In this episode your hosts Hermene Hartman and Shannon Peoples interview Jim DeRogatis, a Chicago-based journalist, music critic and author of 10 books including Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly. In 2000, Jim received an anonymous tip indicating that R. Kelly was grooming young girls and exploiting them for his own sexual pleasure. Jim broke the story in 2000 but it wasn’t until almost 20 years later that justice was served.

Listen in as we discuss with Jim why it took so long for R. Kelly to be brought to justice. We explore how R. Kelly’s own childhood was impacted by abuse and how this might have contributed to his abusive behavior years later.

We examine the fact that R. Kelly’s vicitims were reluctant to step forward following their abuse because they felt that, as young black women, society would not give their case the attention it deserved. We touch on why the rumors around R. Kelly’s predatory behaviour were largely ignored for many years and how he used his influence and wealth to keep his dark secret life from becoming exposed.

Learn more about Jim DeRogatis and his projects at jimdero.com and check out his book Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly.

N'DIGO STUDIO, Making talk real again!

Credits:

Hosts Hermene Hartman & Shannon Peoples 

Executive Producer - N'Digo Studio

Audio Director-Producer - Joi Mitchell

Audio Editor - Scott Stronach SoundMind Editing

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