After last night’s EBT Awards, it looks like Black America* has a decision to make. After blackballing Chris Brown during last year’s Michael Jackson tribute, the network allowed him on stage for a singing and dancing medley of his hero’s hits. And he nailed it.

And with that, Black folks forgot all about Rihanna’s beatdown.

Not the least bit of irony should be lost that his performance was dedicated to Jackson, another entertainer with a tainted personal history but overwhelming fan support. The crying breakdown** during the attempted performance of “Man In The Mirror” really should touch even the most calloused, reverberating through every soul with a reminder that no one among us is perfect, just as Michael Joseph intended.

Black folks have a sketchy history with welcoming their singers back from an accused criminal past. James Brown, Ike Turner and, more recently, R. Kelly. All figures we gave a collective side-eye to once we found out once we found out they’d done despicable acts towards women. I told Tins last night that, if Brown were a rapper, the beatdown really would never have been an issue (anybody really remember that Dr. Dre smacked up Dee Barnes back in the day? Thought so).

But of their R&B singers, audiences expect a gentleman figure. One to serenade them at night, but protect them during the day. A bit more effeminate than macho and definitely not violent. Last nights tears showed more remorse and did more in the way of public apology than any of his previous public apology attempts. Thus, the previous castoff still could regain his Black star power in one night’s performance. As Contra initially said, “Rap, sing. Whatever. Young black entertainer, entertain us” and that’s all most desire. His pop appeal may take much longer to recover still.

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* And I say Black people because I don’t think White folks watched the EBT’s, trumped Entourage’s season premiere and True Blood. Hell, I’m Black, I didn’t view it and I don’t think I’m in the minority. When asked if I wanted to attend again this year, I didn’t really think twice about saying “thanks but no thanks.” If White people did watch, let’s hope they were ones behind brands so buddy can get his endorsement campaigns back and his music back in stores.

** Men don’t cry. Not in public, private or even in the dark. If anything, they seek complete solitude, which gives way to total secrecy. In order to gain machismo back, Chris will have to murder everyone who witnessed his tears, an unlikely undertaking and one that wouldn’t help his public image either.