Bet: Black and unEntertained (guest writer B. Marie Jones)

Here is piece from a friend of mine. I was talking to her about the state of BET. She said she was going to write her feelings down so here it is ladies and gentleman.


Black book stores, Black hair salons, Black businesses—the word Black as a prefix does not only imply to most minds that the products or goods distributed are intended for Blacks, but also that it is owned by Blacks. So why should Black Entertainment Television (BET) be any different? I must admit, I am a child of the Hip-hop generation. I remember the day TuPac died, what it felt like to hear Mos Def for the first time, and although I’m young, I remember the year Illmatic dropped, and I’m not going to lie, BET was there for every one of those moments.

But I’m also a product of my time; I live in a world where AIDS is prevalent in the Black community, where there is a war in Iraq where many innocent people are dying and where young African-Americans need to “Vote or Die,” and BET has shed light on many of those issues, as well. So what’s my issue? I want to know exactly what is the image BET is conveying to and about the Black community and who exactly is conveying it?

I remember Teen Summit. When I was younger I use to always want to be on it. It was a group of teenagers, who seemed pretty cool, who were concerned with what was going on in the world and how it affected them. I also remember Tavis Smiley, who is a very smart man and personally one of my favorite people, and issues he use to discuss. But shows like that and people like him are gone; replaced by shows like “American Gangster,” “106 & Park,” and “The Wire.” So that’s what’s entertaining to Blacks? A bunch of top 10 videos displaying Black men flashing blood diamonds and women flashing too much skin, which is all for the love of the money which is made by illegal drug distribution. I don’t mean to be blunt but that’s what’s played on BET. I know most people are probably like “But I like those shows!” which is cool. I’m not knocking any of them, but are sex, money, and drugs all that entertains Blacks?

We as a people are so much more than how bright our wrists are, how big our car is, how expensive our jeans are, our 10 deep hoodies, and how much sex appeal we can emit. There are real issues not only in the Black community, but around the world that concern us. But I don’t even think BET’s selection of shows or images to display is my real issue. I think I’m more displeased with the fact that Blacks aren’t even the ones deciding what entertains Blacks.

BET is owned by VIACOM a wealthy power company who also owns MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, and Dreamworks. Ok sorta like the n-word (which I don’t like anyway) if Blacks want to convey their own negative images about themselves, that’s fine, BUT COME ON! A white company is the one deciding what’s hot and what’s not or what concerns us and what doesn’t. I just feel BET doesn’t give credit to the versatility of the Black community. For the most part, if it is strictly meant to entertain then why does Justin Timberlake get more play than Leela James? I know you’re probably like, “Who’s that?” which just proves my point. Man, boycott BET. I’m Black and I’m not entertained.

AND I’M OUT!! B. Marie Jones