NiqueSpeaks: Dear BET, We Have to do Better

So this past Tuesday, November 24, 2009, BET Premiered the first episode of its new webseries called “Buppies” (Black Yuppies) starring Tatyana Ali. I watched the six minute episode and I must say I was disgusted. I think it was the worst six minutes of my life! I know some of you are like “why did you watch the entire show then?” I was honestly praying that it would get better! I posted the video below so make sure you watch it before you read my commentary. I don’t want to “spoil” anything *rolls eyes*

Ok hopefully you watched it because I am going to tell you how I really feel. Ok so BET is supposed to be Black Entertainment Television, but as a black woman, I am not entertained. I was appalled and offended that the network that is supposed to represent me produced such a low budge, distasteful show about African-Americans in Hollywood. This show was full of so many stereotypes it wasn’t even funny.  So here are my reasons why I am infuriated with BET and if you work there please tell the execs they are doing a horrible job. I know BET is owned by a Viacom which is a white company, but are you that much of an “Uncle Tom” that you allow your own people to be viewed in such a stereotypical and negative light. It is 2009 and for a network that is supposed show the beauty, uniqueness, and diversity within MY culture, I am subjected to watch this crap?!?! I didn’t think it was possible to cover so many stereotypes in so little time, but BET proved me wrong.

1. Why is the corporate lawyer also a “rapper” I’m sorry but I never heard Johnny Cochran on a mixtape. Why would they down play such an honorable profession and make a black man want to pursue a “rap career”

2. Why did the darkest girl on the show have to be the most ignorant, uneducated, “bird” chick? Like seriously, how can you not know that Harry Belafonte is black. Why did she have to be a rap heiress and have a ghetto party with guys playing dice, smoking weed, getting drunk, and girls shaking their butts all over the place? Is that the only image we portray? Is that how you, BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION, view your target population/demographic? If so, where is W.E.B DuBois and Booker T. Washington when you need them!

3. So you had to throw “sports” in there because that is the only way we are going to get out of “the hood” right? We are not educated enough to pursue careers in fields of medicine, education, law enforcement, graphic design, architecture, or culinary arts right? We have to either play basketball, football, soccer or any other sport or sell drugs to get out huh? I will be honest this was subtle because instead of making this African-American male an athlete, you made him a sports agent. SMH

4. The lightest female in the group had to act stoosh huh? Because she is lighter she is better I suppose? She was the one who spoke proper English and everyone else who was darker wasn’t as proper as she.

This was a horrible rendition of Cluelessbecause that’s exactly what this show appeared to be, with the exception that they are all adults instead of high school students. Tatyana Ali, girl I loved you as Ashly on the Fresh Prince, but I guess because of this recession times are hard, but this is so beneath you! BET, please do better. You are one of our only outlets within media and so please represent us in a better light! This was just unacceptable. Maybe  you should change the name of the network from BET:Black Entertainment Television to Tom Foolery and Coonery Station, or WET: White Entertainment Television because you are not entertaining black people. So please think about the images and messages you are producing and sending out to the world, because you are blind sided and have no clue what it means to be black.

You can catch a new episode of Buppies every Tuesday at 3pm. Hopefully you will be engulfed with work that you won’t have six minutes to waste.