BET's Cita
 

I received the newest issue of Essence magazine yesterday. While reading through it today, I came across a short article about Cita, the animated-looking host of BET's Jam Zone. My opinion hasn't changed since the first time I saw her. I think the character does a disservice to the African-American community, especially women. I was just curious as to what everyone thought about the veejay.

I haven't seen her...but I do get Essence and I will read the story and maybe try to catch her on BET this weekend.
Have a great weekend everyone!

Soror Catwoman =^..^=

I think she is an absolute travesty! Who created this pratically animated stereotype?

The first time I saw her I wrote a letter to BET in response to her constant profanity, her "ghetto" talking and the fact that Cita was not the best role model for any young ones watching. People think that she's funny but I feel its total disrespect to all brothers and sisters that have worked hard to take off the chains of ignorant sterotypes. I urge all ladies and guys alike to please put a stop to that charactor. BET should be ashamed that they let Cita even see the airtime.

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In complete darkness we are all the same... It is only our knowledge and wisdom that separates us... Don't let your eyes deceive you

The Diva Truth

AKATUDE,

I have a few issues with BET in general. Now I don't want to offend any of my Sorors or SF's, first and foremost.

Why is it that most of BET's VEEjays are lighter skin African-Americans, and the "ghetto" Veejay is a darker-skin sister? I find that message, covert or other-wise, to be offensive. I thought we had moved pass all of that......Now I am not saying if Cita was light-skin it would make a difference....but that fact that she is not...WHAT IS THE MESSAGE?

Help me to understand AKAtude, you know I might be slipping into the realm of "Not up to date", so help a soror out!

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TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN....MUCH IS EXPECTED.

DEJA,

I totally feel you about the light skin/dark skin issue. I have the same issues with BET and with society at large who still seems to think that the lighter you are the more beautiful.

As a dark skinned woman, I am always conscious of such issues. Becase of my history of interactions with fellow African-Americans. The wholeb being called "Black" and "dark' as an insult and being seen as unattractive (elementary-highschool thing).

Here are a couple more scenarios:

On the sitcom Martin: Gina was upscale and classy (light skinned) and why was Pam, the dark skinned friend, ghetto and hoochie.

Player's Club. The star of the movie was light skinned, she was good on the inside despite her side jig stripping and her ghetto cousin from down South "Ebony" was a hoe who slept with her man. The show did have a light-skinned villain so maybe they cancelled each other out.

I am sure there are better examples but these are the first two that came to mind.

I am proud to say that regardless of the stereotypes of our illustrious organization, I am a dark skinned soror, so is my sands and so were two of our big sisters. Several of our founders were dark skinned women as well. So that stereotype is exactly that a stereotype.

I too as Deja don't want to offend anyone but as an African-American community we must acknowledge that some of us still believe that some "skin complexions and hair types" are better than others.

I also want to acknowledge there is a flip side to this issue. That some light skinned African-Americans are teased for being real light as well.

Well, like my mother used to say: "The Blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice."

And that is my .08 cents.


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Aim for the moon,.... if you miss you'll be among the stars.

[This message has been edited by chAKAlate (edited May 12, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by chAKAlate (edited May 12, 2000).]

I was just amazed the first time I saw Cita. I've actually stopped watching that show on BET just because of her sheer annoyingness! Aside from that, however, I was blowed at how offensive the character is -- especially coming from BET! Can they do more to perpetuate (did I spell that right?) the ridiculous stereotype of black women?

I saw her read a letter voicing many of your complaints one day -- and she just blew it off. I wonder if it was a man or a woman that had the idea for Cita.

Greetings Ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Sisterfriends, etc.

The sad thing is, I heard on the "Tom Joyner Show" (I think) that Cita was BET's solution to the many complaints about the lack of darker-skinned VJ's on BET. Since when does pigment decrease brain size and increase vulgarity? UGH! She is sickening. You mean to tell me they had to use a computer generated individual as opposed to a human being to resolve this problem? C'mon!

