Black Man - Blond Chick
 

One of my favorite television shows is The Practice. I like the characters and the legal aspects of each case - A brother might be considering going to law school - I had not seen any previews for last night's show and needless to say I literally fell out of my chair after the events. Why do down to earth, intelligent black men on tv always end up with the blond chick. I'm pissed and may never again watch The Practice. I solicit the support of my GC family to e-mail the writers and producers asking that this affair not go on. I say put Eugene with the attractive black lawyer on the show! :mad:

Unfortunatly this happens in the real world where good brothers and sisters go to people who are not black. Not saying if it is right or wrong but this kind of drama is what the writers want to stir up in us.

Sphinxpoet

Re: Black Man - Blond Chick
 

Remember Eriq LaSalle on ER? He voiced very similar concerns a few years ago. Once again, it's probably a reflection of the writers and lack of diversity on TV.

Plus, as sphinxpoet said, it's drama. :rolleyes:

Hi- I understand (as best I can) what you're saying--but I look at it from a different POV--

I think its good to show that LOVE knows no color, just as it knows no religion and no gender. Showing that we can love another human being, regardless of their race, is a strong message to send to viewers. We're all free to choose who we want to be with, but so many people are intolerant, and I just believe that love is the message more than anything else.

But I grew up in a very liberal place, so I can admit my views may be, well, liberal.

I haven't watched the Practice since it moved to Mondays, but race aside, knowing the personality of those two characters-- I just don't see it!

I have to respectfully disagree.

The mainstream media has a way of depicting and furthering stereotypes of Black Americans in seemingly innocent ways. Have you ever noticed that when news reports interview Black they are always inarticulate with rollers or jheri curls in their hair? Yeah, there is the possibility that person was the only one to interview, but it is highly unlikely. Depicting these images constantly sends the message to many viewers, especially non-Blacks, that this is the way that all Black Americans speak and behave. On this issue, the constant depiction of successful Black males seeking non-Black love interests sends the message that once a man has achieved a certain level of "status" the Black woman is no longer good enough for him.

There is always some form of justification for these kinds of images but they are rarely honest and upfront about the issue.

I watched it last night and didn't have much of a problem with it....

However,

1) I really wish that Lindsay's intern (or whatever you call her) had said something like "But he's black!" when they were having that conversation. Now THAT would have been realistic.

2) I don't really agree that the "mainstream media" is to blame really....they are making use of the characters on the show, and to be honest, i don't see much chemistry between Eugene and Rebecca.

3) It's just a TV show.

4) It's probably getting cancelled anyway.

In essence, I agree with amycat.

Well said, ClassyLady
 

On this issue, the constant depiction of successful Black males seeking non-Black love interests sends the message that once a man has achieved a certain level of "status" the Black woman is no longer good enough for him.

AMEN to that!!! And I live in Minnesota and I see brothas with "blond chicks" ALL OF THE TIME! I'm sorry, I don't care, I love my brothas too much to cross those lines.

Me and my friend debate this sort of thing all the time. I've now begun to lean towards her side of the argument. She always says we have to at least begin to TALK about the issues in the media. Because it's just a TV show it's a free for all? People LEARN from TV, as horrible as it is. This is the EXACT reason I don't let my girls watch TV here. I don't watch The Practice, so I don't know what the people even look like. I do know that my girls see stuff like that and try to EMULATE the love interest. The last thing I need is for my girls to try to be something that they are not. You must not hear kids say stuff like, "She's so pretty, I wanna be just like her, she got a fine man!" "I'm not gonna eat dinner today cuz I don't want my hips to get bigger." These are the type of issues that our kids are dealing with trying to emulate the status quo of beauty. If you heard this type of stuff, you probably wouldn't say it's just a TV show. TV sends messages, just like any other type of media. As educated adults, we can take it at face value. But not everyone who watches is educated or an adult.

