Thursday, July 10, 2008
Primetime Racism
I realize I came off rather harsh when it came to my post, "Racial Humiliation", but there truly is another reason I'm so angry with what I consider to be the "bad apples" of the Black community.
There's nothing that can change my mind. Even though I'm very much aware there's still racism in the world, I'm also aware of the fact that there are some people who've made it worse for others...who've caused us to be stereotyped the way that we are.
However, I've come to realize something else, too. There are new sitcoms developed nearly everyday. I mean, it's hard to keep up with them all. Yet, I'm starting to notice a trend. They're becoming more and more deplorable. Take Weeds for example. It's about a suburban mother who is running her own drug operation.
Now, I wonder how people would view this show if she were an African-American or Latina woman living in the ghetto and doing the same thing...just so she can put food on the table for her children.
I find it difficult to believe that people would view it in the same manner and they wouldn't feel as sympathetic for the character they see as 'lower-class'. Believe it or not, people root for this character...who couldn't be a poorer excuse for a mother. And it's one of the top-rated shows in the nation. What is our world coming to?
Another good example of this is the show Secret Diary of a Call Girl. It's, of course, about a Caucasian woman who considers herself to be a call girl, but truly is nothing but a prostitute. I can almost guarantee that's what she would be called if she were a minority.
Now, I'm a big fan of Lifetime, but I once wrote them and told them they needed to focus more on stories that explored the lives of African-American and Latino women. But you know why they don't?
When a Caucasian girl gets pregnant (Fifteen and Pregnant) or contracts HIV (Girl, Positive), they develop an entire story around it...because that just doesn't happen to them, right? However, it's expected to happen in the case of a minority. So, what would make the story special? That's the message I'm getting.
I've also compared many stories involving such children and adults as Jonbenet Ramsey (a kidnapping and murder victim who they still can't shut up about), Jaclyn Dowaliby (another kidnapped child), Adam Walsh (kidnapped and murdered), Amber Hagerman (kidnapped and murdered), Megan Kanka (kidnapped and murdered), Ryan White (contracted HIV through a blood transfusion), Joseph DiPaolo (contracted HIV from a blood transfusion), Alison Gertz (contracted HIV during her first sexual experience), and the list goes on.
Let's not forget the many laws that were created just because something tragic happened to a Caucasian person: Debbie Smith (a rape victim), Tracey Thurman (a domestic abuse victim), etc.
Yet, there are many minorities who've experienced the very same things. Do they usually make movies and blockbuster films about them? No. And I believe that's because we still live in a world where Caucasian people are held in higher regard.
I don't blame anyone who is Caucasian for this. I'm simply stating an observation I've made. And, in a way, I now understand why some minorities behave the way they do...because they don't feel as if people give a damn anyway.
In no way am I prejudiced against any group of people, but I'm angry because of the way things still remain.
One would believe we would've evolved by now. And I just don't ever see that happening.
