEL LIKE THEIR LIFE IS IN DANGER THEN I STEP UP TO THE PLATE. WHAT I LEARNED IS THEY ALWAYS GO BACK. I DON'T CONDONE A MAN PUTTING HIS HANDS ON A WOMAN BUT I SEE SOME WOMEN ADDING FUEL TO THE FIRE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD TO HAVE A MAN BEAT ALL UP ON YOU LIKE THEY OWN YOU. CAN I RELATE. HELL YEAH I CAN. RUN I SAY, RUN LIKE YOU FOREST GUMP. I WAS GLAD TO SEE AT THE END SHE CAME TO HER SENSES AND CAME TO MAYA AND DARNELL FOR HELP. THAT MAN COULD HAD KILLED HER. HE'S A BIG DUDE TOO. I SAY WOMEN THAT'S IN A DOMESTIC ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP, RENT YOU THE MOVIE ENOUGH (STARRING JENNIFER LOPEZ) AND STUDY IT VERY CLOSELY. IT WORKED FOR ME OMITTING THE END THOUGH. I'M NOT GOING TO JAIL UNLESS IT COMES TO THAT. BE CAREFUL. YOUR BODY IS YOUR TEMPLE LADIES AND MEN. THEIR ARE SOME MEN BEING ABUSED TOO. STAND UP FOR YOURSELF.
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By: Felicia P on 2/22/2007 8:31AM
I am happy to see that Girlfriends, is bringing up this topice of abruse. No man should ever put his hands on a woman. If you get upset walk away, take some space away from one another. Come back and discuss the situation with one another as adults. If that don't work and the abruse continue go get professional help. But abrusing one another is a NO NO. God brought us together to love one another. GIRLFRIEDNS KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.
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By: jennifer perrin on 5/08/2007 1:21PM
I was a in a bad relationship some time ago and found myself in some of the situtations that girlfriends air from time to time and without that program i still would be lost. I have found the answer to so many questions and saw myself in some of the same situations as on girlsfriends. good luck to maya and sure will miss her.
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