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  • Posted By:
    jml2008 at 07/11/2008 11:33:26 AM
    Comment:
    Bottom line: BET is a business. Businesses want to make money. So...they will continue to play what people want and what advertisers support. I think its wonderful that major advertisers have put their foot down.

    When it starts hurting them in their pockets, BET will change.
  • Posted By:
    alechiajack at 07/11/2008 12:13:01 AM
    Comment:
    Don't go to commercial?! Why not just state the necessary: Don't go to BET! I stopped watching BET years ago due to the lack of creativity and originality in the programming, especially when it was black-owned. I could not and still cannot understand why this network cannot come up with its own original sitcoms and dramas, etc. to fill up 24 hours. The only good thing about BET being sold to a white-owned corporation is that now they can afford to run reruns of old black shows. Yet, they have no interest in developing any new black shows, especially with all of the talented actors and actresses, writers and producers in the industry looking for work!. Why is Tyler Perry's House of Payne on TBS instead of BET? Because BET has no credibility for airing quality programming for any audience. The acronym BET stands for BAD Entertainment Television, not Black Entertainment Television. And the white conglomerate that owns it will continue to run the ads because the ad execs could care less about the degrading programming their commercials are running next to, only that someone is watching the programs so that they will see their commercials. Black America will have to make a statement by boycotting the products advertised. And that Oprah Network isn't much better. Maybe they're not showing degrading videos, but some of the shows are no better. Is there anything original and creative on that network? Although the opportunities are available for African Americans to show that they can create original programming and run a successful network, no one seems to know what to do now that the door of opportunity is open. Why did I leave the communications field to get into education?! It may be time for a major career change. Or, hopefully, the students I am sending into the world will fulfill my dream of becoming a big time network exec.
  • Posted By:
    deekin at 07/10/2008 10:12:50 PM
    Comment:
    BET made a turn for the worst when it was taken over by Viacom about a decade ago. From that moment you began to see a sharp change in the programming, and the advertising. No more thought-provoking socially responsible and conscious shows like Teen Summit, and tastefully done music video shows like Video Vibrations and Caribbean Rhythms. Even Rap City is no longer what it once was. I havent watched BET since 2001, because I feel that it no longer represents Black Entertainment on Television. BET has lost all respect and authority amongst my family members. BET being white-owned and operated since the Viacom take-over has made me salty on BET. Keeping the history of Black-white racial relations in America in mind, it doesnt make sense to support, endorse entertainment broadcasted by white corporate America as images of what Black people are supposed to be like and are supposed to enjoy. Fox's attacks on Obama make it abundantly clear that white corporate America doesnt want to see Black people as a group rise up the challenge of our rich cultural heritage and fulfill the promise of the people of the civil rights movement.
  • Posted By:
    Real_Recognize_Real at 07/10/2008 5:51:33 PM
    Comment:
    When will black people stop looking to the media to change our communites and empower our children..The media is a business and a business's purpose is to generate profit..You don't see white people clamoring for an end to Spike TV or any of the other programs that would be deemed detrimental if the programs were aired on black television..At no time in the history of the world have we seen a united black community..In fact the idea of calling us black people is only 300 years old..This type of propganda your web-site promotes only deteriorates the relationship between old black people and young..My suggestion is if you don't like something on YOUR tv...Change the damn channel..While I do believe that BET shows nothing postive to our youth, ultimately it is not BET's responsibilty to promote anything postive about our people...Plus viacom owns BET...The "black Man" does not own his own network
  • Posted By:
    jweems at 07/10/2008 5:24:16 PM
    Comment:
    Good - pull all and get rid of BET. After the comments made by the CEO about Obama - I will never tune in again. MY friends are doing the same. The staion only shows pure garbage! BET is a disgrace to the African American community and I would enjoy having a face-to-face with it's CEO.
  • Posted By:
    themostlittle at 07/10/2008 11:29:14 AM
    Comment:
    it's been a long time coming. i admire your spirited analysis. BET should no longer be considered the mecca of Black entertainment.
  • Posted By:
    Paine1776 at 07/10/2008 7:52:16 AM
    Comment:
    Thank you GOD! BET is STRAIGHT GARBAGE!! As for me and my house, we do not watch that GARBAGE! I hope it goes off the air!!
  • Posted By:
    Paine1776 at 07/10/2008 7:50:54 AM
    Comment:
    THANK GOD!! I have been disgusted with BET for a long time... as for me and my house we NEVER watch it! and I hope it goes off the air -- it contributes nothing positive to my children our family -- it's straight GARBAGE!!
  • Posted By:
    MilesEllison at 07/09/2008 8:06:42 PM
    Comment:
    Some advice: Turn off the TV, go to the library, and read some books. Educated black people are infinitely more dangerous to America's negative agenda than new millenium minstrels. When people demand intelligence and dignity from BET, they will fall all over themselves to provide it.
  • Posted By:
    Ramona at 07/09/2008 11:32:09 AM
    Comment:
    AMEN!!!!!
  • Posted By:
    Ramona at 07/09/2008 11:31:55 AM
    Comment:
    AMEN!!!
  • Posted By:
    monP at 07/08/2008 8:25:16 PM
    Comment:
    The best way to go after BET is a letter writing campaign to Comcast and all the rest of the cable companies requesting that they make TVOne part of basic cable and move BET to the premium channels.
  • Posted By:
    bryandaniel at 07/08/2008 3:03:06 PM
    Comment:
    If you grow up in a vile environment, you will probably do vile things to survive. Investing in jobs and schools will give a more promising future to those kids growing up today. Taking away rap videos does nothing but make old people feel good.
  • Posted By:
    bryandaniel at 07/08/2008 12:47:30 PM
    Comment:
    Way to go moral crusaders! You get to claim victory without accomplishing anything! If we really wanted to reduce violence in poor neighborhoods, we would spend money on them to create more job opportunity, educational opportunity, and to maintain beautiful streets and boost pride in one's community. But spending our money is too much of an inconvenience. It's much cheaper to censor artistic expression in the name of "protecting our children". It sounds so heroic!
    • Posted By:
      Patra at 07/08/2008 1:15:34 PM
      Comment:
      Soooo, if I'm to believe you, the reason why more than a few (note I said more than a few, not most, many or all) young black men are killing innocent men, women, children and even babies...the reason they've turned segments of the black community into a virtual war zone, is because they so desperately want a good education and a job. PALEEZE!!!! My husband works with these people on a volunteer basis; guess what the responses are when he hands them a virtual phone book of resources for men who've been incarcerated or are at risk for incarceration: "I can't do no nine to five..." // "I can't have nobody ridin' my back, man..." // Ain't no money in that..." // "What you make in a year, I can make in a month..." They're doing what they're doing because they want to. This is the lifestyle they CHOSE. Young people who want an education go to school. Young people who want a legitimate job...even if it's mowing lawns or bagging groceries, will find it. Don't make excuses for the people who look like us, who consistently hurt us. They are vile.
  • Posted By:
    Outkast at 07/08/2008 11:48:05 AM
    Comment:
    I understand parents must instruct their children, but you cannot always control what a child watches outside the home. And another concern is the image of "black" people that potential employers, school administrators, journalists, etc. may develop if we fail to object. By virtue of its name, there is a difference between BET and other networks. I support freedom of expression, but I also understand why there are reasonable restraints on expression.