BTW, I agree wholeheartedly with ClassyLady.

amycat412
 

Thank you for your post and welcome to APhiA Avenue. I agree that love does not have a color. Whitney Houston best said it when she stated "You never know where you will find love."

I have posted before that my Godsisters are white and I don't have problems with them are other ethnic groups. However, it bothers me when Black men gravitate towards dating white women, as they become successful. Black male celebrities and the media seemingly glorify this notion.

Point of clarification...
 

... for all confused, lol.

I DON'T HAVE ANY CHILDREN OF MY OWN!!! I work at a boarding school. So I have 12 girls that I didn't have to push throught the birth canal myself. :)

Re: Point of clarification...
 

We knew that you don't have a bunch of biological children, Soror.
:D

This letter was written in response to an article in the Sister 2
Sister Magazine (January 2000 issue).

Dear Jamie:
I'm sorry but I would like to challenge some of your Black male
readers. I am a White female who is engaged to a Black male-good-looking, educated and loving. I just don't understand a lot of Black female's attitudes about our relationship. My man decided he wanted me because the pickings amongst
Black women were slim to none. As he said they were either too fat, too loud, too mean, too argumentative, too needy, too materialistic or carrying too much excess baggage. Before I became engaged, whenever I went out I was constantly approached by Black men, willing to wine and dine me and
give me the world. If Black women are so up in arms about us being with their men, why don't they look at themselves and make some changes. I am tired of the dirty looks I get and snide remarks when we're out in public. I would like to hear from some Black men about why we are so appealing and coveted by them. Bryant Gumbel just left his wife of 26 years for one of us. Charles
Barkley, Scottie Pippen, the model Tyson Beckford, Montell Williams, Quincy Jones, James Earl Jones, Harry Belafonte, Sydney Poitier, Kofi Anan, Cuba Gooding Jr., Don Cornelius, Berry Gordy, Billy Blanks, Larry Fishburne, Wesley Snipes...I could go on and on. But, right now, I'm a little angry and that is why I wrote this so hurriedly. Don't be mad with us White women because so many of your men want us. Get your acts together and learn
from us and we may lead you to treat your men better. If I'm wrong, Black men, let me know.
Disgusted White Girl, Somewhere in VA.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This is one of the very reasons why I still haven't accepted interacial dating. I also live in Minnesota, and there are some beautiful, educated African American women here. It saddens my heart to see so many of my sisterfriends single-like me. I can count on one hand how many young black couples I see at the mall. This is no lie! Ladygreek, you might have to back me up on this one. Ultimately, it's up to the brotha to decide who he wants to be with, but it's a sad day when sistas are preparing to live life without a husband because of this...

Hmmmm... that letter saddens me too, as it perpetuates stereotypes...

I agree with the posters who've talked about stereotypes. The stereotypes of any race, nationality, religion, etc must stop if we want tolerance and love to rule. I do feel sorry for the people who do not have enough free will to realize that these media portrayals are in fact stereotypes. I mean to say every African American is "jheri curl.." is like saying every Italian American is in the Mob...etc. It all makes me annoyed.

That letter above tho--- I want to slap the woman who wrote it for her generalizations. Does she want to believe this to justify her own relationship?? Does her fiancee want to believe this to justify his relationship???

I stand by my statement that LOVE knows no color, gender, race, nationality, religion, etc. But I also realize we have a long way to go until this statement rings true universally.

Thanks for the welcome Professor. :) This is a very interesting thread.

I was thinking about this thread today. I thought about all of my friends who were white. And then I thought about how I would feel if they dated someone who was black. The tripped out thing is, I wouldn't care, so long as they were happy. Cuz they are my friends, naturally I want them to be happy cuz I love them.

BUT, I still don't like interracial dating. I feel conflicted over this issue all the time. Why would I not mind if my friends did it, but in general I still don't like it??? Or is it that I would be more tolerant because it's my friend?

*sigh* :(

Ideal, I have a lot of white friends that I love too! Trust me, I feel you on this one.

