Ok let me set the scene for you… A young Black American woman is sitting on the stage of The Maury Povich Show along with two guys (who obviously have no home training and fit the typical negative young Black American male stereotype) who both took DNA tests to figure out which one might be the father of her child. Oh, and did I mention that this is the second or third time she has been back on the show for the same reason? So… The test results are in and NEITHER of the guys is the father. Maury is PRETENDING like he actually gives a crap and the two guys act as though they just won an NBA championship; not to mention, the crowd reacts as if they are at a Michael Jackson concert, and they are likely the ones who keep the ratings high for all the ridiculous, ratchet reality shows that are currently on the air. The woman runs off stage devastated because she has obviously been spreading her legs like peanut butter to every Tom, Dick and Harry on the street. Sound familiar?
Ok here’s another one… You’re watching the six o’clock news and a story breaks out in a low income predominately Black American neighborhood (the hood), whether it is a drive-by shooting, robbery or even a fire. The news reporter interviews the most uneducated, animated person they can find who speaks nothing but slang and Ebonics. Then their name flashes across the screen, and if you can actually pronounce it, you either deserve a medal or you might be just as ghetto as they are. I just shake my head in disgust when I see this all-too-familiar scenario play out on my TV.
So the question is: When are we as Black Americans going to stop allowing the media to exploit us? Just thinking about all the reality shows that are predominately black makes me cringe. (Love & Hip-Hop, Real Housewives of Atlanta, Basketball Wives, R&B Divas, etc.) Even the ones that are “Christian” are a travesty… (Preachers of L.A., Mary Mary, The Sisterhood) Can we just stop??? These shows do nothing but enforce stereotypes about us, especially Black American women. I’m agitated because according to these shows the women in our community are drama-addicted, materialistic, self-centered, loud-mouthed and flat out incapable of making a good wife to anyone. I mean, even when Black Americans are cast in other reality shows, it seems like any drama that erupts usually involves them in some way. Do you really think this is a coincidence?? Black Americans make up approximately 12% of the population in this country, yet we’re the ones that show up most the time on these daytime talk shows (including court shows), acting ignorant and living up to just about every negative stereotype about us! Come on folks! This has really gotten out of hand, and I hope that we wake up and smell the doodoo. Think about the types of Black American reality shows that are being marketed to us and you’ll see some very common themes. And they’re not good ones… The media is EXPLOITING us for ratings and too many of us are willing to make fools out of ourselves for five minutes of fame.
Now I understand that Black Americans aren’t the only ones who get portrayed negatively on TV; I’m just saying that it seems to be us disproportionately. The stereotypes that play out in the media are often used to characterize many of us in real life, and while everybody in this country doesn’t necessarily view us in that light, there is definitely a sector of people who have basically written us off as a bunch of fools… Why can’t the producers of these shows find folks who at least can act like they got some dang sense? Because folks who have common sense and who don’t bring drama aren’t good for ratings. Educated, reasonable and well-mannered people just aren’t interesting enough to have on these shows. Unfortunately, too much of the Black American community is entertained by FOOLISHNESS and baffoonery. I blame this on situations like the break-down of the family, the generational poverty mindset and substandard educational systems that seem to be prevalent in impoverished communities; but that is a separate series of blog posts by itself lol. Look at how Hollywood markets movies with predominately Black American casts. Need I say more? But please… Can we stop supporting the very shows that are making us look like fools? Folks we’ve got to do much better.
Nathan Allen Copyright ©2014
Socially Conscious Nuggets 