    When you know better, you do better.
  • Posted By:
    marymary at 07/08/2008 11:34:34 AM
    Comment:
    It's a shame that we have to fight BET to be responsible. But does BET know something we don't know. Are they, in fact, reflecting the culuture, or is the culture reflecting them?
  • Posted By:
    othellot at 07/08/2008 11:23:16 AM
    Comment:
    BET's programming isn't the cause of the public's embrace of hip hop and all that it represents; it is the response to it. If BET were to go under because of a sponsor boycott, another venue would guickly take its place. Sex and violence sells! Have you watched any of the reality shows on other (white) stations? Most of them contain promiscuity, drugs, profanity and a lack of common sense shown by the participants. The only difference between BET's programs and "Big Brother", "Real World", "Date My Mother", etc. is that BET's participants are playing a role. The characters on the other shows are actually like that.
    • Posted By:
      Patra at 07/08/2008 12:58:54 PM
      Comment:
      I'm aware of what goes on on "white" television. I'm a firm believer in the fact that we, African Americans should hold ourselves to a higher standard, never mind what "they" are or aren't doing.
      • Posted By:
        bryandaniel at 07/08/2008 9:30:13 PM
        Comment:
        Cut it out with the "white" and "they" stuff, would you? Do you really care what color skin people are born with?
        • Posted By:
          Patra at 07/09/2008 10:16:15 AM
          Comment:
          Did you bother to read the the comment before my comment???? I reiterate: As African Americans, WE should hold ourselves to a higher standard...never mind what white people or other people are doing.
  • Posted By:
    SIL at 07/08/2008 10:57:26 AM
    Comment:
    Janelle - The more you tell kids they can't watch something, the more they'll want to watch it. Also, what connection does Amadou Diallo have with BET? Finally, why are all members of a racial group (I use "racial group" very loosely and only because you'll understand) tied together? I think people are smart enough to treat each person as an individual with various interests. Those people who can't discern individuals are meant to be ignored anyway.
  • Posted By:
    JuanDolan at 07/08/2008 10:35:44 AM
    Comment:
    This might be a bit off the subject but as a white kid growing up we'd always watch the Cosby's (in syndication) after school. Looking back I think it was a great show that offered white america a view of black america that seems strangely missing from the media. While I appreciate rap as an artform, I think the non-stop thuggish lifestyles often represented in rap culture is a major contributing factor in holding many black people to way too low of a standard. When a group's most prominently displayed cultural contribution glorifies ignorance, violence, thuggery, and lack of respect and morals, there are real problems. BET should be showcasing positive black contributions and reinforcing middle class black values, not actively chipping away at these things in a race for the holy dollar.
  • Posted By:
    arush85 at 07/08/2008 10:33:46 AM
    Comment:
    BET=BLACK ENTERTAINMENT!!! ITS JUST TV FOLKS. If the kids r too stupid to realize its just television, then they were gonna follow stupid trends whether they saw it on BET or NOT. As a young, succesful black male who loves and hates BET, I will not begin to trash a medium whose sole purpose is AND SHOULD be to entertain a young audience. Oh and that audience is a mix of all races.
  • Posted By:
    Mac at 07/08/2008 10:18:07 AM
    Comment:
    Good, excellent, great, awesome, and also, fantastic. I have long been appalled and chagrined at what BET chooses to portray as "representative" of me and my culture. Perhaps now I can watch more than a few seconds of that channel without flinching and fleeing. (Aaron McGruder must be a teeny bit gloaty right about now... :-D)
  • Posted By:
    macrol at 07/08/2008 8:23:01 AM
    Comment:
    Good article. Many many studies have shown a direct correlation between childhood violence and violent TV shows and the Piediaric associations of most western countries have backed those studies. The Limo Libs that control our media couldn't care less.
  • Posted By:
    isoarcars at 07/08/2008 6:28:52 AM
    Comment:
    Commercials, like video games are a type of training. The spot creates a scenario of stress followed by a solution to the stressor. There is no argument against censor. We train fighter pilots as well as infantry using simulators. The idea is that a soldier with his buddies is put into a stressful situation followed by a solution to the stress using his weapons to kill the enemy. Who could argue that conditioning a soldier with simulators doesn't help him develop the skills and ready responses to deal with anticipated stress? If this is true, why would we make available something called "Grand Theft Auto" and the like?
  • Posted By:
    jessecrismanassa at 07/08/2008 4:52:29 AM
    Comment:
    Christians acting like Christians...what a novel concept to put one's idealism above one's wallet.

