Thursday, July 2, 2009

BET…SERIOUSLY WHY?! ***SPECIAL COLLABO EDITION***

Thursday, July 2, 2009
Black. Entertainment. Television… A network founded by a black man that has been on television for almost 30 years; I should be proud to say that I watch because it displays such positive images of people who look like me. But, BET, you are nothing more than a network that breeds damaging and destructive images of the African American race. Our ancestors are probably rolling over in their graves as they look down from above to see what they struggle and died for. President Obama should shut you DOWN for good, as you go against EVERYTHING that he stands for. BET, simply put…I hate you! And I’m sure that many others that have joined our movement share the same sentiment. (Do I hear a resounding applause?)

Now, I have resisted the urge to compose this, but I couldn’t muffle my thoughts about BET and the effect that it is having on our culture and its future any longer. But, my hatred for it has deepened since Sunday when I tuned in to watch this year’s BET Awards. From the red carpet pre-show to the black carpet after show it was a colossal disappointment. Here BET had the opportunity to treat us and honor THE BIGGEST name in music and it chose to do something totally opposite from that. Instead BET chose to get ratings by telling the WORLD that we’d see artists from far and wide perform MJ songs in tribute to him. FAILED! However, the WORLD was privy to seeing teenage girls with pom-poms shake their asses all over the TV screen while artists rapped songs that were entirely bleeped out. Afterwards, their reasoning for the show they aired live internationally: “we only had 3 days to prepare.” Well, BET, death is unexpected and you knew the time constraints you were under after the confirmation of his death. Your awards show was already scheduled and planned for Sunday, June 28th (See BET Awards 2009: Pre-Awards edition), you should NOT have used this man’s death as an excuse of your very poor display of production and professionalism. The WORLD saw borderline buffoonery this past Sunday night, and will continue to see it replayed over and over again 6,284 times during the next few weeks. BET, you should have just had the balls to gracefully bowed out and chosen to do a tribute to Michael Jackson that was literally ‘fit for a king’ at a later date when you had more time to prepare for it. Because that was TRASH that you put on display the other night and you should be ASHAMED!

But, should IamXI be surprised? This is BET we're talking about…Black. Entertainment. Television… They haven’t made me take pride in their network for years now. But, they are content and satisfied with their television programs. They must be quite pleased that most see it as a representation of how blacks are viewed in America… Because gone are the days of quality programs such as Teen Summit and Video Soul. Gone are the days when Ananda Lewis, an educated black woman, hosted their TV programs. NOW, we have 106 & Park who have guests on like Pretty Ricky who sing about sex to 13-year-olds, and it’s hosted by Rocsi, most recently known for being a home-wrecker than intelligent. I remember her audition interviewing rapper Xzibit, where she asked him about his MTV show, Pimp My Ride...(I know you're giving the screen the dumb look right now.) They also have College Hill, where most of the cast mates spend their time in lavish, off-campus homes and rarely on campuses of the actual black colleges they speak of. This show is mainly based on their in-fighting and hooking up, then the trials and tribulations of college life. Which leads me to BET’s newest additions to their ‘oh so great’ line-up, Tiny & Toya and Frankie & Neffe… I can’t…Lord, mama’s tired (SMDH)… XIKhai, can you take it from here, please (tagging off)…

(...picking up where IamXi left off)
Disclaimer: The words you are about to read are heavily judgmental and harsh so if you’re in any way in denial regarding the coonery that is BET in what they choose to display on a daily basis, please stop reading now…


Ok now that we’ve gotten that out of the way…I’m going to throw some words out to you. Dysfunction, blissful ignorance, drug abuse, loud, rude, angry, dental down syndrome *swagger jacked this gem from flyguyworldwide on twitter* which is another way to describe the complete and utter disregard of proper English, disorderly conduct and down right FOOLERY. A friend of mine once said to me that words have meaning and when thrown out into the universe regardless of their context some words are taken at face value. Now imagine for a moment what these words mean when describing the two NEW shows BET has set to premier this season in all of their disgraceful glory.

