BET = Black Embarrassment Television

[Guest Nostril king]

With only one national black television station, this writer wonders why BET chooses to show music videos all day. From nine o'clock in the morning until nine o'clock in the evening (Eastern Standard Time), there are shows like "Hits From the Street," "106 and Park," alongside a few other music video shows. Throughout the day there are reruns of similar video shows, all featuring half naked women, thugs, and drug dealers. The images of African Americans being projected in this programming are of artists who are obsessed with money, sex, and popularity. The characters the artists play in music videos are willing to do anything for the almighty dollar, including rob, cheat, pimp women (or themselves), steal and kill. No, this is not the Playboy channel or HBO, both of which have the freedom to show such things. This is bad entertainment disguised as good entertainment for blacks and it comes in the form of the network BET (Black Entertainment Television).

Ms. Cita, the host of "Cita's World", highlights the afternoon and primetime lineup of programming for BET. She is the epitome of "ghetto-fabulous." She too is half-dressed, very loud and obnoxious, and never has anything intelligent to say. Her vocabulary is limited and dripping with improper English. What makes this show worse is the fact that she is a cartoon and many people write to her for advice. Men also write in, asking her for dates and telling her what they could do for her. This writer often wonders what person would ask a cartoon character for advice or a date?

As nine o'clock rolls around, it is now time for "Oh Drama," and what drama it is. This cheap knockoff of ABC's "The View" consists of three women who get together and pretend to talk about things that are informative and interesting. The topics for discussion are based mainly on sex. These topics range from how to get a good man to how to keep your man, from gold diggers to transvestites. Not surprising to this writer, these women are not always fully clothed-wearing scantily clad outfits: leather, skimpy dresses, and tops showing excessive cleavage.

 

Next up on the evening schedule is "Comicview," a comedy show featuring mainly black comedians. The show begins with the host, coming on stage with a dozen women who are two seconds away from being naked. The host is dressed in vibrantly colored suits, complete with his diamond jewelry and permed hair that is neatly pulled back into a ponytail. He then dances around on the stage with women surrounding him, and they all continue to dance until the actual " show" starts. This scene is very reminiscent of a minstrel show-complete with-dancing and smiling while telling jokes for amusement. The show goes on to feature comedians who usually tell tasteless jokes about sexual related matters more than anything else.

 

After "Comicview," there is a one-hour news program (which will be touched upon later) that reportedly covers news that affects Black people. After the news programming, there are more videos followed by a repeat showing of "Comicview" and another episode of "Oh Drama." At three o'clock in the morning, the "craziest" show of all is aired. It is another music video show tastelessly entitled, "Uncut." This show airs music videos that are deemed too risqué to be shown during the earlier video shows. Now you may wonder what could possibly be worse than the sexual innuendos presented in the previous shows, but please believe-it gets worse. This show is very vile and only features women as sex objects. There are two videos that are regulars on this show that stand out the most. In the first video, there is a rapper that goes around town to different women, puts his hands down their private areas, and asks them "what it smell like?" The next video oozes with sexual content as well. This video by a couple of members of the infamous 2 Live Crew has a segment that features a woman onstage at a concert about to perform oral sex on one of the rappers.

After "Uncut" goes off, there are the hours of mindless infomercials that promote everything from Ron Popeil's newest invention (does this man ever quit?) to the newest cleaning phenomenon that is guaranteed to clean anything. This series of infomercials continues until the "quality" programming from the previous day starts once again. It may be hard to believe that this type of programming is allowed to be shown on television, but it is.

 

As one thinks of all the things BET represents, this writer realizes how lucky he is to have stopped watching this station for "entertainment." BET has taken on a new meaning for many African Americans: Black Embarrassing Television. Not only is this form of black entertainment embarrassing, but also it is harmful to the productivity and morale of black people. This form of media makes Blacks, especially the young, feel that they can only be successful as singers, rappers, dancers, comedians, and other types of entertainers. This is due to the lack of representation for other successful Blacks such as doctors, attorneys, scientists and politicians among other respectable occupations. It also makes audiences believe that sex with lack of discretion is absolutely fine. These programs that are aired on BET neglect to promote any type of morals or values to the African American audience, and most of all, this station lacks intelligence.