I have stopped watching BET altogether because if BET is for us then they should reflect that by having sisters and brothers of every shade doing the news, VJ-ing, etc. I know BEAUTIFUL people in all shades. It seems to me that they think the epitome of a black person is someone who is light-skinned. BET needs to open their eyes and stop perpetuating these strerotypes.

Sorry....I got kinda "open". http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

Anyway, have a great weekend all and a safe Mother's Day. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms! Let yourself be pampered....you deserve it!

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Sincerity, Loyalty, Unity

[This message has been edited by Serenity (edited May 13, 2000).]

Serenity: I thought I was the only one that was so frustrated by the lack of appreciation for all the shades of beauty that I actually stopped watching BET altogether. The fact that many of the hosts seem to have been bag-tested angers me because one thing that makes the black race so wonderfully unique is that we come in so many shades of beauty. I can really understand Deja who mentioned that she has issues with BET in general. It's supposed to be for us, but I don't feel it truly reflects us.

As for the ghettoness of Cita, well, I won't take up room telling the forum about the things that I think about her. However, I will say that I do think she needs to go. We need more positive blacks females to act as role models and each person that preserves any sort of stereotype, whether she is a cartoon or a real-life person, does not help the situation that so many blacks are now working to resolve.



[This message has been edited by Poplife (edited May 14, 2000).]

I have noticed all of the responses and each one had some really valid points. ChAKAlate I really liked you reference to Martin, I hadn't noticed it until now---can we also say Sha Nay-Nay http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif. For many years I have found BET very insulting. In many years back I thought it was innovative in that their video shows highlighted artists that weren't considered mainstream ie: Brand New Heavies http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif. But now for them the nature of the game is MONEY http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/frown.gif. The best thing that anyone can do is simply turn off the set and open a book. I hear E Lynn Harris has a new book out. Peace.

Okay, Sorors and Sisterfriends! I understand the unappealing attitude of this animated ghetto video queen, Cita, but what is this constant connection between her stereotypical character and skin color?

Is it not just as stereotypical to "assume" that by placing "lighter skinned" Blacks on BET and in certain acting roles that they must think that "dark-skinned" Blacks are not good enough? Or what about the saying, "The blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice"? Could that statement be "misconstrued" as offensive to those that are of a ligher "hue"? If your answer is no, why not?

I feel that sometimes we tend to try to justify the reasons, in particular to this issue, by saying, "Oh it was because he/she was light skinned. Could we be reading into this a little too much? Could it have been that Tichina Arnold fit the role of Pam as opposed to Tisha Campbell, better if they were both going up for the role, based on their past roles or natural or personal backgrounds?

As far as BET, I remember turning on BET while in college and seeing nothing but darker skinned Black people reporting and anchoring the news. Big Lez used to be a choreographer for many rap/hip hop videos and performances, so wouldn't it seem natural that she would have more background "knowledge" about or a general interest in the rap scene? I don't know if any of you remember a few years ago, Rachel used to be the host of the Caribbean show on BET, probably because she was from the Caribbean and she had more "knowledge" and a general interest in the music. If any of you know anything about broadcasting and programming, there are reasons why a network will put a particular show on at the end of the day (like a rap show). And to be honest, I think that Rachel IS much prettier than Big Lez and it has nothing to do with skin color.

I'm not saying that racism (within our own race) based on skin color does not exist, all I am saying is that skin color is not always the issue!

I am curious to know, where some of you are originally from or currently located. You may think this is a stereotype, but many times, where you were raised and where you live have a lot to do with some of the attitudes, particularly toward skin color, seem to brew.

Just FYI, I have been considered to be "lighter skinned" and I was born and raised in California. By the way, to me, Rachel is not really all that light skinned. Just my opinion but it is something to think about.

PinkPassion08

Soror,

I hear comments like yours all the time. I have decided that I will stop trying to convince people who feel as you do that "dark skinned" woman are paranoid about this issue. I have a light skinned friend up here in the Bay and she feels as you do.

