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Sabiana
Regular Poster
Username: Sabiana
Post Number: 152
Registered: 08-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 13, 2007 - 12:37 pm: | 
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Hot Ghetto Mess a hot-button issue
New BET program is demeaning, argue some critics
By ANDREW GUY JR.
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle
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What, exactly, is ghetto?
An Austin woman, fed up with negative media images of African-Americans and women, doesn't want to know. Gina McCauley has launched a campaign against an upcoming show on Black Entertainment Television that she feels degrades and demeans.
She's had some success: Earlier this week, State Farm Insurance pulled its sponsorship from Hot Ghetto Mess, pleasing McCauley, a 31-year-old African-American. And Home Depot, saying it had never agreed to sponsor the show, asked for its ad to be removed from BET's Web page promoting the series.
"It's the concept of the show," McCauley said Wednesday. "You're basically holding people up to scorn them. It's a modern day freak show, and I have a problem with my insurance company paying for the show, or my soap company paying for the show or my cell phone company subsidizing the show. If I think it degrades African-American people and women, why should I buy the products of the companies that are helping subsidize the show?"
Officials at BET didn't immediately return phone calls to the Houston Chronicle Wednesday. But the Hollywood Reporter quoted BET entertainment president Reginald Hudlin as saying, "Is my goal to discuss these issues in a format and context that makes people who don't watch the channel comfortable or do it in a way that engages the 18- to-34-year-old viewer and makes them really think about these things?"
Hot Ghetto Mess, a six-episode series hosted by comedian Charlie Murphy, is set to premiere July 25 on BET.
Social behavior is a volatile subject in the black community. And the network often has been criticized by African-Americans who say it promotes racial stereotypes by airing racy videos and low-brow shows.
The new show is based on a Web site started two years ago by a Washington, D.C., lawyer. Ironically, Jam Donaldson began the site for the same reasons that McCauley began her protest: To prompt African-Americans to reject thug lifestyles and images.
"We got to do better" is McCauley's plea to fellow African-Americans.
Donaldson said she was flabbergasted when she heard advertisers retreated from the show, adding that "it's kind of sad, because people are missing the context of the show."
"They think it's going to be ... demeaning to all black people," Donaldson, 34, said. "That's not how it's going to be at all."
Donaldson said she started the Web site because she was tired of receiving forwarded e-mail that including photos of African-American women with outrageous hair, black men with gold teeth, barely dressed black children making gang signs. These are issues and behaviors that African-Americans laugh about in public, but scorn in private, Donaldson said.
"People talk about things in the barber shops and the beauty shops and with our friends," she added. "But I decided that I was just going to put it on out there. For too long, our images were controlled by other people and our destinies were controlled by other people."
State Farm spokesman Jeff McCollum confirmed that the insurance company asked BET that its ads not appear during Hot Ghetto Mess. He noted, however, that the company was merely shuffling its advertising presence and not pulling its sponsorship of other network shows.
"It certainly sounds like it's going to be graphic," McCollum said of the show. "It would portray values that don't align with the values that State Farm wants to support."
The company also asked that its online advertisement be removed from a BET.com page promoting the show.
In a statement released Wednesday, Atlanta-based Home Depot said, "A Home Depot banner was inadvertently placed by BET.com next to a promo for the BET program Hot Ghetto Mess on BET.com. Such placement of the Home Depot banner was never approved by Home Depot. ... The Home Depot is neither a sponsor nor has it committed advertising to this program."
The statement said the company does advertise on BET.com and "views the site as a very important and valued medium to reach our customers."
McCauley, who started her own Web site to advocate against negative media portrayals of women, said she isn't against the Hot Ghetto Mess Web site, adding that it "presents a nuanced argument that comes across well."
But the television show is another matter.
"At the end of the day, non-black people are going to see the show," McCauley said. "International people are going to see the show, and they're not going to get the joke. They're not going to have the context, and they're going to have one more reason to stereotype African-Americans."
Houstonian Bernadette Brown said she often receives e-mails from friends who tell her to go to hotghettomess.com.
Brown said some of the photos are so crazy that she's not sure what to think of the Web site.
"Well, it's certainly a hot mess," she said jokingly of the site. "I would hope that it's not a reflection of our culture. And if it is, well, that would be a mess."