These shows that are aired regularly on BET are also harmful to Blacks because they perpetuate the stereotypes that many people in America have about Black people. For many non-Blacks, the only contact they have with Black people is through images presented by the media. This is problematic in that if all non-Blacks see are sex-crazed, money-obsessed, "ghetto-fabulous" black people, that is what they will generalize as being true of all Black people. Instances and portrayals such as these make the struggle of Blacks for true equality in America even more difficult. Non-whites and even upper class Blacks will not take Black America seriously. Non-blacks will have these misconceptions in their minds and believe that most black people are incapable of being and conducting themselves in an intelligent manner. It is because of this that Blacks are not given the equal opportunity to be successful, whether it is in corporate America, higher education or other realms where connections and networking are vital to success. All of these barriers combined can be attributed almost exclusively to negative media portrayals like those featured on BET.

 

Some Blacks blame this lack of quality programming on the selling of BET to white-owned Viacom. This writer has to disagree with this argument because we, as black people, have sold ourselves out. Before, when BET was black owned, there were the same types of programming being aired. There were no black dramas or other intellectually stimulating programs being shown. So indeed, we, as black people, are partly to blame for this catastrophe that graces our televisions on a daily basis. This becomes difficult in that we, as Blacks, accept the defamation of our image and choose do nothing about it but watch and be entertained by these false images.

In defense of BET, there are television programs on this network that do attempt to tackle the tough issues that affect the black community. "Teen Summit" and "BET Tonight" are two programs that discuss issues such as AIDS, family problems, troubles in other types of relationships, and other social ills that are affecting the Black community. But, these two shows are so severely overshadowed by the other programs that they often do little to improve the image of Blacks and occasionally fall victim to the lack of intellect that plagues the other programming. In addition, neither of these shows appear during primetime, therefore, they do not receive the attention of the majority of BET's viewers.

Another argument that comes up is that other networks, such as MTV and VH1, show these same music videos and similar comedy specials that dominate the airwaves of BET. Therefore, BET should not be taking the bulk of this criticism. Even though other stations choose to air similar material, it does not make it acceptable for BET to follow in their footsteps and claim to be innovative. Also, these other networks do not make the claim to be committed to Blacks and the black cause, nor do they bear the title or burden of being specifically for black people. BET should be a model for what is right with the black community and not the highlight of what is wrong with it. These other networks may feel that because these awful images are shown on BET, then it is justifiable for them to show these programs as well. This way of thinking only further feeds into the inaccurate conceptions about black people and black communities.

 

Spike Lee's most recent movie, "Bamboozled" compares modern black entertainment to the minstrel shows of early 20th century and details how Blacks have repeatedly sold themselves out and sold themselves short. BET is at the head of these modern day minstrel shows. There must be a demand on the part of Black-Americans for better programming on BET. We need more shows that accurately depict the state of Blacks in America. Blacks must not be complacent with the garbage that currently is broadcasted daily into their homes. A network that claims to be for Blacks and reflect their lifestyles has to be something that everyone can be proud of. It has to be actively working to disprove the many negative stereotypes that currently exist against Blacks. As it stands, BET is an embarrassment to Black America. There must be a movement of Black people, and others, that lets those in charge of BET know that we are unsatisfied with the quality of programming that currently airs on their station. Until then, BET will continue to be an embarrassment to Black America.

 

 

__________________

Sankofa - an Akan word that means, "We must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward; so we understand why and how we came to be who we are today."

[Guest Some Guy]

I just wonder why there is a Black Entertainment station in the first place. Can you imagine WET, the White Entertainmant Channel? Heads would roll in court after Jesse Jackson and such start suing.

[Guest Kotzenjunge]

I think it'd be funny to say "Tune in to WET!"

[Guest Dr. Wrestlingphysics]

It is a bit odd that the channel shows black music all day when there already several music channels showing majority black musicians, such as MTV Base to name one.

[Guest NaturalBornThriller4:20]

I just wonder why there is a Black Entertainment station in the first place. Can you imagine WET, the White Entertainmant Channel? Heads would roll in court after Jesse Jackson and such start suing.

Ignorance.

Why-can't-there-be-a-Black-Entertainment-Station?

If-you-don't-like-what-your-seeing,Change-the-Fucking

Channel!

Quit-with-the-complaining.

 

Did-you-fools-know-that-B.E.T-is-owned-by-a-WHITE-man?

Don't-blame-African-Americans.

Blame-the-White-owner.

I'm-not-trying-to-sound-racist.