Black women have endured a lot of controversy over the years…from the horrors of being consistently raped in the days of slavery, followed by the suppression of their voices in this country before the woman's suffrage act. To being called every name but the child of God, while other black women fear that black men don't even notice us anymore; we’ve suffered the backlash that the world of music videos has placed on our shoulders and at the end of the day most of us can’t even find ONE black woman to lean on when the world is crumbling down around us because we barely get along with each other anymore. Some wouldn’t argue that a lot of these issues were handed over to us...effectively passed down and not directly linked to our own doing and they’d mostly be right. However, what we’re witnessing today is a generation of self-inflicted wounds that I fear are doing far more damage then we’ll ever truly know. What I see…I’m placing at the feet of some people I know (yeah I bet I got your attention now as I’m sure toes are curling up in some shoes.)

Now I have to say, that catchy lines and hilarious banter on a tv show is a quality in which I live for. Everyone needs comic relief from time to time, even daily for some, and the more I get the better I feel. People who deprive themselves of a good laugh I’d venture to guess are probably not the most appealing people in the world, just my personal opinion. So let’s get that aspect out of the way, I'm not trying to suck the fun and humor out of our television. We all love a good laugh…but for some shows, where the laughing stops…the hurt begins. Which begs the question to BET…Who are we and what on earth do we represent?

Let’s forget for a moment that we’re living in the era of Obama ok, let’s just go back to being regular ole black folks. Have our creative minds taken a backseat to true entertainment in exchange for former junkies and baby mamas? I’m sorry, but in the two NEW shows BET has chosen to air where do the women like some of my close friends relate and fall in? You know these women…they’re the ones that get up every morning and work hard, then come home to take care of their families, and discuss ways in which to change this world. The singles ones like me, who also work then hang out with our friends and enrich our lives by doing positive things for the people they love and care about. Where are these women? For once BET can you bring these women out and pass on the easy but shameful laugh? Can my image be reflected on a show...I mean is it a fear of the unfunny...because I can assure you that we crack jokes too, damnit! I know alot of funny women who are as equally entertaining and less crass, vulgar, and HOLLOW. Depth is an intriguing quality in women as it compliments our humor as well as wit and charm. We do exist and I’m sure I could round up some folks who would tune in every week to take it all in. So I don't quite understand why drama and foolishness win out every time and plague our existence on the television screen. And since I'm asking, why do our children have to be fatherless reared up in confusing family situations. Engagement rings are nice but so are weddings and while divorce is a necessary reality for some it’s not for all and what's up with the "eternal engagements"...you know where you get the ring and that's it. Do all of the men we date have to be rappers and entertainers bound for jail or worse? Can’t we be shown dating lawyers and investment bankers, shoot a nice office guy with all of their teeth and NO TATOOS would due? I would like for once to be shown in a positive light on the network that bares MY existence? Yes I said it, people that aren’t black believe BET to be the window into the souls of black folks and if this is the window they’re peeking into…I’m going to need some steel bars and medal plated slabs with thick black curtains covering me up because the images aren’t accurate. And while I’m sure the women on these shows love their families and work hard for them, the way they choose to go about their daily lives should not be the model in which the world sees us. But sadly it is!

For once I’d just like to watch a show on an English network in America and not need subtitles! I’d just like to be proud of the images I see and hold them as a true reflection of my life?

When I started this post I wanted to you all to laugh and use my wit and quips as a guide into my mind. However, the more I wrote the angrier I became and I know now that’s it no longer funny, it actually stopped being funny a long time ago. As we flip the channels the examples are endless and it’s no longer humorous…as a matter of fact to put it bluntly it became so funny that we no longer needed other races to set the stereotypes of us. So racists need not apply because we’re doing the dirty work for you free of charge. And with BET’s summer line up of shows they’re writing another chapter that will inevitably be added to the many stories regarding black women, and this one is as ugly as it gets.

So to the Toya’s & Tiny’s of the reality world along with the Frankie’s & Neffe’s thank you ladies for telling YOUR story…but I have to ask that next time, you do it without the entire world watching…

Seriously why, NOT?
Leave us a comment...We want to hear your thoughts about BET, the BET Awards, and/or their current & future programming line-up.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Ok loved the post and I am glad you did not mince words nor did you play it down you told it just like it was. I tried to tolerate the show because I have a relative that works there but I had to let him know how disappointed I was with that lack of talent that was displayed on Sunday night. Ok first off when ever I am not pleased with Bey we have a problem she is an awesome performer and that there was some Tomfoolery in the making. Her performance put me to sleep and it was not appropriate for the situation. What in the hell does AVA MARIA have to do with MJ she would have made out better singing freaking Halo. I know I am not apart of exclusivity as a writing voice but hell I could have put together a better show than that. Not to mention I was so ashamed that those little girls moms( Toya) let her daughter get up there and shake their asses around a grown ass man (DRAKE) WTF were they all thinking. Lil wayne is the type of artists that cares less about what the censors have to say and if he can curse the whole album he will. Hell if the O jays can slip one pass then weezy should have had the whole song play without interruptions. I was so hopping someone would speak on this and give me the option to say my peace. The best part of the show was Janet speaking on behalf of the family and that is sad. And please if you can do a poll on how many people thing that Joe Jacksons ass should have been home mourning with the family instead he stunting at the freaking BET awards show. For what it was obvious that Janet was the families spokesperson and not Joe. I wonder why. All Joe see's is $ signs. Sorry to rant but thanks for the vent session.