The reason why I don't like interracial dating is because black brothas are becoming more scarce every day, it seems. I don't even want to break it down...but I do know that I want a black husband. I love brothas...they are ALL THAT!

How about the reverse?
 

I understand the emotions run deep here...race and sex have a lot of baggage.

Follow me on this...One could argue the reverse is becoming more visible...

Demographics have shown that Black women are entering and completing college at a much higher rate then brothers are.

This translates into sisters getting higher paying jobs, becoming more independent, and successful.

Because, we all the know sad statistic that there are more brothers in the criminal justice system then in college, one could make the VERY strong argument that the "pickings" are slime among us...

I have noticed in Seattle that a lot of sisters have no problem in dating White men, even Asian or Latino men for that matter.

And I have no problems with that.

Bottom line for me is that the truth lies somewhere in the middle...

I know some brothers who want White just because they want a White woman...Something is wrong there.

But I also know brothers who fell in love a women...who happen to be White...

'06


"GOODWILL is the monarch of this house. Men unacquainted, enter, shake hands, exchange greetings, and depart friends. Cordiality exists among all who abide within."

ARRRGGHHH!!!
 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by delph998
[B]This letter was written in response to an article in the Sister 2
Sister Magazine (January 2000 issue).

Dear Jamie:
I'm sorry but I would like to challenge some of your Black male
readers. I am a White female who is engaged to a Black male-good-looking, educated and loving. I just don't understand a lot of Black female's attitudes about our relationship. My man decided he wanted me because the pickings amongst
Black women were slim to none. As he said they were either too fat, too loud, too mean, too argumentative, too needy, too materialistic or carrying too much excess baggage. Before I became engaged, whenever I went out I was constantly approached by Black men, willing to wine and dine me and
give me the world. If Black women are so up in arms about us being with their men, why don't they look at themselves and make some changes. I am tired of the dirty looks I get and snide remarks when we're out in public. I would like to hear from some Black men about why we are so appealing and coveted by them. Bryant Gumbel just left his wife of 26 years for one of us. Charles
Barkley, Scottie Pippen, the model Tyson Beckford, Montell Williams, Quincy Jones, James Earl Jones, Harry Belafonte, Sydney Poitier, Kofi Anan, Cuba Gooding Jr., Don Cornelius, Berry Gordy, Billy Blanks, Larry Fishburne, Wesley Snipes...I could go on and on. But, right now, I'm a little angry and that is why I wrote this so hurriedly. Don't be mad with us White women because so many of your men want us. Get your acts together and learn
from us and we may lead you to treat your men better. If I'm wrong, Black men, let me know.
Disgusted White Girl, Somewhere in VA.


^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^




I was flipping through a magazine, Essence I think, and they listed a survey stating that more Black women have attained a higher degree than Black men. I am in grad school now, and from what I can see this is true. So, the lame-a$$ excuse some Black men make saying they cannot find a good Black woman is just that - a lame -a$$ excuse!!!!:mad:

That dag on Sister 2 Sister letter.....I'm starting to think its just an urban legend.....like "Bloody Mary" and the roach eggs in the taco story. :rolleyes:


Good thread y'all :D

Nope, it was real. I saw the actual issue that the letter was in and read it. Now, the response from the Brotha, I never saw that. But they could've printed a bogus letter, I guess.

I don't buy it
 

There are plenty of unemployed black actresses who could take on a supporting/recurring role as Eugene's love interest. It would be a complicated/juicy role because Eugene is not an easy person to get on with let alone have him drop his guard around. Regina King was the first person I thought of and I can imagine the scenes as they work forward to something real (not meet and jump into bed in 45 minutes).

If Eriq LaSalle hadn't pushed the issue with the producers of ER(the depcition of a volatile relationship with the black mother of his child vs. the "loving' relationship with Dr. Corday) - Michael Michelle may never had been hired on ER...I'm still upset they are not on the show anymore (but it was their own choice to move on).

