Feature

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BET, Why Do You Hate Us?

Monday Jul 6, 2009 – By Zettler Clay

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Dear Debra Lee,

I’m Janita Patrick, a 15-year-old African-American female from Cincinnati. Recently, I watched the 2009 BET Awards and felt the strongest urge to reach out to the program. My family is of the typical middle-class variety; both parents and four brothers. See, I’m a junior in high school (got skipped), so naturally EVERYBODY in my age group watches BET. I’m used to seeing the sagging pants, tattoos, lack of emphasis on reading and respecting women that makes up your videos. People in my class live this out everyday, while teachers tell us that we’re acting just like the people in your shows.

In your shows. That struck me as odd, because I would think that with your show being the primary outlet for black entertainers and musicians, and considering the context of blacks in this country, there’s a social responsibility factor to consider. I would never blame BET alone for the way a great deal of my classmates act and talk and dress. Everybody makes their own choices. However, if anybody is aware of the power of television on impressionable minds, it’s the people running the television operations. If you are not aware, then perhaps you shouldn’t be running the operations.

Guess who watches your network the most? Not those who are intelligent enough to discern foolishness from substance, but those who are barely teenagers, impressionable and believing. It’s awfully cruel to plant seeds of ignorance in fertile minds. You know it’s really bad when the co-founder of BET, Sheila Johnson, said that she “really doesn’t watch it” anymore.

I am constantly fighting against the images and messages put forth on your program. What made you think that it’s okay to bring my classmates on stage to dance behind Lil Wayne and Drake to a song talking about boffing “every girl in the world”? Why does reality train wrecks have to be thrown in our faces? Are you aware of the achievement gap going in inner-city African-American communities? A report from America’s Promise Alliance, a non-profit group started by Colin Powell, recently stated that 47 percent of high school students in the nation’s top 50 cities don’t graduate. This isn’t because of BET per se, but I don’t see any episodes on your show doing anything to counteract this disturbing trend. In fact, your show is a part of this cycle of media depicting us at our worst.

My older brother told me something about profit being the number one goal for every business. I’m not sure I understand what that means, but I do know that your shows have to be entertaining enough to generate viewers, which is how you make your money. But surely our culture is rich enough to entertain without anything extra to “boost” ratings; why the over-the-top foolery? I listen to classmates talk about Baldwin Hills like it’s the Manhattan Project. It doesn’t take much effort to produce a throng of degenerative reality shows, nor does it take much to eliminate socially conscious shows off the air. MTV isn’t much better, but since when does two wrongs ever make a right? It’s one thing for white television shows to depict us in a particular way, but for black television shows to do it is just baffling.

Why do you hate us?

All of the values that my parents seek to instill in me and my brothers seems to be contradicted by a more powerful force from the media, and your show is at the forefront. Your network is the only network that features rap videos and shows exclusively to children of my color. I know that you have no control over the music that the artists put out, but you do have influence as to how you air these videos. I’m sure if a stand was taken to use the talent in your organization to actually crank out thought-provoking entertaining shows and videos, then artists will follow suit. Being that they need you as much as you need them.

There was one awkward segment in the BET Awards when Jamie Foxx singled out three black doctors-turned-authors, but the introduction was so powerless that many of the viewers had no idea who they were. Had they been introduced as Sampson Davis, Rameck Hunt and George Jenkins, three brothers who overcame major obstacles to become a success without the use of lyrics that berate women, the sell of substance that destroy communities or through raps about loose gunplay, then maybe my classmates would have come to school talking about more than Beyonce, T-Pain’s BIG ASS CHAIN and Soulja Boy Tell Em’s hopping out the bed.

But they weren’t introduced like that. It seemed like a throwaway obligatory tribute to appease some irritated fans. It missed the mark. Big time. Ask Michelle Obama if she watches BET or encourages Sasha and Malia to do so. Ask President Obama. It’s a reason he is the leader of the free world, and it isn’t because of Buffoonery Exists Today.

You’d be surprised how smart young black children can be with the absence of Blacks Embarrassing Themselves. If your goal is to deter engaged, forward-thinking articulate black minds, then consider your goal fulfilled. It’s hard-pressed to think that your shows are working to promote cultural betterment. However, it’s quite easy to conclude that the destruction of black children through the glorification of immoral behavior and rushed production is by design. Poison is being swallowed by every viewer who adores your network, and the worse thing is, these viewers – my classmates – are not even aware what they’re swallowing.