I am XI said...

THANK YOU Lashawna! And you are welcome for the vent session; your rant was great! Our site is always open for "tell 'em why you mad" sessions. I mean, We give props where props are due; we love everything that is positive. But we have to let people (in this case, BET) know when they are dead wrong, especially when it goes against everything XI stands for.

Welcome to the movement, Lashawna! We're happy to have you.

Tameria said...

I have been disappointed in BET for several years now. I tuned in only to see the tribute for MJ. Although I was disappointed in the fact that they didn’t do a good job with honoring him, I did give them a pass that they only had a few days to prepare.
What I will not give them a pass for is setting us back about 20yrs. From the preshow when Rocsi pronounced 3 6 Mafia as 3 6 My fia! Is there a problem finding a host that can read? If you work for BET and you see a name of a group that starts with a 3 and a 6...you should know the next word is MAFIA!
I can’t even begin to talk about lil Wayne because it will take up too much of my energy. Aside from the ridiculous reality shows they have, why in the world do we get a game show called "PAY IT OFF"??? They had a black couple jumping around happy to get money to pay their bills. They should have just handed them some fried chicken and watermelon and called it a day. But I do have to put some of the blame on the black community. We have to stand up and not stand for this anymore. We are the ones that will be tuned in to watch the stupid reality shows. We auditioned for the commercial and will be the contestants on the game show.
Far as Beyonce's performance I do agree that it didn’t fit in but I think it didn’t fit for all the wrong reasons. The reason that it didn’t fit was because the rest of the show was so foolish that Ava Maria went right over their heads. I bet if she was out there shaking everything she got singing single ladies the audience would have been bouncing in their seats! We need to open our mind as well as our youth to something besides Soldier Boy Tell Em! Well I’m going to stop ranting now!
Keep up the good work ladies!

XIKhai said...

Tameria you better preach. Didn't even know about the game show and now I'm even more pissed!

But you're right we all have to stop tuning in because we say we dislike their programming but we can all tell you what happened on the shows and I'm the biggest culprit of it.

Thanks for the feedback and encouragement!

Unknown said...

I can honestly say that I only turn to BET for the big events like the awards show. And sometime the Movies I love baby boy and Nora's salon. I also Like the Game. But other than that I don,t watch. I never like rocsi and Terrence Is the worst type of groupie. One that actually has contact with the stars. When They got hired I tuned out. Hell BET if your reading this Hire Us we can give yall a more positive T.V line up better than what u have already. And if you want to stay Ghetto. Come film my daily life and struggles Of B-more mom and wife tryna Hold it together on That BS retirement the state is paying me. I am thankful for it Bc there are ppl that dont get a residual income but please that is drama for your ass. But we do need to stop tunning in like the lady said. we keep their ratings up but we also complain we can not have it both way we either like them or we don't. BET give XI a segment that should make your ratings even better. At least they know what to talk about and how to grab our attention and keep it.

Unknown said...

I can honestly say that I only turn to BET for the big events like the awards show. And sometime the Movies I love baby boy and Nora's salon. I also Like the Game. But other than that I don,t watch. I never like rocsi and Terrence Is the worst type of groupie. One that actually has contact with the stars. When They got hired I tuned out. Hell BET if your reading this Hire Us we can give yall a more positive T.V line up better than what u have already. And if you want to stay Ghetto. Come film my daily life and struggles Of B-more mom and wife tryna Hold it together on That BS retirement the state is paying me. I am thankful for it Bc there are ppl that dont get a residual income but please that is drama for your ass. But we do need to stop tunning in like the lady said. we keep their ratings up but we also complain we can not have it both way we either like them or we don't. BET give XI a segment that should make your ratings even better. At least they know what to talk about and how to grab our attention and keep it.

 
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