Typically, Networks ‘Use’ Black Shows to Grow, Then Ship Them Off to Black Networks

April 14, 2014 admin Entertainment, The Watch Box 0

Opra and Sweetie Pie'sBy Walter L. Hilliard III –

 

We could go way back when to discuss how the Fox network “used” “In Living Color,” “Martin,”etc., as well as other Black shows, like other networks have “used” Blacks, to build their network, then dumped the shows and their Black audiences.

 

More recently, Black shows being “used”:  “The Game,” canceled by the CW (owned by CBS and Paramount) and later moved to BET; and Queen Latifah’s (producer) “Single Ladies,” discontinued by VH1 and picked up by the Centric network (targets Blacks) – both are owned by Viacom.

 

But what’s even more offensive is how the Queen of Mainstream TV, Oprah Winfrey, needed Black shows to save her network, OWN (50-50 shared ownership with the Discovery Channel), which is pretty funny because she typically ignores Black people and issues like racism.  So when her network was tanking, the Black show “Sweetie Pie’s” (features former Tina Turner backup singer Robbie Montgomery and her restaurant business) was just about the only bright spot.   Next came Iyanla Vanzant, and eventually Tyler Perry and others.  Actually, there are about 13 Black shows featured on the network.  And mark my words, once Oprah reaches the top again, she’ll ditch her “Black strategy” and her Black audience.

 

Thus, whether it’s picking cotton or other forms of Black exploitation, Black bodies are always providing ways for White families to make a living or get rich.  For example, despite all the money Black shows are bringing into OWN, think about all the pictures you’ve ever seen of Oprah’s staff and you’ll see very few Blacks.  Also consider the criminal justice system and look at the great lives judges, attorneys, prison guards, cops, healthcare services and others have — and you’ll see how  Black lives make White privilege and supremacy possible.

 

And they call us lazy.

 

About admin 173 Articles
My name is Walter Hilliard III. I have a B.S. degree in Public Administration and a Masters in Psychology (specialty in Media Psychology). I’m currently seeking publishers for a book focusing on Black Self-Destruction and two inspirational eBooks, having already published a multitude of articles in several different newspapers and magazines over the years. I’ve been a head basketball coach on the high school and college level, and taught success classes at a private college, created numerous community and college programs focusing on leadership, mentoring, college awareness (for inner-city kids), and employment and training. And I have worked as an employment and training manager, family therapist, behavior specialist, college retention specialist, juvenile detention center treatment supervisor, and a contractor, facilitating relationship and marriage education groups for couples. The purpose of Universal Soul Power is to confront negative media messages about African Americans, proliferate positive messages about the Black community, and inspire all those who are part of the universe, but especially African Americans, through my inspirational writings. The truth is that most African Americans haven’t lost their Spiritual Souls, yet (although some of us behave like we’ve lost our minds), but we have lost our “Soul” — that NewRhythmandBluesyContemporaryHipHopSoul that allows us to be compassionate, productive leaders who recognize what really matters in life and live our lives beyond fad terms like “Swag,” instead embracing more fulfilling concepts like being Calm, Cool, and Collected, and knowing what they are all about: being your “growing self,” dancing to your own Life Drum, in tune, on beat, unfazed by fear, and leaving the world a better place when they move on. Now dat’s Real Soul, and dat’s whatum talkin’ ’bout! Walter L. Hilliard III

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