Does BET Offend you?

[Hackerman]

BET does not offend me, but I don't watch it. But wat I believe is the issue here, is the stereotyping of the black community by making a channel called "BLACK Entertainment Television." I mean that is such a hypocritical statement if you think about it. I don't know if all blacks like that kind of music. In fact I am not sure if 85 percent of the black population even watches that channel. So calling it black entertainment is wrong. It just perpetuates hate throughout the community because people will percieve blacks a loud mouthed, cursing, pimps, who drive lowriders, and wear timberlands, with a valor outfit.

I think the real problem here is Affirmative Action. Its a double standard. One person has a better chance of getting into college because of his race, Bah, thats bullshit. I think its just a load of bullshit. People should learn that if everyone is equal than affirmative action is stupid.

 

[zilantyas]

Being a young black man myself I find this topic interesting! I'm probably the only person on this thread who watches BET faithfully. Everything about me is hip hop, but I'm also a focused professional. I know the difference of when it's time for business and leisure time.

I don't think BET (programming) is offensive, because without BET then Black America would be subject to WET (all other channels)! Though, I do sometimes find BET concept offensive. BET is suppose to be an uplifting programming channel for Black America but I feel if you constantly talk about OUR struggle, slavery, adversity, and other misfortunes then you are adding gasoline to the fire. The BET concept IMO is a setback, because one day they are showing programs about the Black struggle...then next you'll see "how I'm living" (celebrities showboating their cars, houses, jewelry, and clothing)...same as MTV Cribs, then you'll see booty shaking videos, and next you'll see gospel...people praising the Lord. It really clashes and most of it is not a good representation of Black America. I like the BET programming (because I'm mature enough to handle it) but the youth of today will watch that programming and not have a clue! It's disruptive in its on right. I think BET should be a trendsetter and stop following other programming shows! BET is suppose to be geared toward uplifting Black America while providing responsible entertainment and I think that should be there main focus...but instead they follow. Like with MTV Cribs...BET decided to make their own called How I'm Living...that showcases Black celebs that are so called "Keeping it Real" or "Balling"...All that does is make a young (immature) individual want to have what they see their favorite celeb have...an average person can't afford that so what do you have to do to get it....CRIME (sell drugs, rob, or steal)! And that's called being "Gangsta". It's sending the wrong message! Here's a different concept, how about BET show How a Black CEO of a company is living, like John W. Thompson (CEO of Symantec) or show how the celebs is giving back to the community or building corporations (empires)...that's much more uplifting, than celebs showing off their cars and houses, laughing at the average worker ( a in your face....jesture). Of course, BET does not see any wrong in their program and they should not be held accountable for anyone's wrong doings but they must understand that their programming has a major impact on today's youth. And that statement is actually made for all of today's media! Media, movies, and TV programs are what is raising our children today...black, white, asian, latino, etc. The media plays a major role in our kids lives.

As a black man I'm probably one of the few who is against reparations and affirmative action! I don't like the fact of thinking someone owes me something nor do I like the fact of thinking I got a job because of my skin color. I work hard for a living and never looked for any handouts. I think America has come a long way from the past , but there are still changes that EVERYONE must make. I think that Black America if not going to forget the past then needs to move on from the past and not hold the grudge any longer. I think Black America needs to wake up and stop just settling for less or looking for an handout. I think we need to raise our kids to work hard and become politicians, businessmen, lawyers, etc. We just need more....overflow the market with successful Black professionals. I think Black America needs to stop playing the race card on every issue or being judgemental whenever a White person mentions something about a Black person (like Rush Limbaugh incident....it was wrong for America to label him a racist). I also think that White America should understand the frustration of Black America. White America needs to understand that Black America has been lost for some time, we do not know our roots! Sure you can say "so what" "get over it" but it has a major affect on our lives. If anyone knows how it feels to go through life not knowing your father or your mother then you should know that it has an impact...regardless if you try to shake the feeling. It's the same. Black America does not know their mother or father (in a sense) and cannot recall there roots or where they originated from...but every other culture can say my family is from Sweeden, England, Netherlands, China, Brazil, or wherever and you will be able to piece your roots together....but we can't do that...we have no clue except that we came from Africa (that's it), we don't know what family (tribe), culture, or anything...we can only date back to America (that's what we know)...so that's a piece of our lives that is missing...and we can't get it back...we can't tell our kids, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc. anything about their roots, origin, or original culture! It's a situation that Black America just have to get over because no one can do anything about it....but White America has to understand!

