After all these years, you would think that diversity in media would have progressed by now. In reality, it seems to have regressed. The LA Times posted an article about this called "No black-and-white answer for the lack of diversity on television". In the article, the writer takes his time explaining, and giving statistics, on how the number African-American sitcoms has decreased. Shows with an all black cast are almost non existent. The shows that do highlight African-Americans still try to portray them in a stereotypical way. No longer are the black families on tv like the "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" family. Uncle Phil was a successful lawyer, and his was wife was a college professor. Or families like "The Cosbys", where the parent were a doctor and a lawyer. Now you see shows like "The Game". Sure they show successful black men, but they are all athletes. This is to try to reinforce stereotypes of the world that African-Americans aren't intellectuals.
What shocked me the most about the LA Times article was the comments left. Most of the comments were against media diversity. A lot of white Americans want to pretend like race is not an issue in the media. There are more African-American gangsters, rappers, and hustlers than ever. The black man/woman is being portrayed in a way to make the viewer comfortable seeing African-Americans in lower income societies than whites. Its sad to see people that don't want diversity in the media. Its even worse to see people who don't want diversity in the world.
Check out this article from the LA Timeshttp://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/06/diversity-television/comments/page/2/#comments
Honestly I feel as though if there is a problem with diversity in the media, the question is who is to blame? Some black people feel as though blacks are actually very evident in the media, but that blacks are just portrayed negatively. Well like I said before, Who is accountable? In my opinion, its not the producers, directors, or even the writers. No. Its the actors, they choose to take those roles. No one put a gun up to their head, and said they must take this role, they choose to, and the play that role to the best of their ability. If we choose to take these roles, the only person to be upset at is the actor/actress.
ReplyDeleteDiversity is definitely an issue and its up to us to change the color of the environment and the need for more black roles and etc. Although blacks choose their roles, they dont have much to choose from these days.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is that we as viewers DONT demand diversity. WE settle. Back in the in 80s and 90s shows such as in living single florished because they were supported. It appealed to many African Americans and some can say that many of the characteristics of the characters were stereotypes. As a whole we as African Americans complain, but when we have shows we dont support them. Its about money, majority of these shows are not cancelled because the networks are racist but because they are not making a profit. Why doesnt BET take on any sitcoms or the newly constructed Centric. They'd rather play reruns all day and WE watch them. We DONT demand it, we complain and fail to support. The competition is high, shows must now compete with reality TV.
ReplyDeleteOf course white Americans are not going to see this issue as strongly as African Americans. At the same time African Americans are more sensitive about these topics than non African Americans. There is a lot more diversity than there was a decade ago. African Americans have come a long way and has made a lot of accomplishments through out this time frame. If African Americans want the black family sitcoms to stay on air then we need to to participate in viewing the shows. We need to create them and invest in them. Lets stop complaining and start doing.
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