Problematic Faves: Celebrities We Love Even Though They Act Up
James Brown
James Brown soundtracked the early years of my life. My dad was a fan and by proxy, I became one. But even if I weren’t any appreciation for Black music of the last 50 years, is mostly linked to James Brown. He’s that influential. Still, if you saw Get On Up, you know Brown had a problem with keeping his hands to himself. I read Cold Sweat by his daughter, Yamma Brown, in which she extensively explains the abuse she watched her mother endure. It’s not pretty but still, she humanizes him in such a way that it’s impossible to hate him.