________________________________________________________________
Raise your hand if you still watch B.E.T. (aka. Black Exploitation Television.)
How is this supposed to help black people if it reinforces stereotypes? |
Sabiana
Regular Poster
Username: Sabiana
Post Number: 153
Registered: 08-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 13, 2007 - 12:38 pm: |
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Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 4883
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 13, 2007 - 12:48 pm: |
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I avoid BET like the plague.
But I also avoid Jerry Springer, Cops, Cheaters, Maury Povich and several other programs that make people look like fools.
A friend of mine once said that people will do anything to be on television. Sad but true.
By starting the campaign she has guarenteed the show's ratings will be through the roof--and Murder Inc. records, Schlitz Malt Liquor, and other sponsors will be only to glad to step into the breach.
I probably would be happy if lower class Negroes wore dark suits and long dresses. I would also be happy if upper class Negroes weren't such toms.
I applaud this woman if she really hopes to set a good example to black people. If she is just embarassed by how her white friends laugh at these people at the water cooler she should stop hanging around these people (they ain't her friends) or take a camera through a trailer park sometime. |
Kola_boof
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 4667
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: 
Votes: 2 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 13, 2007 - 12:55 pm: |
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"They think it's going to be ... demeaning to all black people," Donaldson, 34, said. "That's not how it's going to be at all."
Oh, but it's oK to demean some black people
--those she perceives as 'ghetto' and
inferior to her.
Her middle class ni66erstock ass is
no better than anybody else!
That's like Manhattan whites saying let's
make a show to demean 'poor white trash'
--but NOTICE SOMETHING---
when white people make "GREEN ACRES" or
"BEVERLY HILLBILLIES"....they still portray
their 'poor white trash' as humanly and
loveable as possible.
Whites will not even degrade their poor
white trash.
Blacks need to get a BRAIN.
and understand the meaning of the
word 'strategy',
'cause we seriously lack BOTH.
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Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 9526
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 13, 2007 - 01:11 pm: |
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Kola,
I agree that there's a decided and detestably bit of CLASSISM in this issue that uppity Black foks would rather conveniently sidestep.
I have very SIMILAR feelings about much of the sentiment surrounding the recent nappyheaded ho flap, especially as manifested on Oprah's show featuring the panel of Black hiphop executives and performers (e.g., Russell Simmons, Common, etc.).
What I thought was most TELLING about that show was it did NOT include any empathy towards the women that Snoop, 50 Cents, etc. actually ARE referring to in their songs. You know, the poor, uneducated, sistas from duh hood, duh 'country' and the like who've actually had to deal with those fools.
For example, the young Spellman sistas who appeared on Oprah's show (via satillite) complained that they were bothered by being grouped in with those other kinds of women. That suggested to me that if they were NOT being conflated with those kinds of girls, they really wouldn't give a dayam about the sexist baffoonery that's being perpetrated in hiphop. |
Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 4887
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 13, 2007 - 01:22 pm: |
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For example, the young Spellman sistas who appeared on Oprah's show (via satillite) complained that they were bothered by being grouped in with those other kinds of women. That suggested to me that if they were NOT being conflated with those kinds of girls, they really wouldn't give a dayam about the sexist baffoonery that's being perpetrated in hiphop.
(Amen) |
Kola_boof
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Kola_boof
Post Number: 4670
Registered: 02-2005
Rating: 
Votes: 1 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 13, 2007 - 01:31 pm: |
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ABM,
You are so right, King. 
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Chrishayden
AALBC .com Platinum Poster
Username: Chrishayden
Post Number: 4889
Registered: 03-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 13, 2007 - 01:41 pm: |
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Yeah. It's pretty bad. But as long as they are showing real people and not having them trick themselves out in some costumes, what can you say?
There are lots of street vendors of clothes where I am. They got licenses, stands, etc.
The other day I went by one of them and asked about some jeans. They pointed me out to some wild orange, pink and green striped shit.
I told them I can't wear that shit.
But people put it on.
I have been black all my life and I am still stunned at some of the shit our folks put on. Man and when some sister with 300 pounds of butt puts on some tight shorts and one of them tops showing her belly you say--whaa?