Until images of black loving relationships are shown in equal portions as white love I will continue to have issues with mixed relationships (as depicted on tv).

Re: I don't buy it
 

I'm with you on that one!;)

I don't think there's anything wrong with interracial dating in general; however when it comes to black and white, because of our country's history (and present for that matter) things get kind of tricky. I don't watch The Practice but on general principle I don't like seeing black men with white women on TV and in the movies because it perpetuates the stereotype that black men inherently want white women.

As far as a black man not being able to find a good black woman, I don't think most black men think that way. I think that due to various reasons (which I won't get into in this thread) we don't see enough stable black relationships in reality. What results is that good black men and good black women don't know who each other are, and when we meet each other we're so conditioned that the other doesn't exist that we don't know what to do.

I'll reserve the rest of my thoughts for another thread instead of hijacking this one.

Hijack, hijack, hijack!!!! I DO want to know what you think. I like your line of thought.

I with you SigmaDiva. Enlightenment06, you need to start the thread...:D

THE PRACTICE
 

That's my favorite show!!! I missed it last night! What happened professor?

Classy point, Classy!
 

I'm tired of seeing that shit too! The writers/producers KNOW they shoulda put Eugene and Rebecca together! In almost every situation when Eugene was 'bout to lose it, only Becca could keep his head right and get him to rock up! I aint too sad I missed that bullshit! I think in time though, them two will hook up.

As for Interracial dating, I'm too busy to discuss it cause I'm STUCK ON CHOCOLATE!:D

Re: THE PRACTICE
 

errrrr....if it was REALLY your favorite show you would know it it now on Monday nights, not Sunday. :rolleyes: :D :p :D You can still watch it tonight !

Anyway....Eugene and the new lawyer, Jamie, are now an "item" I kinda missed how that happened and was like :confused: when I saw them at dinner together and then was like :eek: :eek: :mad: when they kissed.

I really appreciated Eric LaSalle's stance on ER and am glad they did not have skinny little Amy get down with fionnne Bruce (Richard T. Jones) on Judging Amy.

the two lawyers were jointly working on a case. the blond (i can't remember her name) says to eugene, will you have dinner with me after the case. he said no and lets get back to work. she pressed him a few more times and said that can't show his emotions and that she can't help that she felt something for him. he did not respond until the show and the case they were working on was almost over. what's crazy about all this is they were defending a lady accused of killing her husband for insurance money. the lady said her husband was beating her and she shot him in order to protect her baby. before the verdict came the client went into labor and wan admitted to the hospital. while she was not in the courtroom - she was having the baby - the jury found her not quility. eugene and the blond went to the hospital to tell the client. what they say was a black man telling this white lady that he loved her and an inerracial child that was not fatherd by the client's husband - lol - eugene was mad as hell because the client had deceived the lawyers. the blond tried to calm him and he eventually said, why don't we have dinner and before you know it he was kissing old girl.

That's ****** up!
 

Now how could that brotha not holla at REBECCA? The writers really dropped the ball on this one!

I couldn't do it bruh!

Oh yeah; Thanks Eclipse.

I have been a fan of The Practice since Day 1. Even though it's gotten really silly the last few years, I still stuck through this show. I consider myself very liberal when it comes to interracial relationships, but the last few episodes have really disturbed me though. Of allllll of the white women who have appeared on The Practice, why would the producers choose the ditzy (yes she is a ditz), immature blonde chick who serves no real purpose on the show except to be eye candy to be of a romantic interest to Eugene. Second, Rebecca--who is black, beautiful, intelligent and caring--seems to have been invisible to Eugene for the entire series. Speaking of Rebecca, has she EVER had a romantic storyline on the show? Has she ever had a non court-related storyline on the show? Even Lucy gets more airtime than Rebecca:mad:

Ditto! Ditto! Ditto!