  • Posted By:
    jamal49 at 07/08/2008 4:22:06 AM
    Comment:
    It still comes down to this: if you don't want to watch it, turn your television off. If you don't want your children to watch it, turn you television off or prevent them from accessing the channels. BET is on cable only where I live. Therefore, its accessibility is limited. It can be even more limited if parents restrict (let's see--discipline, anyone?) their children's access. Why penalize anyone else who watches these programs because of some self-righteous, holier-than-thou, I-know-what's-best-for-everybody prudes who just won't be happy until they shove their puritanical and repressive "values" down everybody's throats.
  • Posted By:
    lmb at 07/08/2008 4:08:43 AM
    Comment:
    "When one looks st the facts one can see that BET is not actually losing money. The advertisers have not pulled out (as of yet) but are moving their ads to different time slots."

    Huey_Shabazz knows what time it is. I'm waaay less than impressed (and I worked for Universal Records).

    Here's the deal. Until Black folks who believe the pornography and minstrelsy on BET should be shelved STOP
    - going to McDonald's (all that salt is bad for the BP anyway)
    - buying Verizon
    - buying R Kelly's records (yeah - I said it)

    BET (don't forget who owns them, now - and who sold it to the owners) and its advertising buddies will continue to dance with the Reverend all the way to the bank.
  • Posted By:
    njuzu at 07/08/2008 1:06:09 AM
    Comment:
    Thank goodness. It would be nice to have a channel that actually showcased Black talent and viewpoints instead of what BET is now.

    Also, why is everyone pretending that the only people watching BET are Black people? The majority of those who buy rap music are white; why wouldn't they be watching rap music videos on the channel that plays them most often?
  • Posted By:
    bigbill at 07/07/2008 10:24:06 PM
    Comment:
    Sugar, it sounds like you are blaming the white folks for continuing to advertise on BET. You got white folks between a rock and a hard place. For years black folks blaming them for not advertising on black outlets for not avertising on black stations and black channels and black shows, so they go advertise on BET.

