Mike Tyson, William Kennedy Smith and Clarence Thomas: the heavy-weight boxing champion of the world, a member of perhaps the world's most famous family and a Supreme Court Judge. Wealthy, powerful, and in Tyson's case, famous men. But, after two high-profile court cases and a very public Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing, they now also share something else - the notoriety of having been accused of serious sexual misconduct. The various 'facts' of the cases, and of the different outcomes - Tyson convicted, and Kennedy Smith acquitted of rape, Thomas securing his Supreme Court nomination despite an allegation of sexual harassment - are less significant for men than the fact of the accusations. For what these deliver is a single message, namely, that the sexual behaviours in question were unacceptable. We would do well to listen carefully to what is being said. Where the heavily male-dominated law draws the line is one thing; but if we are serious about improving relations between the sexes, we should be looking beyond the trial verdicts to the more general issues about male sexuality these cases pose. Not coincidentally then, this issue of Achilles Heel, with its 'men and crime' focus, has male sexuality very much in its sights.
Once again a North American ghetto is aflame, ignited by righteous black anger at one of the grossest miscarriages of justice any of us are likely to see (and we did literally 'see' it for ourselves, thanks to the infamous 81-second amateur video showing four male police officers, with thirteen others in attendance, rain 56 blows, using boots and batons as well as a laser gun apparently], to 'restrain' a prone and defenceless black man). For most of us, it was as sickening and shocking an example of gratuitous police brutality as one can imagine. For blacks in Los Angeles, it was a depressingly routine example of policing LAPD-style; yet, for the virtually all-white, suburban jury, it somehow constituted 'acceptable force'. The resulting riots, America's worst ever, will be endlessly mulled over; but the fact that the first police officer on the scene was a woman who, with the aid of her gun, believed she had King's arrest under control before the male officers took over, will probably be overlooked. In court, patrol officer Singer said she felt the force used was unnecessary. Like Desiree Washington, Patricia Bowman and Anita Hill in the rape/harassment cases, Melanie Singer was bravely going against the grain of male-defined notions of acceptable behaviour, in this case in the area of physical violence. We hope that her testimony provides the stimulus to look at the more general issues around male violence it poses. Once again, this issue of Achilles Heel tries to do some of this work.
Finally, an apology for our late appearance. We are going through many changes inside the collective. We are also strapped for cash. We are still few in number. The result is that the appearance of this edition of Achilles Heel is a minor miracle. If we are to make the whole enterprise more predictably regular we could use some help. If you have some time or money (or both) to spare, do get in touch. Meanwhile, we hope you enjoy this issue. All feedback welcome.
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