There is nothing edifying for black women on your show. I don’t judge people who do throng to your programs though; I mean, if a jet crashes in right in front of me, I’ll watch it too. That’s why I don’t flip by your channel…I don’t even want to be sucked in.

I have aspirations of acquiring a law degree and possibly entering the public sphere, so I can counteract conditions in my community perpetuated by the images on your channel. So I should thank you, because in a weird sense, your shoddy programming is the wind behind my back. And it is my hope that I can accomplish my dreams despite BET’s pictorial messages, because Lord knows it won’t be because of them.

Sincerely,
Janita Patrick

Deb says:

July 12, 2009 at 9:57 pm

I’m so tired of people WHINING about BET. Supposedly nobody watches, but everyone has something to say. If you were taking care of business and being postive role models for your children and the children in your community, you wouldn’t have time to sit up and worry about TV. I enjoy the awards show every year. I am an educated woman, and if your mind is truly free, then things on TV just don’t bother you that much.

↑ Reply

Stephanie says:

July 13, 2009 at 5:21 pm

I really enjoyed this article and totally agree. I myself haven’t watched BET in a long time and I personally miss the good old days of BET because the programming was very diverse and good in my opinion. I understand that companies like BET,MTV, etc want to give people what they want,but it boils down to having a variety. I want to see something besides booty shaking. I know that we can be better.

Nicky says:

July 13, 2009 at 8:18 pm

I began watching BET again when “Harlem Heights” debuted, but thats the only show I tune in to. Shows like “College Hill” I thought was to show a example but its foolishness. Not a good example of what Black Entertainment Television should be.

Lady Jay says:

July 13, 2009 at 10:23 pm

Bravo!!! This is a perfect article and I enjoyed reading it so much that I am going share throughout my network (and I am fully aware that the character is fictional)! I have put BET behind me as I see it as a contributor to the degradation of our culture and generation. At times I felt as I was alone in the fight against ignorance and as someone else stated “Buffoonery”. I won’t just label BET because there are many shows on different channels I won’t watch because of the poison that is being peddled under the guise of entertaining television. Everyday I’m educating on the importance of taking pride in our culture and ourselves. It can be a challenge to shape young minds when you’re competing with the projected images from television shows that claim to be entertainment for “us”.

Melissa says:

July 14, 2009 at 9:32 am

I dont watch BET. And I agree that the BET awards was ridiculous and LIL WAYNE’S set was horrible and they just didnt give a you know what that it was live TV and they were cursing and acting like idiots. However, NOTHING should be blamed on BET or any media outlet. TV does not cause children to have these reality issues. Parents must step up and take control of their households. TV and media are not babysitters. BET holds no responsibility on what they air on TV as a reflection of black folks. As MTV holds no responsiblity on what it airs when it caters to white folks. The issue is our children need guidance from us. I loved your piece “Janita”. And I am glad you realize stupidity when you see it. But we need to educate our children and that starts at home and it must be reinforced.

randal grass says:

July 14, 2009 at 1:43 pm

I was really excited to see this letter but disappointed to know it was a
fictionalized creation…it makes a good point in any case but I’m sure there
are some African-American teenagers who could and would write such a letter…
would love to hear from them…
My antidote to the BET syndrome is in the form of a book I wrote that
has just been published: Great Spirits: Portraits Of Life-Changing World Music Artists, which profiles “life-changing” great spirits such as Nina Simone, Bob Marley, Fela Aniklulapo-Kuti, Sun Ra, The Neville Brothers etc,
all but one part of the pan-African diaspora. Celebrating them–their depth,
their charisma, their cultural contribution–is my contribution…I think we
need to keep talking about artists such as these, playing their music, looking
at their lives, because they are inspirational.

LCS Design says:

July 15, 2009 at 6:12 pm

The funny thing is that the whole BET argument is really a dead scapegoat with no legs. The only shows that come on outside of old movies + sitcoms is 106 & Park… College Hill, Tiny & Toya, and… that’s about it. So you mean to tell me like 2 or 3 shows have total influence on kid’s lives? Come on, lets be serious. You have to change society as a whole before you can complain about t.v.

