BET: Why do you HATE US?

Since Viacom bought BET from R. Johnson in 2000/01 it has steadily gone downhill...It now boast more reality shows just like MTV and VH1 and does not care what or who it advertizes!

The letter of a 15 yr old Intelligent, African American who denounces B.E.T

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 showsIn 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 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 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. (Fifty-four percent of males of color in Ingham County graduated from high school, compared to 74 percent of white males). 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 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

Remember This.....

"Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we have been waiting for. We are the change the we seek"
President Barack Obama

RANT: So in other news is it just me but I am really getting tired of hearing how BAD of a job President Obama is doing. Hello people, why are we {Americans} expecting that he will turn the world, economy, or social standards around in so little time..Please BACK UP and let the President Obama do his job!!!!! And for pete's sake RESPECT him by addressing him by his EARNED and GIVEN TITLE....HE IS PRESIDENT OBAMA not Mr. or Barack .....

Adios to the Viejos....My big chop

Sorry so late :(..So I'm a week into my big Chop and I must say that I am loving this new look, new attitude and FREEDOM from the bathroom. Short hair allows so much more TIME in my life for the more rewarding things like my GIRLS!!!! I used to spend about 3 to 4 hours to perm my hair, then because i had what everyone else labeled as "bad hair" after sitting with chemicals I STILL had to dry and Flat iron my hair..No wonder it looked the way it did IT really was DEAD.



My new style TWA allows for me to wash my hair in the mornings with Gardniers conditioner get out the shower, brush and add some Cholesterol and sheas butter, brush some more and go...the only thing I have to worry about now is which set of cute earings am I gonna wear..:)
Better and more pics soon..my camera is MIA..:)

HBCU-Love

Former Carroll High student to perform at Kennedy Center

Monique Williams, daughter of Mark & Arnetta Williams and a junior English major at Grambling State University, was chosen to represent Grambling to sing with the 2nd Annual 105 Voices of History Choir (the nation's first Historically Black Colleges and Universities National Concert Choir) at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts on August 30, 2009. Radio and talk show host Tom Joyner will serve as the host for the evening. The choir was a White House initiative designed to showcase the talents of African-American composers and the nation's HBCUs. It is comprised of 105 musically talented students representing the 105 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States. They will perform songs composed/arranged by Norfolk State Choir Director Dr. Carl Haywood, Undine Smith Moore, jazz legend Duke Ellington, classical composers W.A. Mozart, Joseph Haydn, John Rutter, and a host of others.
Williams is a 2007 graduate of Carroll High School where she was salutatorian & received several music awards, including superior ratings for solo/group performances in the Louisiana High School Music Rally. She attributes much of her musical success to God, her family, church family (Parkview Drive Church of Christ), Melinda Gorman (choir director at J.S. Clark Magnet Elementary School), the late Sally Phillips (choir director at Lee Jr. High), Roosevelt Pine (choir director at Carroll High School), and Marcus Rhodes & Edryn Coleman (former choir directors at Grambling State University).
To learn more about the choir visit the website at www.hbcuchoirs-105voh.org.

Hairfluence # 1

I had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Karen Hartfield, the summer of my junior year in high school, where we both participated in "High Ability" (Advance program where "high schoolers" are given the opportunity to experience college life). Even then she was very opinionated and self assured!
Today She is an awesome and thriving Entrepreneur and MOM!

Introducing K. Hartfield:


NM: Where are you from?
K: I'm from Lake Charles, LA







NM:Why did you make the decision to go natural and when did you do it?

K: I decided to go natural after Katrina, when I moved back home I became frustrated with hair stylists out here. Dedicating my Saturdays to the beauty shop, just got old afterwhile. My last perm was August of 2006. I transitioned until May 2007 when I did the "Big Chop"

NM: What Products or ingredients do you use?
K: I'm not product loyal @ the time, but i do love using Sunsilk's Captivating curls defrizz conditioner after washing with Do-Grow shampoo. as far as daily moisturizing i use Mizani's oil free moisturizer, Just for Me creme conditioner & hair dress, Smooth & Shine's curling mousse & styling gel.

NM: Could you describe your regime?K:I truly just go with what i feel is needed using the products above.

NM: What mistakes have you made in your Natural Journey that you have learned from? K: not combing through & getting trims when needed

NM: Where do you get style insppiration from?
K: my mood, it's like getting dressed for the day. i ask myself "what look am i in the mood for?"




NM: How does your hair work for your Career and life?
K: As a business owner of my own massage therapy practice it works well, even with it being Red! People love it & so do I. It always makes for a great conversation piece;-)




NM: Did it take long for your hair to grow out?
K: Not long @ all. that's kind of a hard question to answer, b/c it never stops growing. but to get to a length where i could truly feel my new look, about 2-3 months.




NM: What's the best thing about being Natural?
K: Not having to worry about the weather;-) And the Sense of freedom isn't to bad either. I like that it sets me apart.

Latest Pics: New Red Color

BARE with me

I am currently trying to revamp my blog so please take care when viewing...LOL

Hairfluence: Introduction

I am starting a new topic here where I will Profile some of the Natural ladies in my life and circle who have the most gorgueous heads of Hair....Each lady is picked not only for their natural hairstyle but also because they each have a banging attitude and personality to match!!!

STAY TUNED for Hairfluence!!!!

**********************Name changed due to other Blogg with same name as Title*******************