    Now you want them to stop advertising on BET.

    It seems no matter what a white man do it just ain't good enough for you.

    Might be a good start if you challenged Ta Nehisi Coates on his warm and wonderful recollections of the glory days of rap, which (as I recall) had some pretty filthy, profane and violent lyrics twenty years ago.

    What went through my mind when I was reading his reminiscence was probably the same as what goes through yours: "why is his father letting him listen to that crap!"
    "
  • Posted By:
    PatraPatra at 07/07/2008 9:52:34 PM
    Comment:
    MilesEllis, what you say isn't entirely true. Black people have been fighting to get BET to improve the quality of its programming for years. There was a boyocatt of BET in front of Madame Lee's mansion. I sincerely hope that more big sponsors, esp. McDonald's, Coca Cola, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc pull their ads as well.
  • Posted By:
    MilesEllison at 07/07/2008 7:09:47 PM
    Comment:
    Huey Freeman will end his hunger strike when BET's president admits that BET stands for Black Evil Television......

    While this is a step in the right direction, the fact that black people watch the degrading minstrel crap that BET shows needs to be addressed. Some adjustment of tastes and priorities is in order. Also, if more music fans embraced musical substance by supporting recording artists that can actually sing, write real songs, and play musical instruments instead of embracing talentless flavors of the month rapping about bling, bitches, money, and murder, the world might be a better place. One of the problems with racist imagery and statements in the media is that the level of offense depends on who's controlling the images and words. When the negativity is produced by black people, criticism is muted or dismissed entirely. When it's produced by whites, every high-profile black person can't get to a microphone fast enough. Just because black people are controlling offensive images and words doesn't make them any less offensive. BET needs to learn this, but with the support that they still receive from most black people, I doubt they will.
  • Posted By:
    RevRolloGoodlove at 07/07/2008 5:54:29 PM
    Comment:
    So, does this mean that Huey Freeman can come off of his Hunger Strike?

    cuz I didn't hear any mention of Japanese ritual suicide...


    "eff B.E.T! I'ma reada boook!"
  • Posted By:
    Patra at 07/07/2008 5:16:25 PM
    Comment:
    Hallelujah, indeed! BET is little more than a modern day minstrel show...and reminds me of my late great aunt (rest in peace)...partied, drank, smoked, sexed it up every night in the week (videos), then spent Sunday in church, repenting, I suppose (gospel shows).

    Perhaps the very smug, arrogant Ms. Lee will stand up and take notice...