My sensitivity comes from life experience. I was often teased as a child because of my skin color and many children are today. You remember those jokes "yo momma is so black" or "Yo momma's hair is so nappy" Why are those jokes so funny? I've never heard, "Yo momma is so light" or "Yo momma's hair is so wavy" Why not? I remember at one point in my life I wished I was light skinned. No Black child should have to deal with that. And my comment is that popular media does not do much to help. I remember when my son was born, his paternal grandmother told me she was glad he came out light skinned because everybody in her immediate family was. What kind of comment is that?

Perhaps you don't notice it because as you said people classify you as light skinned. You're right everything does not boil down to skin color but often times it does. And a lot of times the way it works is subconsciously.

You say you think Rachel is much prettier than Big Lez but it has nothing to do with skin color. Are you sure? Couldn't it be subconscious? Our standards of beauty in this country are so skewed. We are raised in a society where the epitome of beauty is Caucasian. As far as Rachel being from the Caribbean, most Caribbean women do not look like Rachel, they are dark skinned. Rachel personally is not all that pretty to me, she just looks like another carbon copy of those girls you see in rap videos. Who for the most part are overwhelmingly fair skinned with "good" hair.

It seems like the comment's here pushed a button in you and I'm sorry if I offended you but in one way I'm not because I think when people react that way it hits a chord and makes them think about preconceived notions and ideas.

I was raised in CA and skin color is definitely an issue out here. As far as that Blacker the Berry the sweeter the juice. No, I don't think it is a comment offensive to light skinned women. It is one of those time honored Black sayings that many mothers have told their dark-skinned daughters to help their self-esteem. A self-esteem that is often times damaged by a society who places a higher value on beauty that meets a "eurocentric" standard.


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Aim for the moon,.... if you miss you'll be among the stars.

[This message has been edited by chAKAlate (edited May 14, 2000).]

PinkPassion08, let me preface my comments by saying I understand what you are saying, but I do not agree with you.

I was born and raised in Spanish Harlem in NYC. I am half black and half Puerto Rican. I am dark-skinned while the majority of my family is light-skinned.

I say this because, I too, like chAKAlate, was teased as a child. I was called every derogatory nickname you can think of for a dark-skinned person minus the "N" word. Maybe this makes me more sensitive to this issue and to BET, but that doesn't mean that this hidden racism doesn't exist.

I moved to the Virgin Islands 5 years ago and boy was I shocked to hear about good color vs. bad color. Or, high color, which is supposed to be "good". Not to mention "good" hair and "bad" hair. Especially from the older women.

My son is light-skinned and last month he told me the only black person he loves is his mommy...something he learned in school from his classmates. He then went on to tell me that he only likes brown girls, not black and he will not play with anyone that is not his color. He's five years old.

This cut me to the very core of my being because I have worked too hard to impress upon him that skin color does not matter. And in a matter of months, his peers have changed that.

I wholeheartedly agree with chAKAlate. Maybe because we have had similar experiences. I, too, once upon a time wished that I was light-skinned. Just so the teasing would stop. No child should have to go through this. It's hard enough just being a child these days.

One last comment, the majority of women here in the VI do not look like Rachel. They are predominantly BEAUTIFUL dark-skinned women! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

Anyway, thank you Ladies of AKA for this very stimulating and thought provoking post. I'm sure we can all relate to this issue in one form or another.

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Sincerity, Loyalty, Unity

All I have to say is...I agree. I'm dark-skinned and I've been through it. ChAKAlate is right, alot of it IS subliminal, and there is no denying or getting around it.


[This message has been edited by ssh1980 (edited May 13, 2000).]

Serenity,

I hear you about the issue with your child learning something on the playground. Read my response to my Soror Deja's post on Dark/Light Skin Color.

Taykimson,

Wow! What is going on? Are parents and grandparents teaching these children this? We all know that kids only repeat what they hear around them. My fear is that one day my son will tell me he doesn't like black women at all. I think I will just flip out. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/eek.gif

I'm trying not to make a HUGE deal out of it because he is five and you know five year olds change their minds like they change their underwear. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif I bring it up every so often, but I don't want to create a bigger issue where he is constantly thinking about it.