I'm sorry for posting a thread so long! But I couldn't of said it no easier!

 

[True_Orb]

The young professional black man knows his stuff!

Although I wouldn't encourage black people to become businessmen and politicians, they are generally some of the worst people in the world. =/

 

[cas0496]

WOW!! Well stated zilantyas!

The young professional black man knows his stuff!

Although I wouldn't encourage black people to become businessmen and politicians, they are generally some of the worst people in the world. =/

Orb....did you really mean to say that?? If so, what is the name of your grand wizard??? geez.

 

[digital_darknes]

I dont get the origin thing. I dont know where i came from, i THINK germany and ireland, but then again, i dont know what parts and i dont even know if thats for sure. But, you dont see me wearing my pants below my ass and thinking that some other race owes me something. I am not saying all black people are this way, im just saying this is the kind of thing BET promotes. I was flipping through the other day and on BET, Nelly's video that looks almost like a porno was on. MTV will not play this video because it is too offensive, even to MTV.

Let me ask you something, since your the first black person i have talked to on this forum.

How are you still suffering from slavery?

I am not meaning this in an offensive way, but when i think of a black person cussing all the time, pants to below thier ass, timberlands, and selling drugs, no way do i even think about slavery when i say "Man, if i were an employeer, they wouldnt have a chance in hell." It is all about thier image and the fact that a lot of them have no respect for anyone else, not even thier own people.

Again, do not take it the wrong way, white people have a lot of problems to, but i will truthfully say they are white trash. There is no question there. But I have one word for the kind of black person i described and that is the N word. But heaven for bid if i use it because i will be labeled a Racist.

 

[cas0496]

In defense of Zilantyas.... I think he's basically saying (and as a black man) that black people DO need to get over this slavery issue. It is done and we all need to get over it. I think he is also trying to reiterate that BET is not promoting a positive image for black people. I think as HeeHaw is to white folks, BET is to black folks. We (as white people) don't want to be portrayed as a bunch of banjo playing, southern drawl talkin, tobacco chewin rednecks just as black people don't want to be stereotyped.

Digital_darknes: If you don't like what zilantyas had to write then I would suggest going back and reading it again. I think you just might agree with what he has to say. I truly believe that what he is saying about black people not having any ancestry should in no way make it ok for blacks to demand handouts, etc... It's hard not to put aside that fact the your ancestors (family) were taken away from their homes and forced to work on plantations. But, it's also not an issue that merits dwelling on. It's done and in the past. Pick yourself up and be the best you can be instead of expecting that job based on your race.

 

[True_Orb]

WOW!! Well stated zilantyas!




Orb....did you really mean to say that?? If so, what is the name of your grand wizard??? geez.

Grand Wizards:
The Detroit News, The Detroit Free Press, The New York Times, FOX news, MSNBC, CNN...I can go on.

Basically my thing with businessmen is they are doing whatever they can to get more money, that is priority 1. These people tend to embrace capitalism (the economic system in which we acknowledge humans are greedy by nature) and go for it.

Politicians are officials that do what they have to to get elected [get money], with the will of the people coming in a distant second.

I am not saying that black people have any less a right to assume these positions, I just figure that not having businessmen and politicians in your ethnicity is not necessarily something to be embarassed about.

 

[zilantyas]

You still have alot to learn digital darkness!

I dont get the origin thing. I dont know where i came from, i THINK germany and ireland, but then again, i dont know what parts and i dont even know if thats for sure.

You personally not knowing your origin is one thing but no one of your RACE knowing their origin is another thing! RACE meaning Black America!