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Mzuri
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Mzuri
Post Number: 5261
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 13, 2007 - 01:45 pm: |
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I'm divided on this issue. On the one hand I'm happy for the lady who owns the HGM website as I believe she got paid. I don't know her personally but I've communicated with her in the past and she really deserves a big payday - if that's what she got.
As to BET showing what a mess some in the Black community are, I don't really approve of this but it's hard to say since I haven't seen the show. Will I watch? Probably not. Will it be a success? Yes. People like to make fun of the disadvantaged.
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Serenasailor
Veteran Poster
Username: Serenasailor
Post Number: 1723
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 13, 2007 - 01:48 pm: |
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I avoid BET like the plague.
But I also avoid Jerry Springer, Cops, Cheaters, Maury Povich and several other programs that make people look like fools.
A friend of mine once said that people will do anything to be on television. Sad but true.
By starting the campaign she has guarenteed the show's ratings will be through the roof--and Murder Inc. records, Schlitz Malt Liquor, and other sponsors will be only to glad to step into the breach.
I probably would be happy if lower class Negroes wore dark suits and long dresses. I would also be happy if upper class Negroes weren't such toms.
I applaud this woman if she really hopes to set a good example to black people. If she is just embarassed by how her white friends laugh at these people at the water cooler she should stop hanging around these people (they ain't her friends) or take a camera through a trailer park sometime
Me too Chrishayden!!! I avoid those programs too!! |
Serenasailor
Veteran Poster
Username: Serenasailor
Post Number: 1724
Registered: 01-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 13, 2007 - 01:49 pm: |
|
Oh, but it's oK to demean some black people
--those she perceives as 'ghetto' and
inferior to her.
Her middle class ni66erstock ass is
no better than anybody else!
That's like Manhattan whites saying let's
make a show to demean 'poor white trash'
--but NOTICE SOMETHING---
when white people make "GREEN ACRES" or
"BEVERLY HILLBILLIES"....they still portray
their 'poor white trash' as humanly and
loveable as possible.
Whites will not even degrade their poor
white trash.
Blacks need to get a BRAIN.
and understand the meaning of the
word 'strategy',
'cause we seriously lack BOTH!!
SOUNDS FAMILIAR NTFS??? |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 9275
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 13, 2007 - 02:15 pm: |
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Black people always want to tell other black folks what to do. And implicit in this tendency is the idea of how what some blacks do will be perceived by white people. Just because white people are not appalled by black people, doesn't mean that they like them. So who cares? There's a whole culture of "Steppers" around Chicagoland, people who are very much into a style of dancing that's a cross between the bop and tap dancing, an activity that seems to draw an inordinate amount of fat people, buxom women with elaborate hairstyles, and ample cleavage and big behinds and large men who wear colorful suits; red, yellow, purple, royal blue, orange. These law-abiding people have contests and conventions and have formed organizations and couldn't care less what others think about their tawdriness. |
Misty
Veteran Poster
Username: Misty
Post Number: 1025
Registered: 02-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2007 - 06:47 pm: |
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"when white people make "GREEN ACRES" or
"BEVERLY HILLBILLIES"....they still portray
their 'poor white trash' as humanly and
loveable as possible.
Whites will not even degrade their poor
white trash."
so true |
Misty
Veteran Poster
Username: Misty
Post Number: 1026
Registered: 02-2006
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 14, 2007 - 07:01 pm: |
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For example, the young Spellman sistas who appeared on Oprah's show (via satillite) complained that they were bothered by being grouped in with those other kinds of women. That suggested to me that if they were NOT being conflated with those kinds of girls, they really wouldn't give a dayam about the sexist baffoonery that's being perpetrated in hiphop.
abm, do you think the it was more because the women they're talking about are from the ghetto or were the spellman women simply protesting being grouped in with women who display the types of actions that the rappers are talking about, (ex.,women who sleep around and golddig). |
Abm
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Abm
Post Number: 9534
Registered: 04-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2007 - 11:54 am: |
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Misty,
I suspect for some of the Spellman women it’s because the other women are from the ghetto. For some of the other Spellman women it’s because the other women are trampy.
But then, I suspect some of the Spellman women EQUATE the other sistas being from the ghetto WITH their being trampy. |
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