Taykimson, I'm with you girl. The thing about being a parent is that even when you think you're doing everything right, there are people out there that will teach your child wrong. It is soooooo hard, but well worth it! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Sincerity, Loyalty, Unity

[This message has been edited by Serenity (edited May 14, 2000).]

Okay Sorors and Sisterfriends...my point was the subject started out talking about Cita being a ridiculous "ghettoized" character. All of a sudden the connection was made that, "it sure is funny how Cita just happened to be dark-skinned". Now this is a bit ridiculous. I know a lot of the darker skinned sisters seemed to get uptight about my post but you know what...alot of times when we wonder why the connection still lives on, why don't we stop and think who keeps carrying it on! I understand why it is something that is so hurtful. If you keep making the connection of skin color on everything from why you were not asked to dance or why it just happens to seem like lighter skinned Blacks like Gina as opposed to Pam got the "better" role, then I can see how you can connect that with your feelings with your childhood experiences. Gina's role was not as sadity as you make it out to be. Nor was Pam's role as "ghetto".

My opinion about Rachel has nothing to do with skin color. Unlike many of you who seem to have let skin color determine how you view things (based on the the responses on this subject), skin color or hair type (for me) has no baring. Let's just assume that Rachel was what you consider dark-skinned with a short natural style and Big Lez was light-skinned with long wavy hair (as it was put in a previous post), Rachel would still have it!

Also, there was mention in a post that said that even though Rachel was from the Caribbean, most Caribbean women don't look like her. That is another reference to color that was out of synch. I mentioned Rachel's Caribbean background in my previous post to make the connect between her background and why she was probably placed on the Caribbean music show (because of her knowledge of the subject and her interests). What did that have to do with what she looked like? That is the point that I was trying to make. There is so much reference to color when sometimes it has nothing to do with color at all!

Again, I am not saying that racism within our race does not take place. I have seen it. I have been in situations where I was asked to dance more times than another friend. But could it have been that he was intrigued with my exotic eyes or my dimples? I guess I could internalize my fear of men not talking to me because I don't have a big behind, I'm not thick or tall.

I know that being dark-skinned caused a lot of jokes in school (even now). A soror and some friends and I went to a comedy club not long ago and a comedian was talking about "Your Momma" jokes. And what made it the worse was when he not only said a "Your Momma is so black..." joke but a group of white people were in the front row! When will the separation of our people stop?

It is great to increase the self-esteem that was lost by all the heartache of being labeled as less than acceptable because of your skin color, but don't tear down members of your own race who happen to be lighter skinned to lift yourselves up. How many times have I heard that even though she was light skinned, I don't consider her pretty at all. If lighter skinned black said something like that, there would be all H_LL raised, with responses like, "Oh, so you think you are better than us?" or "our thinking has been so influenced by white America that we think that darker skin is bad".

I just feel that we touched on this subject in the Lighter/Darker Skin topic. Why was there a connection to Cita appearing in Essence? To me that lighter/darker skin subject should have stayed in the other thread.

Greetings all,
This is a very interesting conversation and I just have to throw my two cents in.

First, on the issue of Rachel, she is not even black (well fully black anyway). She is half East Indian, and 25% something else and 25% black. So I take issue when people compare her to other black women because let's be real, most black women don't look like her. She's married to an executive at BET which is why she is still working there because in my opinion she is one of the worst interviewers I have ever seen.

Second on the issue of Martin, Martin actually hand picked Tisha to be his girl on the show after working with her on House Party. He had had a crush on her. And the character of Pam was already written to be a sort of nemesis to Martin, which explains why Gina's character is seen in a more positive light than Pam's. The casting was inconsequential.

Finally I too get upset when I watch TV and see only light, bright, and damn-near-white girls being represented. I know for a fact that there are beautiful black women of all colors and wish we could all be represented. But I have to say that it seems a lot of you seem to think that somehow growing up light skinned was easy. Trust me it wasn't. This is America. Do you think that when white people look at us they see this light vs. dark issue. If the KKK were to roll up on all of us do you think they'd discriminate on the basis of our skin tone? This is not to say that we shouldn't work on this issue in the black community because we most definitely should. The only point I wanted to make was that, as black folks, we all have it equally hard in this country.

