Jacqui's Vent on Why Television Should Be Shut Down

[jacqui]

Ok so I was home this weekend not feeling well and that in itself may have a little to do with this vent. I was bedridden for a couple of days with a 48 hour flu. lol. I spent the weekend watching television and reading. While watching television, my vent is this:
All of us as blacks need to remove ourselves from this idiot box. I watched for the first time. Flava Flav show, a new show coming on with this huge black man in this crazy submissive role to this smaller white boy. I watched and thought, "We ought to be ashamed of ourselves".
BET showing 25 most %$^$##% things blacks have done. I watched something that had the 25 most richest, powerful and respectful blacks in America. They were rated on a scale of 1-5 and while many blacks got a 4 and 5 with respect and money, no one got over a 3 in regards to power. We have really regressed to buffonory on television and appear to not be ashame of it. Now I am not unaware of who is behind of putting forth these negative, destructive and idiotic images of black folk.

I just don't know what to say about the images that go across the world of us. The mightiest group of people to ever exist and we are resorting to this. I understand racism white supremacy and how subtle and powerful it can be when it wants to be.
What really bothers me is this idiot box babysits a large majority of our children. A lot of our children are taught by BET, VH1, MTV and all the other 3 digit helpers in the destruction of our children.

I just have not sat down and watched television in a long time and was stunned at what I was seeing. I literally came undone and started crying. I am trying to do everything I can to help us as a race of people but this weekend, things look pretty bleak to me.

I thank The Most High for this website and the emails from you Baba, you have no idea the positive affect the emails you send have on me.

[The Dragon]

Just like you said ma, we need to turn off the "idiot" box or rather the
"one-eyed demon."

[terrence]

While there are many destructive shows on television I have to respectfully disagree that Television should be shut down all together, but I think that you are moving in the right direction. In my opinion it is never sensible to totally ban or censor speech.

Television is one of the communication outlets that can reach millions of people instantly. If we choose to monitor what we watch, and what our children watch than we can use it as an effective tool for communication and education. As a matter of fact this weekend I watched the Tavis Smiley special on TV One regarding his new book, "The Covenant with Black America". While I am aware of his book I did not know about this show so I was lucky to stumble upon it. I think that this shows is just one example of positive programming.

Yes, I agree that there is a lot of negative, stereotypical garbage out there that is actually anti-intellectual. In order to counteract this current state we need to demand the major networks pay attention to us and what we want to see in programming. We have a voice in this because I read somewhere that we as a people are the number one source of revenue for most companies that advertise on Television. We also need to support existing channels that direct programming towards us like TV One and The Black Family Channel. On the other hand we need to really voice our dislike when we see shows like the Flavor of Love which, is nothing but a modern minstrel show.

[robbboy2003]

Pray sista! Budget and more than that value your time. It seems you are doing that there is nothing wrong in wanting to see something or be about substance! If it offends turn it off! turn it off! :)

[DBlack]

i feel your sentiments jacqui, but shutting off television would have far more negative effects on the poor and underpriviledged than you realize.

Much like the internet, T.V. is a powerful and effective educational tool. It's also one of the best sources of real-time information.

Just configure your cable T.V. to block out those channels that you don't like and limit the amount of time your children can sit at the T.V. Parents have to be actively involved in a child's life if they want to control what they are exposed to.

[Corals]

Originally Posted by terrence

Yes, I agree that there is a lot of negative, stereotypical garbage out there that is actually anti-intellectual. In order to counteract this current state we need to demand the major networks pay attention to us and what we want to see in programming. We have a voice in this because I read somewhere that we as a people are the number one source of revenue for most companies that advertise on Television. We also need to support existing channels that direct programming towards us like TV One and The Black Family Channel. On the other hand we need to really voice our dislike when we see shows like the Flavor of Love which, is nothing but a modern minstrel show.

....but the networks are paying attention. If such shows that are 'negative, stereotypical garbage' are getting high ratings, then that in itself is telling the network that this is what viewers want. The question then arises, who are the viewers, and why are they giving their supports to such shows.

Personally, I hardly watch television, then, I'm very selective in what I watch. I mostly watch it for the football.
........
Good to know you are a bit better jacqui.

[jacqui]

I don't watch much television. I made that choice to not watch much television a long time ago. I do know that a lot of our children watch a lot of television. I think that is what saddened me more then anything, the fact that a lot of our children spend hours a day watching television. I personally don't see how it could affect them in a negative way if let's say it went out for 6 months. The reason I say that is the images on there are not positive nor balanced, nor does it help them socialized with each other in a positive way. So I can't see anything good coming out of our children watching so much television. I recall a study someone posted (I stand corrected if I am wrong) on this website about how many hours children and especially poor children spend watching television a day. If I recall it was almost 6 hours a day. How horrible and terrifying.

p.s. I don't have any children but I work with enough of them so see what that idiot box is doing to them.

[Sumyr]

Jacqui - I would like to co-sign on your post. I've have lost many a battles with friends trying to defend Flava of Love to me. I just don't get it. They say it is all entertainment. I agreed on that note. But I had one friend guy try to tell me that it is a tool to try to get noticed in the industry. I said what industry exactly?!?!?! He said you wouldn't go on the show just so you can "build your celebrity?" I said, hell no!

Mind you my friend is connected to the industry and he said that since Hoopz was on the show she has made it and has been in countless videos. I said there is where our perceptions of "making it" differ as I don't view "being in countless videos" as making it or coming up in the business. I would rather work my butt off and never be known to anyone than to go on a show like that and be known as one of Flava's love interests.

I try sooooo hard to support and watch black programming but BET has faltered in capturing the intelligent black audience for years now. If you aren't young and into Hip Hop and wear hip huggers hanging off your arse then I'm afraid you won't find much interest in BET programming - or unless you are into watching the same reruns for the one-zillioneth time. :)

[jacqui]

I too listen to quite a few of people supporting that show. I don't understand it at all.

Like Dr. Welsing says in her book The Isis Papers, entertainment is one of the areas of people activity and Racism White Supremacy is working it's tail off to destroy us as a people through this area.

I will always yell for balancement, I wouldn't have a problem with a Flava Flav Show if there was a totally opposite, positive and productive show that shows black men and women in a positive light to our children on also.
Ok who am I kidding, I would still have a problem with this minstrel show. lol

Just read this article and thought I would share. What do you guys think?


http://www.cnn.com/2006/EDUCATION/10....ap/index.html

[terrence]

Corals - I think that we both know who the majority is watching those shows. Through our numbers we need to hold the networks accountable for their decisions. We need to make sure they listen to us and know that certain shows will not be tolerated despite how many white people may want to see them.