If you recall, two weeks ago we wrote a post called Duke Rape Accuser to Release Book- Who Are Ed and Vincent Clark? We were concerned about the facts emerging regarding the release of an upcoming book by the Crystal Mangum, the accuser in the Duke Rape case.
Here are some of your comments:
- Black Butterfly said… “Yet another sad example of this wonderfully opportunistic society.”
- JJ Said…”It sounds like she’s being exploited (yet again) by her publisher and co-writer (I use the terms loosely). It’s a sad chapter in a sad story.”
- Labelle Femme said…”This is definitely exploitation of the young woman.”
So in our post, we asked who were Vincent and Ed Clarke? Turns out that the news reports were in error. Vincent and Ed Clark are one in the same. His name is Vincent Edward Clark and he’s offended by y’alls impertinent comments so in the interest of fairness, I am posting his full response. For you folks from Detroit y’allz=”yaws” ( as in “yaw’s boy”–I don’t want y’all to be confused).
I am one in the same person. I have been on the radio in the Raleigh market for 20 years and everyone uses my middle name Edward or Ed because my father was also Vincent. Besides that, Joe Cheshire got a copy of a draft release that went out that had one spelling and one grammar error. The corrected release was sent out. Beyond that, I take exception to anyone’s suggestion that Crystal is being exploited. We have worked really hard to make sure she got through school and got her life together. Nobody should suggest that she doesn’t have a right to improve herself. Also, I’ve made it clear over and over that the book isn’t about the Duke Case.
Vinvent Edward Clark,
Publisher, Manager, Co-writer, Radio Host, etc. ( okay I added this line, but all the rest is verbatim)
So I have drafted a response. Y’all tell me what you think.
Dear Mr. Vincent Edward Clark,
Thank you for responding to our inquiry regarding who you are. You can understand the continued concern in light of such things as your dismissals of typos and spelling errors in the only publication you have release thus far on behalf of Ms. Mangum, a press release. Now I am in no position to poo poo spelling and playing fast and loose with grammatical constructs. However, Mr. Vincent Edward Clark, I am not holding myself out to be in the business of publishing the written word.
It does not bode well for Ms. Mangum’s initial foray into the publishing world that the person purporting to be her co-writer and publisher does not value the considerable talent of people who I believe the publishing industry refers to as “editors.” I’m not sure because alas I am but a mere blogger and not a co-writer and publisher such as yourself.
In defense of my impertinent readers who voiced concerns that you might be attaching yourself to Crystal Mangum’s carotid artery and sucking every ounce of marrow from her body like an opportunistic leach, it remains unclear how you can claim that this book is not about the Duke case when the press release states that the book will be” an important tool to discuss race, class, sex and the judicial process” and the first half of your press release goes on repeatedly about the Duke case.
As someone who does not hesitate to share her views with the world on a variety of subjects on a daily basis, I believe that everyone has the right to have their story heard, however, you can certainly understand why there might be some significant legitimate concerns about this entire enterprise.
Attempting to cast my readers as attempting to keep any Black woman from “improving” themselves might appear to some as an obfuscation and redirection technique and intellectually dishonest. Nobody is trying to keep another human being from improving their lives. I hope Crystal receives the help that she needs. Only time will tell whether you are in a position to provide that assistance and only God will met out define retribution if you are not.
xoxo
What About Our Daughters Disgruntled Readers Liason
FYI. Mr. Clark is also publishing the biography of the drug dealer who sold Marion Jones the drugs that landed her in the pokey
5 comments ↓
Sidebar: Kwame is taking a plea deal. Resigning effective immediately. Hearing going on as I type.
Gena,
This is powerful, your blog is so powerful because everyone wants to know how we really feel and where we stand on the issues important to African American women. Keep up the great work.
Good response Gina.
Well done! I like your style because I couldn’t have expressed it any better!
He can’t justify what he is doing by saying he sent her to school, c’mon, I just keep thinking a pimp by any other name would be…
“In defense of my impertinent readers who voiced concerns that you might be attaching yourself to Crystal Mangum’s carotid artery and sucking every ounce of marrow from her body like an opportunistic leach”
What irony! Crystal is a bloodsucking leech and if you want to see who is even further down on the food chain that would be Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, NBP, NAACP, the African-American studies dept at Duke.
Crystal doesn’t need help, she needs to be held legally accountable. But apparently being a black woman means being able to shrug off accountability at whim.
Funny how black people, always screaming about “no justice no peace” feel just fine with injustice when it is one of your own doing the lynching. Crystal and her supports are the biggest bottom feeders this country has so getting all indignant about a black woman being used is hillarious. She and her supporters are why racism still exists and is occasionally valid.