Nicki Minaj is going to be the star witness in her brother’s upcoming rape trial. Since 2015, Minaj has been at the forefront of his support, obviously sparking outrage in some fans. For the most part, though, fans have been quiet about her open support of his actions.
Jelani Maraj, 37, was charged with first-degree rape for his alleged assault of a then 11-year-old girl in late 2015. He was released on $100,000 bail paid by his mother Carol less than a month later. The trial for the case is fast approaching and Nicki will be testifying front and center. Jelani’s lawyer has stated in the opening statements that the whole case will just extort money from Nicki. Allegedly, the girl’s mother, Jacqueline Robinson, told Jelani that she could make the charges go away for $25 million.
Supporting alleged sexual predators is nothing new within the black community. From older black family members calling little girls “fast” and telling them to “put on real clothes” to calling adult females their “girlfriends,” many black women have an experience with a male family member stepping way over the line.
This idea that certain things need to “stay in the family” encourages black women to silence themselves when they need to be at their loudest. Often times, instead of supporting the girl when trying to speak up, the family instead chastises or shuns her for “going against them.” The manipulation of telling young black women that they should support their family members, no matter how incredulous their behavior, teaches girls to accept abuse from an early age.
In this instance, Nicki Minaj has stated that she wants to support Jelani “100 percent.” She’s a prime example of supporting one’s family so much she’s blinded by how foul his alleged behavior is. Guilty or not, the fact of the matter is that we, as a society, have a problem if we are in a situation where a 37-year-old man is even accused of raping an 11-year-old.
