Surviving R. Kelly has sent shockwaves throughout America after its premiere Thursday night. The truths that were told from survivors, which includes pedophilia, physical and sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated by R. Kelly, were as powerful as they were heartbreaking, and Friday and Saturday nights’ installments are set to be even more emotionally wrenching.

Tarana Burke, the founder of #MeToo, appears as part of the docuseries to speak about how American culture has allowed for girls to be abused. She continues the conversation through Girls for Gender Equity, the organization for which she’s a senior director. The organization has released a Surviving R. Kelly viewer’s guide to help people process what they are seeing and hearing. The guide also walks survivors through tips for self-care.

“The Surviving R. Kelly Viewer’s Guide was designed to help audiences process and discuss the themes discussed in this powerful production and identify ways to stand with survivors, while also providing resources for those who may need support,” wrote Girls for Gender Equity Founder and President Joanne N. Smith in the guide.

The guide provides questions viewers can ask themselves and others before and after viewing each episode. Certain topics brought up for discussion include how the entertainment industry serves as a cover for predatory men, how Kelly’s own trauma from sexual abuse might affect him, the role the media plays in Kelly’s behavior, how adults fail to protect Black children and more.

You can download the PDF guide here. Surviving R. Kelly will continue Friday and Saturday at 9/8c.

Girls for Gender Equity

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