Relevant Questions

First off, I want to say thank you to everyone who's had the opportunity to watch my directorial debut titled 'Homecoming.' It's been amazing journey that's not even close to being complete, but it's all about getting it out there now for people to enjoy.

Secondly, as you can tell, the website has been through a bit of an overhaul. I like to change it up from time to time, so never get used to what it looks like as I like to keep you on your toes. 

Now, the real reason for this post is two-fold. There have been plenty of things to dominate the news as of late, but film-wise, Bill Cosby's allegations and the possible double standard with Woody Allen have been plaguing my brain.

Bill Cosby and Woody Allen have had incredibly successful years, but in the last few, they've been plagued by possible skeletons in their closet dealing with rape, sexual assault, and incest. Both have had allegations spring up before, but seemed to be made of Teflon at the time and was able to escape any further prosecution either form their accusers or from the public. In fact, the public seemed all but unknowing about the allegations regarding Bill Cosby until Hannibal Buress brought it up in a comedy sketch. I didn't even know until I started using that filthy Google monster and lo and behold, there was a ton of information dating back to 2002. I wonder had it been there this entire time? Or had it been trickled out waiting for the perfect moment for it all to explode? Not too much earlier in 2014, Woody Allen was in similar hot water when allegations resurfaced from his adopted daughter Dylan who penned an open letter in the New York Times regarding the alleged rape she suffered at the hands of the man she called her father. The thing about this one is that the judge had probable cause to believe Dylan, but didn't press charges because he didn't want to expose the child to possible harm. I'm sorry, but who are you to decide whether or not the child will be harmed by going through this court circus? I think her mother, who stood by her, would know better than anyone.

Both situations are utterly deplorable, but my real issue with these is that Woody Allen has been given the benefit of the doubt regarding the allegations against him. Bill Cosby, on the other hand, seems to be guilty until proven innocent. Both men have had incredibly successful careers and yet one is being completely dogged by media and the other is being given his own show on Amazon.

Personally, I think both men have some skeletons in their closets that will eventually come to light because nothing that dark can stay hidden forever. Why is it that one man's perceived guilty actions are enough to condemn him, but the other's seems to be okay? Is it because the right famous people came to the side of Woody Allen, and those who once lauded Bill Cosby as the unofficial voice of black people have all but jumped ship on him? Is it because the volume of victims is higher? What constitutes the condemning of one and not the other?

If there was any real justice, they'd both be innocent until proven guilty, but the fact that history has consistently shown us that when you're skin is of a darker hue, your innocence is always questioned, that's never going to happen.

As a woman, a filmmaker, and an African American, It saddens me that our voices are still only heard as whispers until a man speaks up. We are not fragile and the majority of us don't just make up stories to get attention. I'm tired of stories like these not being taken seriously. Maybe one day. Until then, I'll keep pushing on. One day at a time.

Facts were read from the New Yorker and Vulture.com. The opinions, however, are all my own.