Really says:

July 15, 2009 at 6:30 pm

I say stop supporting that BS degrading music all together.
They only do it because it sells
Most of the ppl on here probably like wayne
Step ya ears up seriously
Thats not music nor is anything like that music
They only get away with it because we allow it
And BET dropped the ball a long time ago
So im not disappointed
I dont ever think there will be better representation of blacks on tv
If bet set guidelines for the videos they air everything would change
They have the power to change things

Salima C says:

July 16, 2009 at 8:15 am

WOW! I laughed histerically at “bafoonery” Love that word! This was a great and extremely well written letter. I agree wholeheartedly. I think BET should be taken off the air or given a different name. Its an all too sad case,but I am glad you wrote this. You are a representation of the blacks that I know. I wish we could watch you on tv instead!

B. Ashley says:

July 19, 2009 at 4:13 pm

Wow…I love this! Please tell me this really has been faxed, emailed, federal expressed, or something to BET. I was soooo disgusted and dissappointed (yeh, I actually had high hopes for the awards this year) by BET when they aired that mess. Now they have the hot messes, Tiny and Toya in addition to all the tom-foolery. A mess! BET is officially dead to me.

MissAttitude says:

July 21, 2009 at 6:52 pm

I totally agreed with this article. As an actual teenager, I must admit, that I enjoy watching 106 & Park, but that’s the only BET show I watch. I love hip-hop music. I don’t like the disrespect of women in music ad lyrics, but often I deal because the song is considered ‘in’ or I just really like the beat, how it’s danceable.Though sometimes they have good dance moves. I’m wondering why can’t BET create tv shows (NOT REALITY tv shows) that feature strong, positive, african american teens. Or even adults. Harlem Heights was pretty good and Baldwin Hills gives me a different and intersting persepective on some parts. But Keisha cole’s show? Tiny & Toya? (I do love T.I. though!_ What kind of TV is this? At least, BET sometimes shows really good movies. Or at least movies with AA main characters that I might have never seen otherwise (like Sparkle). Thanks for this article Clutch!

Toojoi says:

July 22, 2009 at 11:33 am

They don’t hate you, baby.

Please keep in mind, while BET programming may be black-oriented, it is not black owned or controlled. VIACOM is now the man and BET is simply a business. And VIACOM runs it like a business by supplying what sells. VIACOM didnt create the monster. They just allow it to reproduce and the viewer gives it nourishment by watching.

WE need to do is start using some common sense by recognizing how we are being exploited and manipulated. Parents need to talk to their kids and the rest of us need to mentor. If our young people arent given alternatives to the behavior seen on BET, what can you expect? A miracle?

Ataria Founder of LuvU2Life says:

July 28, 2009 at 2:18 pm

This hits home like a rushing flood. How is it that so many of our young African-American teenagers fall into considering themselves victims? They aren’t the victims? They are the followers of what is being displayed out here in the media and on television. Video Vixens and thongs, breasts out, hip twisting, booty shaking, voodoo that is displayed on television to hypnotize our children’s minds. This has them thinking this is what it is all about. You feed your minds with all that you see on television your body begins to crave what is there. The endorphins are a key player is all that the mind takes in to have your body crave. PARENTS where are we? Yes I said we, what are telling our children? Its okay to be a video vixen, dress like a tramp but in the next breath say, “No Means No!” Hell it is what it is. Black parents we aren’t doing our jobs. We are too busy fighting with each other divorcing one another instead finding out what our children are up to. I bet you won’t ask your child what all have they experimented with and get an honest answer. Some have tried sex, with the opposite, and hell some of them the same sex. Some of them have tried drugs, and stayed up late on the computer porn sites. Hell lets be real the parents are on it too. Drugs, what parent will confess to smoking with their kids? Not many I know but I have seen it. My children don’t understand why playing outside just isn’t safe. It wasn’t safe when I was coming up, so because I want to protect my children, (of course they don’t understand) there is little time to play and more time to read. There is not enough emphasis on education in our generation of kids. Those parents in your 20’s and 30’s you better wake up and realize, you raise a sorry child, when you get old and can’t take of your self, if you didn’t raise that child in the way that they should go. They will depart from your teachings and you will be on your own. We can’t stop everything that happens out there in the media stream and on the streets, but we can help be apart of the solution. It doesn’t take much to embrace a child and give them more productive activities. I have a non-profit here in Houston Texas call LuvU2Life. This is my way of giving back to at risk preteen and teenage girls. Give them a feel of what self-respect is all about wrapped up in their own package that only they have the key to. WAKE UP BLACK PEOPLE! We are raising a sorry generation of kids, because we are allowing them to raise themselves.