But, you dont see me wearing my pants below my ass and thinking that some other race owes me something. I am not saying all black people are this way, im just saying this is the kind of thing BET promotes. I was flipping through the other day and on BET, Nelly's video that looks almost like a porno was on. MTV will not play this video because it is too offensive, even to MTV.

What you described is a racist comment and is not an indication of Black people. What you described is what the media portrays to you. Yes, there is black people who wear there jeans hanging off their ass and wear timberlands but as well there are white people, indian people, latino people, etc. who do the exact same thing. No it's not done in the masses by other races, but that's because everyone is not hip hop.

Wearing jeans hanging off your ass or wearing timberlands don't make you a "thug" or bad person. You must first realize that hip hop is a community as well as a (indirect) culture! And within that community and culture there are many differences. Hip hop is a way of life and expression. Hip hop has a sense of style, dress, communication, etc. Just like any other music genre or interest group! Like a person who listens to Heavy Metal, he/she has their own style and way of living. But that doesn't make them a animal. Everyone should know when its time for business and when its time to play. No one should go to a interview wearing jeans off their ass (or jeans at all). As for selling drugs...I'm against anyone who sells drugs or does crime...but you cannot say that a person must have a certain look to sell drugs or black people that wear timberlands and sag their jeans sell drugs or do crime. That's a false statement, but that is how young (hip hop) black people are exploited.

I myself am a true Hip Hop lover. Though, I don't wear my jeans off my ass (I choose not to), I do wear timberlands when I want to, everything about me is hip hop...my style, my dress code, my way of communication, and my way of life. But I also have a professional side to me. I wear a suit and tie and mingle with the business class, when its appropriate. I'm a self-taught, self-determined Information Technology professional. I've worked and interviewed with many reputable companies...never had a problem finding a job....not when I lived in Newark, New Jersey or when I moved to the Carolinas. But I choose to present myself professionally. When I take off the suit and tie...I relax in jeans and a white tee...with timberlands or A1's (Nike Air Force 1). I never sold drugs, never used drugs, never robbed anyone, never stole from anyone, but when I lived in New Jersey I lived in the worst parts and right dead smack in the middle of crime! I seen people die in front of me, I had friends that got killed, I had friends that did crimes, and I seen drugs ruin people lives. It was hard to live a correct life growing up like that but I made it without doing any wrong, not owing anyone anything and no one owing me anything, and not wanting any handouts. I'm not the only Black person who survived with adversity...there are millions more out there.

My point is everyone has adversities that they must face, regardless of your skin color. You can not label any one race or sterotype and say that is a "Black thing" or "White thing"! Just as many white people do crimes as black people. Crime does not have a color, a style, or a face. Just because someone wear timberlands does not mean that they are malicious and a white guy wearing his pants off his ass does not mean he is acting "black". Or if a black guy wears a suit and tie and talks professional (with some knowledge) does not mean he is acting "white"! It means he is being professional and business-like. So your comment is sterotypical and somewhat racist, because you are pointing your finger at Black people who has a hip hop style.

Let me ask you something, since your the first black person i have talked to on this forum.

How are you still suffering from slavery?

I truly don't think there is a answer to that...because I can't say slavery is the exact blame. Would we be living like this if slavery never existed....who knows? Would we be in America if slavery never existed....who knows? Would America exist the way it does without slavery....who knows? So, answer those questions...and you tell me how is Black America suffering from slavery. Just really think if slavery never existed...how would the world be different...hmm...I wonder!

 

[True_Orb]

digital, I do have to say that those blanket statements about timberlands and saggy pants pretty blatently portray you to subscribe to generalizations and show you have racist tendencies.

I agree that black america should not complain that white america owes them something in this day and age, but I think you may have taken that a little too far.

 

[zilantyas]

But I have one word for the kind of black person i described and that is the N word. But heaven for bid if i use it because i will be labeled a Racist.

I don't think anyone (black or white) should ever use the "N" word because it truly is a deragotroy word (it has no other meaning) and it has drew up so much controversy that it should be banned.

But question, what would you label yourself if you felt it was okay to use that word towards Black people you described?


Cas0496...thanks for understanding!

Tru_Orb....I feel you man!