The only storyline that I remember that featured Rebecca was after the office was bombed and her mother showed up at the hospital and refused to allow her to receive a transfussion. Bobby was upset because he said all these years he never knew that Rebecca was Jehovah's Witness and her mother said "well how well do you know her?". It turned into a court case, Bobby lost, Rebecca almost died but she pulled through...they never addressed it again.

Wasted storyline, if your co-worker was a strict anything you would know it - even if you don't discuss it on a daily basis.

But then again - she went to law school at night for years and didn't tell anyone. Hell, she may bust up in there with a white boyfriend she forgot to mention ;).

Re: Re: THE PRACTICE
 

What was his stanc? DId he refuse to have a non-black love interest on ER? :confused:

I never watched the show, even though my cousin was on it.:(

I have been watching the practice for a long time, and I don'rt ever recall Becca having a love interest. I thought that all of those late nights at the office w/ Eugene would have started something;). Maybe we should start a letter writing campaign! :)

Re: Re: Re: THE PRACTICE
 

Peter Benton had a story line with Lisa Nicole Carson (can't remember her name on the show). She this 'around the way' kinda girl that he met at a barbeque or something. Anyway, they hook up, she gets pregnant (I remembered! Her name was Carla Reese) with his son Reese and they have this baby mama drama kinda relationship. Peter is this hard a$$, can't let anyone get close to him, only thinks about the job kinda guy. (side note: Why Peter--the Black guy--gets the ony girl you ever see him with pregnant and then has an AIDS scare with another black girlfriend while George Clooney's character who was screwing anything in a skirt never caught so much as a cold is beyond me, but that's a different thread for a different day! Any way, fast forward and Peter starts dating this white, British doctor. He cold and distant with Carla, while with the white doctor he's fun (he dressed up for a Halloween party with her once. Something the 'old' Peter would never have done), tender, romantic, etc.

Basically to make a long story longer, Eric LaSalle said he thought the story line sent the wrong message (i.e. Black men need white women to save them from them selves. Black woman make their men angry, while white woman tame the savage beast, if you will) and he refused to deal with it any more. The writers had them break up (I can't remember why) and introduced a black female doctor for Peter to date.

Regarding Eugene....there was a hint of a love story with him and another Black lawyer (she didn't have a regular role). Eugene was opposing counsel in a trial and they bet each other dinner or something. They went out to dinner after the trial and there were sparks, but nothing happened.

I think these are excellent examples of white writers not really knowing what to do with us. They can't imagine us being loving people, so they either make us hyper sexual or asexual. It sad.

Re: Re: Re: Re: THE PRACTICE
 

Peter went after the ER trauma fellowship which Elizabeth was depending on to keep her visa. Romano was pissed because he had offered Peter a thorasic fellowship but after some issue with a patient Peter decided he didn't want to do the specialty anymore. Romano turned around and created a position making Elizabeth his 2nd in command (now making her Peter's boss) and that led to other tension....[that's the short version..but you can tell already I've spent way too much time watching this show that I can fill in holes from 4 years ago :rolleyes:]

Well said.

You know - you have a point - - - i would not be surprised if her and Bobby hooked up - -

Hell, she may bust up in there with a white boyfriend she forgot to mention ;). [/B][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by delph998
[B]This letter was written in response to an article in the Sister 2
Sister Magazine (January 2000 issue).