Ataria Malveaux –Found and CEO of LuvU2Life

Aisha says:

July 29, 2009 at 2:34 pm

We complain about the lack of quality shows. However when they bring new shows we don’t support them (ex. The Truth with Jeff Johnson). If they are taken off, we don’t scream. As long as the nonchalant mentality exists they will continue to air garbage.

Taleytha says:

July 29, 2009 at 10:30 pm

I definitely agree with what this young lady has to say.
I personally feel as if BET is now a waste of air time because of all the foolishness that is aired on the network. BET please do better. You will gain more viewers.

A.E. says:

August 7, 2009 at 4:45 pm

thank you for the article. FYI….people are copying and passing the article along as if Janita is a real person and they are not giving the author her credit……..

Kitty says:

August 7, 2009 at 11:46 pm

I’m glad to hear this. I’m a dark-skinned Puerto Rican, and I embrace a lot of my African ancestry. I’ve always felt so disappointed by BET and just Black entertainment in general because of so much stereotyping. I mean, we can laugh at ourselves, but it gets ridiculous! I miss when they would actually show films that were a better viewpoint of our race. There really needs to be more of an emphasis on progress and intelligence. Rising above the stereotype. Not only for African Americans, but for Latinos, Asians, Caucasians, EVERYONE!

ChocolateDiva says:

August 8, 2009 at 12:38 am

BET is no longer Black owned and in my opinion the reason behind the terrible programming. When Viacom bought BET the Nightly News was one of the first shows cancelled. Since it has spiraled downward, fast. One way to keep a group of people down is to keep them uneducated. A second method to keep a group of people down is to promulgate negative stereotypes about them. BET under Viacom ownership successfully does both. Some Blacks internalize the images and feel they must live up to them. On the other hand, other ethnicities watch the programming and assume the programming is an accurate depiction of Black life. I think it is intentional misinformation and misrepresentation by Viacom.

jamiir ali says:

August 9, 2009 at 3:44 am

i am relieved that the babies are more aware than some of our adults who have the”why judge” attitude about another black network that embarrases its own.but then again those adults are the 25 and up year olds who still want to be teenagers by thinking its cool to have the bling and hip hop culture instead of the grown and responsible culture that guides the youth.i watch a lot of different networks be they in english or not and i have yet to see asian or even african networks broadcast the junk that bet does.theres a reason why their shows have a more educational rather than exploitational tone in their programing. for those of you who are my age remember abc broadcasting school house rock?cbs with 60 seconds? these were educational breaks between cartoon shows to stimulate a childs mind on a saturday.what does bet show between commercial breaks of the boondocks? the new little wayne or young jock advertising their new cd with all the associated garbage.black radio and t.v needs to step up its programing instead of trying to keep up with street culture and its norms that used to be considered abnormal not so long ago.

Jaz says:

August 10, 2009 at 6:48 pm

I totally agree….i’m 18 years old and i’ve stopped watching BET it’s not the same anymore/fun…..since the new owners this network has not portrayed US as they should….

aSunkee says:

August 18, 2009 at 6:56 pm

Reading this was like reading my own thoughts, my own words. In the sense that I, not only agree, but empathize with all “Janita” has said.

I too got sucked in by BET when I first arrived in this country. In my attempts to assimilate, I watched the shows that seemed to be the topic of all entertainment-based conversations in my middle school. It wasn’t until I was accepted to an acclaimed high school, where blacks are a focused and ambitious minority, that I realized how poisonous and misleading most of the shows on the BET (or akin to them) were. Now a senior in high school, I no longer find those shows appealing, even if I forced myself to watch. I think that has done a lot of good for me. Now, I approach my peers with a more open and cultured mind. I can’t say I’m not influenced by what I watch on TV, but I can say that when watching TV, I always have my opinions, dignity and intelligence standing guard.