    • Posted By:
      arush85 at 07/08/2008 10:36:56 AM
      Comment:
      LOL @ Minstrel show comment. How come wheneva black people are being dumb on tv we have to go the BAMBOOZLED route. There are coon white people over there on MTV and VH1 too. Ever seen the REAL WORLD or Rock of Love? Except for a few select channels and programs, Television has and ALWAYS will be the Boob Tube. If you don't like it, read a book.
  • Posted By:
    nfamous at 07/07/2008 4:19:36 PM
    Comment:
    It was good until you brought religion into it. This has to do with making practical change in a physical world, not with some wishful thinking about a afterlife that we have no evidence exists. Christianity is not the religion of black people. Whites stole our religion and renamed most of the characters. Now they have us eating out of Jesus' hands and nothing can change that because such talk is blasphemy to ahistorical believers. Black people will never save ourselves while we embrace the religion of our oppressor. Nothing else matters until that changes. The God of the Bible is a cruel, vengeful and sadistic being. I don't see how blacks continue to fall for this ruse.
    • Posted By:
      Mac at 07/08/2008 10:20:13 AM
      Comment:
      Heh -- you sound like black people had one universal religion.
  • Posted By:
    b.s. at 07/07/2008 3:49:37 PM
    Comment:
    umm, not so smart spelling reckless with a 'w'.
  • Posted By:
    Get Togetha at 07/07/2008 3:18:56 PM
    Comment:
    Thanks to bloggers some much needed change is starting to sprout when it comes to how Black images are perpetuated around the world. BET is a business first and foremost and has always had the intention of becoming a media moneymaker; shameful exploitation or not. Television as a whole is just not the business when it comes to personal growth. I say pull out the plug in drug.
  • Posted By:
    brian07 at 07/07/2008 3:14:52 PM
    Comment:
    Amen Sis! Amen!
  • Posted By:
    Young Professional Unknown at 07/07/2008 2:46:10 PM
    Comment:
    Isn't it "reckless" and not "wreckless"?
  • Posted By:
    Huey_Shabazz at 07/07/2008 1:35:28 PM
    Comment:
    This is fantastic that this is happening however we must not take this as a victory. When one looks st the facts one can see that BET is not actually losing money. The advertisers have not pulled out (as of yet) but are moving their ads to different time slots. Although this is a step in the right direction it is in no way a sign of the impending revolution.
  • Posted By:
    ICUlooking at 07/07/2008 1:28:09 PM
    Comment:
    It is about D$$$ time that BET get its head out of the sand along with many of its supportive viewers!!! It amazes me that there will be some defending BET for its MAJOR role in the destruction of black culture through glorification of drugs, criminal activity, guns, women, n word, education is stupid but rapping is where the money is at, you respond with a gun, etc.. Don't get it twisted MTV and other video shows share a small part of the blame (they just followed BET's lead and the money it has made) right along with society that bought and made these so called artists millionaires many times over. Anybody that can't see the problem with BET over the years shouldn't have had an issue with what Imus said ever. I among a growing group have had or learned to have had a respect for our people and women and realize that BET has played a major role in a generation of people who lack self respect, have a lack of respect for other people, and demand respect because someone sings about it so they will buy their cd's and go to their concert.
  • Posted By:
    sleezyque at 07/07/2008 11:31:05 AM
    Comment:
    This is retarded. The idea that somehow BET needs to be overhauled is completely pointless. BET was founded as a place where Black music was showcased when it didn???t have a spot on other stations; now the purpose for which BET was founded is being attached as its most blatant offense. It???s not BET???s fault that Black music has gotten too sexual and too violent for the likes of its dissidents (because it has always been sexual and violent). This outcry to change BET???s programming seems like the black ???middle class??? attempting to subjugate the po??? folks to me. Is BET supposed to be TV One? I for one don???t think so. BET is what it is; they just play the videos they receive. Go at MTV or any of its other channels. The videos at those stations run continuously???somebody save white folks and the black bourgeoisie!!!
    • Posted By:
      Outkast at 07/07/2008 5:21:45 PM
      Comment:
      I respectfully disagree, sleezyque. While BET may certainly show programming similar to MTV and other destructive networks, we should not allow BET to do so under the auspices of entertaining all Black people.

      Back people, of any class, should want a better representation of our community displayed on television, especially in our name. In its current state, BET's programming only serves to perpetuate stereotypes that Blacks are over-sexed, violent, and irresponsible. I come from a very low-income household, and I have had to fight those generalizations everyday as an attorney. Is that the life you want for your children? As for me, I pledge to do all that I can to help eliminate programming that negatively impacts our young people - whether it be on BET, MTV, or whereever. It???s not about class, it???s about self-respect.
  • Posted By:
    warrenlongmire at 07/07/2008 11:24:36 AM
    Comment:
    The comparisons between Imus and Hip-hop are blind and thoughtless. Period. Never is the context that these words are said, only the words themselves. Nas's use disection of the word *** in his upcoming album and Jay-z "Ignorant ***" both show this. Hip-hop has and continue to speak to things people don't want to here. Not everybody does, sure...but many. To judge all these artists as some brainless comgomerte is no better (is in fact just as racist) as judging all black men as dangerous or for that matter all Jews are greedy or all homosexuals as child molesters. This act does nothing to stop the constant dissmisal of black expression that has happened sense America's inception.
    • Posted By:
      Huey_Shabazz at 07/07/2008 1:32:32 PM
      Comment:
      Did you actually read the view or did you just skim through it? There was no allusion to Hip Hop and Imus being similar. In using the instance of Don Imus, the author was merely stating that advertisers were reacting in a similar manner. It is my belief that one should digest an entire body of work and then take time to comprehend said work (this may take longer for some than others) before offering an uneducated and retort. Just a suggestion.
  • Posted By:
    Catch at 07/07/2008 9:36:45 AM
    Comment:
    Okay, the sponsors have opened their eyes. Who's next? (record company execs, "artists", parents, you, me?)
  • Posted By:
    Catch at 07/07/2008 9:33:33 AM
    Comment:
    Okay, the sponsors have opened their eyes. Who's next?
  • Posted By:
    Parler at 07/07/2008 6:29:22 AM
    Comment:
    An encouraging development. Will the media pick up on this and stop perpetuating the fiction-so often repeated during the Imus controversy and dragged out whenever a white male is on the line for race-related comments that some find objectionable-that African Americans don't take to task the rappers whose "art" revolves around misogyny, sex, and violence? It is not that African Americans have not been vocal on this issue. It is that we have not been heard.
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