Gato_Solo
Out-freaking-standing OTC member
BET, and why it's most definitely not racist.
1. During the 1940's, 50's, 60's, and early 1970's, black people who wanted to be on television were placed into the role of servant, criminal, or common street-person, or pimp if they were cast at all.
2. The three big networks had no shows vis-a-vis black, middle-class families, and shows like Good Times were held up as the way black people lived in the US...even though most black people don't live in tenements.
3. During the late 1970's, the 1980's, and the 1990's, shows about black families were few and far between, and lasted only until the ratings for the network rose, then were cancelled. The only show which actually broke this tradition was The Cosby Show.
4. Also during the 1980's, a black-owned network was started called BET. The history of BET is rather short, but it goes something like this...Why aren't there any good, positive shows about black people in America? Why are the big networks casting black people in a negative light in most dramas? So they went out, found positive shows that were summarily cancelled, and placed them back on the air.
How come, now, this one, small network is being lambasted by some white Americans as racist? Most that complain probably haven't even watched it. You don't hear them complain about Univision, the Spanish-language network, nor do you hear them complain about the total lack of shows surrounding non-whites on every other network. How long was Friends on the air? How many people of color were on that show (I think it was 4)? How long was Sex in the City on the air? Only one black was aired, and he only lasted 3 episodes.
1. During the 1940's, 50's, 60's, and early 1970's, black people who wanted to be on television were placed into the role of servant, criminal, or common street-person, or pimp if they were cast at all.
2. The three big networks had no shows vis-a-vis black, middle-class families, and shows like Good Times were held up as the way black people lived in the US...even though most black people don't live in tenements.
3. During the late 1970's, the 1980's, and the 1990's, shows about black families were few and far between, and lasted only until the ratings for the network rose, then were cancelled. The only show which actually broke this tradition was The Cosby Show.
4. Also during the 1980's, a black-owned network was started called BET. The history of BET is rather short, but it goes something like this...Why aren't there any good, positive shows about black people in America? Why are the big networks casting black people in a negative light in most dramas? So they went out, found positive shows that were summarily cancelled, and placed them back on the air.
How come, now, this one, small network is being lambasted by some white Americans as racist? Most that complain probably haven't even watched it. You don't hear them complain about Univision, the Spanish-language network, nor do you hear them complain about the total lack of shows surrounding non-whites on every other network. How long was Friends on the air? How many people of color were on that show (I think it was 4)? How long was Sex in the City on the air? Only one black was aired, and he only lasted 3 episodes.
