Although I am somewhat ashamed to admit it, I watched the BET Awards Show/Tribute to Michael Jackson last night.
For upcoming blackploitation, just look at BET's lineup for this fall. Frankie and Neffie (Keyshia Cole's mama and sister), Tiny and Toya (T.I.'s and Lil'Wayne's babies' mothers). Remember the glorification of Lil Kim on her way into the penitentiary. And let us not forget how they tripped over T.I. or TIP (or whatevea that clown's name is) as he was heading to the penitentiary to start his stint -a BET mini-series entitled “Road to Redemption”. Road to Redemption ran on both BET and MTV (both owned by Viacom). T.I.'s babies’ mama showed up to except his awhaard last night, because, you know, T.I. couldn't be there.
If that was the best MJ Tribute that BET could do – they should have done nothing.
Again, we don’t watch BET in our household. For some reason I thought the MJ Tribute would be worth it. FALSE. It is past time for Debra L. Lee (or whoever is responsible for programming for this mess of a network) to go. This is the 21st Century! Barack Hussein Obama is President of the United States. BET needs to grow the hell up and get some class.
It is well established that I don’t care for Eric Marlon Bishop a/k/a Jamie Foxx, however, I thought it would be good to see Usher and/or NeYo do a tribute to Michael Jackson as there are so few entertainers who can even begin to do the Michael Jackson material or moves. So I watched.
I tolerated it for the first hour, thinking it was going to pick up. It didn’t. For some sick reason, I kept watching, thinking Usher or somebody would eventually show up. Shenana (Martin Lawrence in skank drag) was there in a fake movie trailer with Wanda (Jamie Foxx in skankier drag); T-Pain was there with his big chain with curse words that every little kid can read; and Lil'Wayne was there with his pants down around his behind.
I tolerated it for the first hour, thinking it was going to pick up. It didn’t. For some sick reason, I kept watching, thinking Usher or somebody would eventually show up. Shenana (Martin Lawrence in skank drag) was there in a fake movie trailer with Wanda (Jamie Foxx in skankier drag); T-Pain was there with his big chain with curse words that every little kid can read; and Lil'Wayne was there with his pants down around his behind.
Lil'Wayne did a piece with some person named Drake, entitled "The Best I Ever Had". This is a piece about all the girls and the best sex they ever had. Problem - Lil Wayne's daughter and her pre-teen pals were on stage dancing, hugging Drake and popping their fingers to the beat. The lyrics even included the word d*ick and *igga. What!
I was letting my youngsters watch this mess?!
How could I let them dupe me? I know better! BET, Black Entertainment Television has NEVER done anything but exploit black women and serve to perpetuate stereotypes. Starting with the now filthy rich Robert “Bob" Johnson (who sold out to Viacom for millions), right up to present day with Debra L. Lee.
I was letting my youngsters watch this mess?!
How could I let them dupe me? I know better! BET, Black Entertainment Television has NEVER done anything but exploit black women and serve to perpetuate stereotypes. Starting with the now filthy rich Robert “Bob" Johnson (who sold out to Viacom for millions), right up to present day with Debra L. Lee.
For upcoming blackploitation, just look at BET's lineup for this fall. Frankie and Neffie (Keyshia Cole's mama and sister), Tiny and Toya (T.I.'s and Lil'Wayne's babies' mothers). Remember the glorification of Lil Kim on her way into the penitentiary. And let us not forget how they tripped over T.I. or TIP (or whatevea that clown's name is) as he was heading to the penitentiary to start his stint -a BET mini-series entitled “Road to Redemption”. Road to Redemption ran on both BET and MTV (both owned by Viacom). T.I.'s babies’ mama showed up to except his awhaard last night, because, you know, T.I. couldn't be there.
If that was the best MJ Tribute that BET could do – they should have done nothing.
Again, we don’t watch BET in our household. For some reason I thought the MJ Tribute would be worth it. FALSE. It is past time for Debra L. Lee (or whoever is responsible for programming for this mess of a network) to go. This is the 21st Century! Barack Hussein Obama is President of the United States. BET needs to grow the hell up and get some class.
9 comments:
)))))))exhale(((((((... there I said it.
You aren't the only person who felt the awards were subpar (that is the only nice word I could think of to use). While the award show was going on people were all over Twitter tweeting how bad it was. I never thought Don Cornelious was going to get off the stage.
Just take a look around - we see the results of these role models standing on corners, running from the police and pushing baby strollers. So sad. BET could have been so much more. I wish the same people that watch BET would get up early on a Saturday morning and watch Our World. Maybe they could even go home at a decent hour and catch Tavis Smiley on PBS. There has to be a different image for them to see.
Oh Ramble - don't get me started on Tavis... but I see what you are saying turn off the garbage and tune into something worthwile.
Won't get you started...at least not now, but I would like to hear your take on him sometime! I just can't see how exploiting stereotypes is funny. Obviously it is profitable, but sure isn't helpful. It is a shame that your quote from Frederick Douglas isn't decorating the walls of homes everywhere. It applies everywhere and to everyone.
BET is by no means the only purveyor of inappropriate role models for our young people, black or white. Television could be an opportunity for so much more to benefit our young people, but it is all about making money.
I used your Frederick Douglas quote in court on a 'father' the other day. I don't know if it had any impact whatsoever on him. He probably watches too much BET.
To BET Legal:
People,
Years ago, when our local cable channel tried to take BET out of their line-up, I organized a campaign that led to them reconsidering that move. Over the years, I've watched you pull every show worth watching, such as BET on Jazz, and black documentaries, replacing them with the trash and buffoonery we see today. My thought is that A: The staff is actually composed of white KKK members, bent on showing us in as bad a light as possible, or B: This station has been taken over by a staff of backward thinking, ghetto minded, uneducated, African americans, who lack the insight, education and Will to bring quality to what should be a channel for ALL our people, and not just the thugs being currently catered to. What you've shown is that you don't value the black community at all, just the meager monies you bring in to "get paid".
To say that the the awards show was a disgrace is charitable, at best. I never thought that I would say this, but if this was the best you could offer, I can't blame the rest of America for laughing at us as a race, and thinking that we can't organize, and that we'll always settle for whatever we're given. You've brought shame to all of us, and the damage you've done both to our image, and the psyche of Black America is incomprehensible.
That being said, I want you to know that I will do everything in my power to get rid of BET. And I think that we as a people should start to take a long look at ourselves, and take back control of our culture from these no talent "Artists". And to Jamie Fox: I'm DONE with you, "Brother".
Rap music has given us nothing. It's designed for people who can barely sing, can't write, and are too lazy to play an insrument. No, a turntable is not an instrument. It's financed by white america, and our young people stupid enough to fall for the hype. It's like watching kids on the playground telling each other nasty words. We're better than that, people. All of us.
You need to shut BET down. Or you need to start respecting us as a community of intelligent, proud, African Americans.
Shame on all of you, and condolences to the Jackson family, both for their loss, and the added suffering of being associated with this so-called "tribute". I'm so very sorry.....
Sounds like some fresh material for The Boondocks. There is no love for BET by McGruder.
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