 

MTV-plays-Fucking-Videos-almost-all-day,but-do-you

complain?

[Guest Dr. Wrestlingphysics]

MTV-plays-Fucking-Videos-almost-all-day,but-do-you

complain?

 

Not to disagree with the sentiments of your post, but MTV is a music station and positions itself as being on the cutting edge of youth culture and bringing new music first, whereas BET seems to be positioning itself as the first black channel for black people and not as a music station, so all the music seems to be for filler.

[Guest Some Guy]

What are you talking about? I wasn't complaining, I was just stating the truth about what would happen if there were to be "WET". Or-do-you-not-understand-things-unless-they're-typed-like-this?

[Guest dreamer420]

i think it's because bet is mainly a music channel so they probably want to show lots of videos during the course of the day. i know with the tv package I have bet is included in the music package.

[Guest NaturalBornThriller4:20]

"I just wonder why there is a Black Entertainment station in the first place."

 

Is-that-not-what-you-said?

[Guest Some Guy]

That is what I said but I fail to see how that is complaining. It was a statement followed up by the truth of what would happen if there were an all white channel. If that is your definition of ignorance or caomplaining I suggest you pick up a dictionary when you go key board shopping.

 

This "fool" doesn't give a shit one way or the other as to who owns the station. I'm not blaming anyone for this either, if someone wants to make money and people are willing to let them then more power to them, whether they be white, black, hispanic or whatever.

[Guest NoCalMike]

Whatever happened to the one talk show that was hosted by the Travis guy. It was kind of like a "Rivera Live" show that used to air on CNBC....I remember Geraldo was a guest on it during the OJ trial and got railed on by all the OJ Supporters. Then there was the Uptown Comedy Club which was cool, they would have slam contests, and the white guy would almost always win. Haven't tuned into BET in awhile though, so I am not up on what programming is on there now.

[Guest RetroRob215]

Well it does stand for BLACK ENTERTAINMENT. Maybe most BLACKS favorite form of ENTERTAINMENT is music videos featuring black artists.

 

Seriously though, I agree with what everyone said execpt the-guy-who-types-like-this.

[Guest NaturalBornThriller4:20]

As-for-anybody-else-who-seems-to-dislike-B.E.T,all-you-have-to

do-is-pick-up-your-Remote-and-simply-change-the-channel.

 

2.SG,the-complaining-comment-is-not-directed-at-you.It's

directed-at-the-original-poster,so-breath-easy-on-that-one.

 

Apologizes-to-SG-for-his-comments.

 

But-if-the-original-poster-seems-to-dislike-B.E.T-so-much,

anyone-care-to-tell-me-just-how-in-the-hell-he-knows-about

all-it's-programming-and-gives-little-descriptions-about-it?

[Guest Nezbyte]

WET - I can see the lawsuits already.

 

African Americans should NOT be called this, they're not from africa. Hell, people from Africa dont call them selves that because AFRICA IS A CONTINTNENT - *not* a country.

 

Jesse Jackson is the racist person i've ever heard of, and i hope he burns in hell.

 

BET is pimperific - i say, who cares? Let them play garbage.

[Guest ant_7000]

Oh my god with the WET channel, this girl that I work with ask me would I be offended if they made a WET channel? My reponse was they already have WET TV NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, MTV & MTV2. I how many minority shows on national networks what like 2 so it is A WET TV its on 7 stations and 1 BET.

[Guest ant_7000]

But, I do agree with Nostril on some things but its a form of entertainment just like any other network they show sex, violents and drugs. I mean when I did have cable I would watch BET about 4 hours a day usually watch Rap City, Hits (dude is funny), and Planet Groove. Anyway, I wish BET would get some sitcoms on there instead of the old ones and less videos. I like BET over MTV anyway because they play the shit I like instead of waiting MTV to play Rap/R&B once every 4 hours, so im glad that we got BET to promote urban music and movies. You guys seem a little offended by BET can't we have something of our own damn hahaha. BET should try incorprate more things besides music like more sports, new shows/sitcoms, and promote more movies but not a in UPN type of way. and no Jesse Jackson is not a racist person, and as a Black person I don't mind to be called Black/African American and yes people in Africa consider themselves and call themselves African, so Nezbyte I don't know where the hell you came up with that .

[Guest wwF1587]

I dont particually like the channel myself, but I have no problem with it. Its not something I would watch though.