Markeysha Evans says:

August 19, 2009 at 11:44 am

very insightfull article!

robin says:

September 1, 2009 at 5:56 pm

fictional character or not she has spoken the GODS honest truth. i remember a time when BET was about pride in being black and the tv shows were tasteful, now i won’t watch and i refuse to allow my 12 yr old to watch. the young people of today have enough to worry about without adding the horrific and degrading messages BET sends. i want my daughter and my grandchildren to grow up with respect and dignity for themselves and thats just not possible watching BET. ITS NOT BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISIN ANYMORE; IT SHOULD BE CALLED THE DESTRUCTION OF BLACK PRIDE, AND SELF RESPECT.. IT REALLY TELLS QUITE A STORY WHEN THE OWNERS WONT WATCH WHAT THEY CREATE OR PRODUCE..

Amelia says:

September 4, 2009 at 8:06 pm

This article is wonderful but I think that you neglected one major factor in the TV issue: parents. Why aren’t parents turning this junk off? I think the major teen networks across the board are full of junk. Women are seen as sex objects, parents as stupid idiots, kids as people who deserve their every desire, etc. If that wasn’t all perhaps we all could just choose to watch the few “decent” programs but then we have to deal with the issues of commercials. Horror films, singles hotlines, trashy clothes, and consumerism are aired every 5 minutes! I’m really enjoying the articles on this site (though I’m white the content has really been helpful). :)

Pierre says:

September 14, 2009 at 11:31 am

Very good article. I used to enjoy BET’s current affairs programs but I gather they did not get adequate viewer support.

Shahid Raki says:

September 17, 2009 at 12:44 pm

I very much admire what this young lady had to say. There are times when our young people make the best of sense and we sometimes ignore them. I hope we don’t do that in this instance. She mentioned that she has 4 brothers. I hope that each one of them can be as observant as she is. It is our young black males who she is having to fight against in this world of broadcasting negative images about our women, young and old. Somewhere they have to be shown that saying what they say about black women is a slap against their mothers, grandmothers, sisters, and other significant black females. We need to hear worthwhile things from them, not the knucklehead things that many of them say. I would also like to see them stop wearing their pants sagging and get out of the street when they are walking. Many of them are wearing black and other dark clothing and cannot be seen very well at night and there has to be many who have either been hit or nearly hit because of their decision to walk in the street with their dark clothing on. The ones who happen to have on shoes or other clothing that has reflective marking on them have some possibility of being safe without knowing it. All of them need to be smart and safe. They are our future. Wake up people before we’re all through (so says the Last Poets).

lilkutna says:

October 22, 2009 at 10:09 am

WELL SAID! I think The Boondocks is right in that BET wants to hurt us.
It isnt entertaining.
The only thing I watch on BET is reruns of The Game.

Mari says:

October 28, 2009 at 12:24 am

@Boogie I was JUST thinking about Teen Summit the other day! I so wish BET would bring something like that to the table, but unfortunately capitalism took over and they sold the network to coons and others who apparently could give an eff. Very sad and disheartening.

Sarah B says:

October 30, 2009 at 10:53 am

Ok now we have said that what was written is right. What are we going to do about. See I have written petitions and articles and since I seem to be a lonely voice I can be dismissed. Check me out on Twitter (Shalaseia) see what I say and let’s get together and dismiss the “Crappers”(they “Crap” Sh*T) and bring the real R&B singers and I am not talking about R.Kelly. I am talking about the true DIVAS who hold themselves up with Class and Distinction. Not Beyonce’s strippign behind spreading her legs wide enough to see her tonsils. Li’L Wayne and all the others need to be stopped big time. I love true hones Hip-Hop not this “Crap” that is out now. I am not into Censorship but I am about respsonsibility and you cannot yell fire in a building and not be held liable. Music videos from these “Crappers” look like soft core porn. We have to raise up in a voice and say no. Tell them we cannot be bought with a few dollars here and there. Tell them we want more than just ratings on the cds the music videos need them as well. Tell them we are not taking it anymore….Thank You…..

steve jackson says:

November 6, 2009 at 7:17 pm

People…..it’s 2009…we have a black President…..minorities succeed in every facet of our culture (with hard work and persistence)………why do we need a Black Entertainment Television network???? It serves no purpose other then perpetuating stereotype images and glorification of thug behavior. Please elevate your self and your children to a higher level.