Remember when Dave Chappelle was at the height of his popularity? All he had to do was walk on stage and people would start chuckling. Like they knew that hilariousness and lots of it would ensue at any given second. There would be laughter (Rick James? Pleading the Fif?). There would be shock (the R. Kelly spoof?) There would be appall (the STD puppets with the kids on stage?!)
That’s how I feel now whenever I hear Kwame Kilpatrick’s name. It’s guaranteed that whatever new information is about to be shared will make me giggle uncontrollably through the read, re-telling or following discussion. Yesterday’s news story was no let down. More texts have been released, courtesy of a Detroit judge declaring a document that contains them be released to the public record.
So I read the whole document this morning. And I considered that the 50 or so messages shown there are just a small sample of the more than 14,000 that they exchanged. But I can’t figure out the depth of their relationship. Like they were sexing, no doubt. And she was in love or something like it, no doubt (she left her husband during their affair.) But was he in love with her too? Was there ever really a fat girl’s chance of getting thin that he was going to leave his wife to be with her? (Yes, this is a major scandal involving the downfall of a big city Black mayor, corruption, lies and possibly murder, but this is the question that really interests me.)
To me, the texts from him to her read like a man maintaining “game” and taking what’s thrown. (What comedian said “a man is only as faithful as his options”?) Not a real love. With one or two exceptions, he’s playful and jokey—could be his personality though (I met him at the NAACP Awards a few years back and he is silly/playful) —and all the declarations of love come from Beatty. He seems more interested in sex.
Did a grown ass woman just throw it all away for a man who could have given a damn about her? In my early 20s, when I "woke up" from doing some stupid shit along these lines, I thought I was a forever-ass. A grown woman said to me, "be lucky that you learned the lesson now. There are 30 and 40 and 50 year old women who haven't learned that lesson.
Give a read and tell me what you think. Kwame was in love or not? Did Beatty give it all up for a man who gave a damn?
09.15.02
CB: I really wanted to give you some good hEad this morning and I didn’t know how to ask you to let me do it.
KK: Damn, I just got out of the shower and looked at my two way. Next time, just tell me to sit down, shut up, and do your thing! I am fucked up now!
09.19.02
CB: I’m in my office. Do you want me to come to yours or you coming to mine?”
KK:” I’m coming down there… LOL ditto. Freaky Chris.”
CB: LOL! I told you to stop saying that. You are going to make me revert back.”
09.23.02
CB: I love you so much man! Thank you for showing what it’s like to be head over heels in love.”
09.24.02
CB: This is one of those little things that I just had to tell you. Last night when I was laying on your shoulder in the car and you held my face and sand whatever song it was, that felt so good. It was just one of those little moments when you just made me fall some more.”
09.30.02
CB: Just FYI now that I’m tipsy and will say anything: one thing that sticking with me from Saturday was when I asked you why it felt so good, and you told me because I was your lady, that for whatever reason, was something that stayed with me real strong! Crazy huh?”
10.03.02
CB: “In case you haven’t noticed, I am madly in love with you too! More and more everyday! I can’t believe how much more it grows. Is there a limit?”
KK: “Not till death do us part.”
CB: “Wow I’ll buy that.”
Belle: Pause. I could not be his wife right now. This shit here would have killed me.. or made me go Bernadine on his ass.
04.07.03
LB (CB’s husband): It’s amazing how you can go out of town, come back refreshed, and I immediately piss you off… You had an attitude until KK came over. Then you were smiling. Wish you smiled at me like that.”
Belle: God, I felt bad for that man when I read this.
04.08.03
KK: “I might be their stepdad one day.”
Belle: More murder. I could not be married to a motherfucker who said this to another woman.
CB: Why might? What happened to “not yet”?
KK: The might is on you
CB: LOL! Nigga, I already claimed it! KCK 2012. You told me that you would be my boyfriend everyday until I was your wife. Are you renigging?”
KK: “Hell no! Don’t start none. Won’t be none niggette! LOL!”
Belle: This n*gga here. DIVORCE!
KK: My nigga! I love you, you know that.
04.13.03
CB: It is sometimes so amazing how much I love you. I can’t even describe most of the time how I feel inside when I think about you. You are an amazing man. Everything about you makes me love you. Your passion about your life, your sense of humor, your presence, and your love of family. TBC
CB: All those things and more make up the love of my life… I have so much admiration and appreciation for you. You are like a dream in my life and I can’t believe sometimes that our friendship is real,”
CB: Thank you for fifteen plus years of friendship. Thank you for loving me!
04.27.03
CB: No response needed to this, but when you held me in your arms and looked me in my eyes and said I was your woman. All was right with the world. I love you.”
KK: Damn! Thank you.
CB: Can you promise me that I will always be that?
KK: You were my girl for as long as I can remember. I was too young and stupid to know. I promise for the rest of my life you will always be my girl.”
Belle: Wow. You think he meant that? Or was he spitting game?