[Guest MrRant]

Its just there to me. I don't like rap but I like comedy so I only like about 25% of whats on.

[Guest Nezbyte]

i like BET over MTV anyway because they play the shit I like instead of waiting MTV to play Rap/R&B once every 4 hours, so im glad that we got BET to promote urban music and movies.

 

You guys seem a little offended by BET can't we have something of our own damn hahaha.

 

and no Jesse Jackson is not a racist person

Every 4 hours? Are you on fucking crack? ALL MTV PLAYS is rap (ie: bullshit) and pop (read the former), so i dont see where you pulled that out of. See, i dont get this whole Urban name, technically, arnt all bands not from rural areas URBAN? Seriously folks...

 

Something of your own? Who are you fooling? A WHITE man owns BLACK entertainment television - so, technically, not now.

 

Jesse is a racist bastard who always points to the evil white man whenever there a problem involving people of opposite races. He has proven on occasion to dislike/hate Jews.

 

 

I'm not racist at all, but i know some facts.

[Guest godthedog]

yeah, the ownership of BET reminds me of the "alternative revolution" in the 90s, when there was all this anti-corporate sentiment & all this support of "independent" musicians, and none of the kids figured out that it was corporations who had put the sentiment out there just to sell major label alternative albums.

 

see 'bamboozled', all of you. it sums up this whole thread nicely, & it's a lot funnier than any of these posts.

[Guest Human Fly]

Lets face it BET is around for one reason: to make money. If playing videos all day is what will bring cash in, then that's what they'll do.

 

As for Comic View, I mark for Bruce Bruce.

 

As far as MTV goes, they suck. Besides TRL when do they play videos? Not till late night as far as I know. They should change their name to "TTV: Teen TV". All day is filled with dating shows, and other forms of human degradtion. But hey, if that's what makes the money they're going to do it.

 

We may not like what's going on with BET and MTV, but someone must.

 

EDIT - If you think Jesse Jackson is racist, then you should pick up one of those muslim newspapers that the guys in bow-ties sell. Everything is the fault of the White man in that.

[Guest Vern Gagne]

BET should get the rights to Good Times and Sanford and Son. Those feature a black cast and are both funny shows. With great theme songs.

[Guest shlidgn90]

bet is an terrible station. the shows are filled with nothing but minstrels and fools. there are shows listed that feature such titles as how i'm livin and the way we do it. i don't blame white people or the producers of this crap. i blame black people who watch this stuff and accept it as normal. in the sixties, many americans(all colors), marched and were killed so that when their kids grew up. they would all be equal, not as superior/inferior races like shows and movies depicted. forty years later, bet is openly producing television shows that are doing the same thing we all fought against.

[Guest Ripper]

The thing is this...

 

If the white videos where actually paradigms for virtue, then you would have a point. But when the majority of videos shown, white, black or whatever, are shown in party type evironment type, why should those on BET be any different.

 

BET was a channel that HAD to come about. At one point, no, you couldn't find a black artist on MTV. If you talk to most blacks who grew up in the 80's and "I want my MTV era" they will know almost all of the 80's rock songs. Why?? Because that was all we could see. BET came along and was able to show black artist performing and black artist getting the center stage. MTV eventually started picking up on this and now they play a lot of black entertainers because it is in demand for more than black.

 

There is a "WET" as ant said. If you watch a majority of major networks, you would be hard pressed to find minorities represnted at all...There is a purpose for a BET.

 

The original post reminds me of how people want to be treated as equals but somehow want to be treated differently at the same time. You can have a show or movie where 1000 white people are killed, but if a black or homosexual character is killed, the writer must have some racist or homophobic agenda. BET features entertainment that EVER other channel offers only performed by black performers targeted for a black audience(and I don't believe there are any other channels that are targeted towards the black demographic).

 

And as wide a brush as you like to paint it, a majority of the videos on BET do NOT feature any of that you said. The heavyly rotated, party songs, of course, do, but a majority of the songs are not about guns, money, or scantilly clad women, and in saying that you are perpectuating a much bigger and incorrect stereotype about rap music and hip-hop in general. I question if you really even watch the channel or just peep in for a second.

There can be a million positive videos, and one Nelly video, guess which one will be attributed to hip-hop.

