nate parker finally starts taking responsibility for past misogynistic & homophobic ways

Early on, Parker describes his past player-hood, which worked on the assumptions that of the notion of a woman being “down”. Down for what exactly? “If I can be just honest about it, just being down. Back then, when I was young and we were out being dogs it was about is she down? You think she down?” he told Ebony.



Throughout the interview, Parker was quite candid about his role in rape culture and the male privilege that had blinded him to it until two weeks ago. “All I can do is seek the information that’ll make me stronger, that’ll help me overcome my toxic masculinity, my male privilege, because that’s something you never think about. You don’t think about other people. It’s the same thing with White Supremacy. Trying to convince someone that they are a racist or they have White Privilege–if it’s in the air they breathe and the culture supports them, sometimes they never have to think about it at all. I recognize as a man there’s a lot of things that I don’t have to think about. But I’m thinking about them now.”



In addition to these vile allegations of assault, Parker has previously made wholly problematic homophobic comments about the “feminization” of black masculinity in the media, his unwillingness to represent gay and queer identities, and some conspiratorial BS about Hollywood’s obsession with gay black men. Not black men playing caricatures in dresses—which is obviously a thing—but over-representing black men who don’t fit Parker’s definition of what that is. “The fact that I said I wouldn’t wear a dress, or that I’m not interested in gay roles, I can see now that was being exclusionary. It was being insensitive, and it was being homophobic. And guess what? I’m sorry.” Thanks, I guess.



All of this is a much too little, much too late response/quasi-apology for the dehumanization of a young woman. Still, on-campus-related sexual assault continues to be a disturbing epidemic made worse by institutional blockades and misconduct from universities and law enforcement. Parker’s hindsight perspective on rape culture and toxic masculinity still presents an opportunity for other men to unlearn the harmful behaviors and ideas they might not otherwise consider.



You can read Ebony’s full interview with Nate Parker right here.

By Erin White*, AFROPUNK contributor