Black
Entertainment Television lacks variety,
style
Starr T. Balmer
Shows like “Comic View,” “106th and Park,” “Rap
City” — these are some shows attracting teenagers and students to
Black Entertainment Television (BET). These programs show the most popular videos,
with “Comic View” making audiences laugh with comedians.
But BET has one major problem: no variety. The same videos are shown, the same
types of movies are played and the same comedians make the same jokes. BET shows
mainly music and comedy programs. It continues the stereotypes that African-Americans
are just funny, rhythmic human beings and are not taken seriously.
BET probably tries to attract young audiences by displaying videos and reality
shows, but this only teaches them that that is what African-Americans do and
how African-Americans act.
Some shows on BET present African-Americans positively. Gospel music programs
such as “Lift Every Voice” and “Bobby Jones Gospel” are
two examples.
Not all, but many videos on “Rap City,” “106th and Park” and
other programs continuously show African-American females only as video vixens
and African-American males as thugs and womanizers.
On the other hand, TV One, Lifestyle and Entertainment Television, is a much
better network that has something BET does not: variety.
TV One is a television network geared toward African-Americans that does not
just show videos or reality shows but programs like “Living With Soul” and “Divine
Restoration,” which both show African-Americans talented in all ways, not
just music and comedy.
“
Living With Soul” highlights African-American interior designers and
their work. “Divine Restoration” renovates African-
American churches in need of repair. Classic shows like “Good Times,” “227” and “Amen” are
also shown on TV One.
BET needs more variety.
Many of the images may persuade viewers, teenagers in particular, to believe
many of those shows define blackness. Many of the shows and programs on BET fit
the stereotypes presented. Because of this, BET needs a better variety of shows
and programs to help eradicate those stereotypes about African-Americans.
Starr T. Balmer is a senior journalism major and the city editor of the Daily
Forty-Niner.
|