 

BET might not be necessary any more(MTV has jumped on the bandwagon and given MTV jams and music blocks for hip-hop and R&B music) but to do away with it would be doing away with a pioneer in black entertainment. Far to many stars would never have seen the light of day if not for Donnie Simpson and Sherrie Carter shilling for them. Alot of great hip-hop stars whould still be underground if not for the Mayor Chris Thomas, and Prince De' Jour not being there. Alot of important topics wouldn't have been disgusted from a black point of view without Tavis Smiley(and fuck everyone at BET and Viacom that had part in him being fired.) Whether you like it or not, it has been a staple in black music and has carved a niche in history for Black Entertainers.

 

ANd that whole minstril show crap. More bullshit perpectuated by that talentless, hasn't done a decent movie in a decade, midget of a angry man that is Spike Lee. Any time a black person does something remotly sucessful, he says they are apart of a new minstil show and they are dancing around for the white man. He does Kings of Comedy and it is a strong representaton of the black man. He is still holding on to that ""I don't get a Oscar because I am black" besides looking at those 2 hours of shit on film he keeps producing. "X" is the only Oscar caliber movie he has ever done, yet he thinks he would have had 3-4 if he weren't black. Yet he cast Ray fucking Allen as the lead in one of his movies. Whatever. He is still holding a grudge that Driving Miss Daisy won a Oscar of Do the RIght thing....guess what DRIVING MISS DAISY WAS A BETTER FUCKING MOVIE. It might have depicted a time that alot of people don't want to think about, but it was a better film...get over it.

[Guest Ripper]

And dude, aren't you the guy that has the "Bitches ain't shit" thread in General Chat folder and written some of the mysoginistic rants that I have ever read?

[Guest RetroRob215]

MTV plays moer shows than videos. MTV2 is non-stop rap. And I think MTV has a 10 Rap thing after TRL. At least they used too...

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

BET seems like a minor league tv station in my opinion. If you watch BET, you are subjected to a myriad of mistakes that just don't happen on other stations. Sometimes the volume is too high or low, there will be a lot of times where the wrong name is shown during a video, there will be dead air for stretches of time and other things such as that. While I realize that it is called Black ENTERTAINMENT Television, it is always going to have the stigma of being just a black television station. People often see Black Television and disregard the entertainment part, which makes the station subject to comparisons with many other stations that it shouldn't have to be compared to. It's in this respect that I have trouble seeing where the problem lies with BET showing music videos all day. Granted, black people can be entertained by more than music videos, but I don't see what the problem is with an entertainment station showing music videos. Furthermore, the thought of people judging a race of people from what they see on tv is a laughable one. Anyone who judges a group of people based on what they see on television is a clod. I would be led to believe that black people can't embrace an idea unless it is set to music if I watched the commercials on tv. I don't even know what I would think about white people if I chose to use Jackass as a standard bearer.

 

You also have to take into consideration the budget that BET has. There could be a reason why shows that were cancelled over a decade ago are shown in Primetime. It seems like BET is trying to use a small amount of resources in my opinion, or perhaps the lack of "big time" programming can be attributed to an unwillingness of people to have the stigma that goes with BET attached to them. Perhaps there are people who perceive BET as a station where non-black viewers are prohibited. I also don't see how someone could try to take BET to task for showing infomercials at 4 o'clock in the morning. Who the hell is trying to win the 4 am ratings war?

 

Sometimes it seems like BET is trying to make strides, and the station has seemingly come a long way.

[Guest Vyce]

After "Uncut" goes off, there are the hours of mindless infomercials that promote everything from Ron Popeil's newest invention (does this man ever quit?) to the newest cleaning phenomenon that is guaranteed to clean anything.

 

I would like to defend my man, Ron Popeil. His rotisserie is fabulous. I can cook me a piece of steak AND steam some vegetables at the same time. Genius!

 

Seriously, though, would any of you watch the WET channel? I figure it'd be terribly dull.

 

Besides, isn't TNN sort of the WET channel anyway? Star Trek reruns, Dukes of Hazzard, etc.

 

And anyone who thinks Jesse Jackson isn't racist is conveniently forgetting all of his "Hymie town" references.

[Guest Ravenbomb]

I miss MTVX...

I don't care about BET, but I am pretty upset that there are 3 channels for women, and all there is for guys is that crappy show on Comedy Central...

[Guest pinnacleofallthingsmanly]

I don't think anyone is conveniently forgetting anything.