Dear Jamie:
I'm sorry but I would like to challenge some of your Black male
readers. I am a White female who is engaged to a Black male-good-looking, educated and loving. I just don't understand a lot of Black female's attitudes about our relationship. My man decided he wanted me because the pickings amongst
Black women were slim to none. As he said they were either too fat, too loud, too mean, too argumentative, too needy, too materialistic or carrying too much excess baggage. Before I became engaged, whenever I went out I was constantly approached by Black men, willing to wine and dine me and
give me the world. If Black women are so up in arms about us being with their men, why don't they look at themselves and make some changes. I am tired of the dirty looks I get and snide remarks when we're out in public. I would like to hear from some Black men about why we are so appealing and coveted by them. Bryant Gumbel just left his wife of 26 years for one of us. Charles
Barkley, Scottie Pippen, the model Tyson Beckford, Montell Williams, Quincy Jones, James Earl Jones, Harry Belafonte, Sydney Poitier, Kofi Anan, Cuba Gooding Jr., Don Cornelius, Berry Gordy, Billy Blanks, Larry Fishburne, Wesley Snipes...I could go on and on. But, right now, I'm a little angry and that is why I wrote this so hurriedly. Don't be mad with us White women because so many of your men want us. Get your acts together and learn
from us and we may lead you to treat your men better. If I'm wrong, Black men, let me know.
Disgusted White Girl, Somewhere in VA.


This is why I have a problem with interracial dating. You have dumb people like the GIRL that wrote the letter thinking that Black Queen's do not know how to treat their men. News flash; we do know how to treat our men. Second, you have dumb brothers that complain about Black Queen's that are exactly like the women that raised him from his mom to his aunts! I can deal with it better if they just say they are attracted to the features and the personality of the person of the opposite race. There is nothing wrong with that. Don't hook up with the opposite race because of my big nose, butt, hips and lips. Yes if you cross me, I can be loud and I will not be quiet. I'll fight you with my words to the death all while providing my own wine and dinner.

The Proud Black Woman

Well, Rebecca's leaving
 

McDermott, 5 others leaving 'Practice'

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) --The Boston law firm of Donnell, Young, Dole & Frutt is undergoing a dramatic downsizing.

Dylan McDermott, Lara Flynn Boyle and four other cast members of "The Practice" are exiting David E. Kelley's ABC legal drama next season after their options were not picked up by David E. Kelley Prods. and 20th Century Fox TV.

The slimming of "Practice's" actor payroll comes as the Emmy-winning series faces at least a 50 percent reduction in the license fee paid by ABC.

The show endured a rocky seventh season -- ratings took a dive after a midseason time-slot shift to Monday -- and secured an eleventh-hour pickup for 2003-04 on condition that the estimated $6.5 million license fee be halved -- though ABC committed to returning the show to its longtime 10 p.m. Sunday home.

McDermott will guest-star in at least four episodes next season, and it is unclear if the other exiting cast members will make any appearances. In addition to McDermott and Boyle, the departures include original cast members Kelli Williams and Lisa Gay Hamilton. Marla Sokoloff, who joined "Practice" during its second season, and Chyler Leigh, who signed on this season, also are gone.

"Due to economic and creative realities, many key people will not be returning, including Dylan," Kelley said Monday. "It hurts, professionally and personally. This is perhaps the finest group of actors and people one could ever hope to work with; I hope for all of them to recur if possible, and if I'm lucky, I'll get to work with them on future projects as well. I'm indebted to each and every one of them."

While budget cuts were expected given such a substantial license-fee cut for an old show, the exodus came as a surprise because five of the six actors whose options have not been picked up -- McDermott, Williams, Hamilton, Sokoloff and Leigh -- were flown to New York last week to appear at ABC's fall schedule-unveiling presentation and party.

"For the past seven seasons, we've successfully relied on David E. Kelley's creative vision for 'The Practice,' and we'll continue to rely on his vision for the future of this series," the network said. "While we're sorry to see these talented cast members leave the show, we're excited to discover what David has in store for 'The Practice' this fall."

Sources said the cast reduction was Kelley's idea and is part of his plan to rejuvenate the veteran show, which won the outstanding drama series Emmy in 1999. It is understood that Kelley's camp has taken note of how other long-running dramas, including NBC's "Law & Order" and "ER," have used cast changes as a creative spark to keep a show fresh and even bring in new viewers.

Several new regulars are expected to join remaining "Practice" cast members Camryn Manheim and Michael Badalucco -- both Emmy winners for their roles -- Steve Harris and Jessica Capshaw.



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DAMN SAYS IT ALL