“Most notably, while giving much attention to critics of hip-hop videos, Wiltz never mentioned that videos now constitute only about 20 percent of the network’s programming, down from nearly 70 percent just three years ago. Nor does she mention that BET has won seven awards for its news programs in the past year; that BET won the NAACP Image Award for its annual “Celebration of Gospel” (the highest-rated religious program in television the past two years); that BET Networks received an Emmy Award for its long-standing “Rap-It-Up” campaign, which promotes HIV-AIDS awareness; or that the annual BET Awards show has been the No. 1 show in African American households for several years.” (Debra Lee, chairman and chief executive of BET Networks in her response to a Washington Post article criticizing BET)
The BET debate has come up on this site plenty of times in the past. What really gets me about the crowd that is behind protesting anything BET is that they fail to acknowledge the fact that Lee has raised in her comment. And that is music videos (in general) only make up 20 percent of their programing. Out of that 20 percent is a smaller percentage of videos that are apparently offensive to some people out there. Making a sweeping judgment on such a small percentage of programing IMO is plain ridiculous. Don’t like it? Don’t watch it.
In the meantime, the anti-BET coalition seem to not be just as moved to protest other venues where–particularly Black women–are made to look foolish. For example, morning radio shows are known for their zainy, ridiculous and over the line comedy that often comes at the expense of someone making a total fool of themselves for money or a pair of tickets. I remember some years ago radio station Power 99 in Philly having a contest where women competed for some prize by calling the show and performing an orgasam. There there are the endless “Yo’ Mamma” joke contests. Here is another contest I just happened to come across today.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USy67KBaYgU&hl=en]
As I have said many of times before, the unfortunate thing is that there is an audience out there for this kind of entertainment. What may be “foolishness” to you is entertainment for someone else. Don’t like it? Protest THEM first and see just how far you will get.
Sphere: Related Content
Misguided anger
by Duane on May 12th, 2008 at 11:54 amThe BET debate has come up on this site plenty of times in the past. What really gets me about the crowd that is behind protesting anything BET is that they fail to acknowledge the fact that Lee has raised in her comment. And that is music videos (in general) only make up 20 percent of their programing. Out of that 20 percent is a smaller percentage of videos that are apparently offensive to some people out there. Making a sweeping judgment on such a small percentage of programing IMO is plain ridiculous. Don’t like it? Don’t watch it.
In the meantime, the anti-BET coalition seem to not be just as moved to protest other venues where–particularly Black women–are made to look foolish. For example, morning radio shows are known for their zainy, ridiculous and over the line comedy that often comes at the expense of someone making a total fool of themselves for money or a pair of tickets. I remember some years ago radio station Power 99 in Philly having a contest where women competed for some prize by calling the show and performing an orgasam. There there are the endless “Yo’ Mamma” joke contests. Here is another contest I just happened to come across today.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USy67KBaYgU&hl=en]
As I have said many of times before, the unfortunate thing is that there is an audience out there for this kind of entertainment. What may be “foolishness” to you is entertainment for someone else. Don’t like it? Protest THEM first and see just how far you will get.
Sphere: Related Content