Hmmmmm....I never really paid that much attention to the light/dark thing on BET (but I guess that's because I really don't watch it that much) nor on Martin. Truthfully, I've always thought Gina was a bit ghetto. I'm not "light, bright.." but I am reddish brown and fluctuate depending on what season it is http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif and I've always gotten offended whenever I see our people portrayed as ignorant no matter what their complexion was. Daruler made a good point about the KKK. I saw a white supremists web site once, and they certainly did not discriminate between complexions.

I won't, however, discount the way that my dark complexioned sistas feel by acting as if inner racism doesn't exist because I know it does. That's equivalent to white people that say that racism no longer exists. It's easy to say when you haven't been the direct bunt of it and racism, no matter where it comes from, hurts. On the flip side, I met a dark skinned man several years ago who deeply offended me. We were standing in line, I think, and he began talking about his experiences here because he was new to the country. Then, the brotha went out in left field and basically said that he felt that the lighter a woman was, the weaker she was.

But to answer the original question --- AKATUDE --- I don't care for Cita either. I have a young, impressionable daughter (which is one of the reasons I don't watch BET that often)and Cita perpetuates a stereotype that I do not want her to imitate.

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>>>"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised... Proverbs 31:29-30

[This message has been edited by tickledpink (edited May 14, 2000).]

Soror

I am going to toss in my thoughts for whatever they are worth. About the light/dark complexion thing...i think it has been discussed enough...i believe that the only way we are going to stop it being an issue is if WE AS THE AFRICAN AMERICAN RACE stop making it an issue.

However, AKAtude I think that years ago BET stopped being what it was meant to be....a network that presents the "positive" images of African Americans that no other network would show. It stopped worrying about integrety and started worrying about the bottom line. I, like many of the sorors here, do not even watch it anymore. In fact, I was talking to another youth minister in my church about this same issue and he told me that BET is NOT EVEN OWNED OR RUN (i can't remember which)by African Americans anymore.

Cita is not what an African American woman is..and I am ashamed that BET would present her to the world as such.

much AKA luv

#6

PP08,

Soror once again I must respond to you.

First of all the idea that dark-skinned Black women perpetuate the issue of skin color is PREPOSTEROUS AND HURTFUL, especially when it comes from a sister (black woman).

You said:
I know a lot of the darker skinned sisters seemed to get uptight about my post but you know what...a lot of times when we wonder why the connection still lives on, why don't we stop and think who keeps carrying it on. I understand why it is something that is so hurtful. If you keep making the connection of skin color.

And to be honest soror, you sound like those white people. Who always say: "There is no racism, why are you jumping to conclusions that you didn't get that job. Maybe, because the "white" person was more qualified than you. They also say that racism is still an issue in America because "Black" people keep "perpetuating" the issue. I am sure you would think an argument like that is silly. Well, it is also silly in this context.

You said:
I have been in situations where I was asked to dance more times than another friend. But could it have been that he was intrigued with my exotic eyes or my dimples? I guess I could internalize my fear of men not talking to me because I don't have a big behind, I'm not thick or tall.

As far, as the comment about internalizing the fear of men not talking to us because we are dark-skinned as you seem to insinuate. #1 I don't know where that came from and #2 that is just a low blow PERIOD. Comparing discrimination about skin color, which is closely linked to an atrocious history of discrimination, dehumanization and racism in this country, with having a big butt or being tall is a bit absurd. There is really no comparison between entrenched forms of beauty standards based on history, dating all the way back to the "house negro" vs "field negro" paradigm, that was based in large part on skin color to issues like being "tall" and being "thick"

But since you took it there, there is also an issue in this country when it comes to standards of beauty: that prioritizes "thinness" as the supreme form of beauty. I am sure plus sized women could speak on this issue as well.

No one is trying to tear down light skinned women to bring themselves up. I don't need to do that. I have too many other qualities to use as self-esteem, my outer and inner beauty, my intelligence and my sense of humor.

If you notice and this goes to Daruler about us thinking light skinned women have it easy, you will notice in my initial post I made it a POINT to say that and I quote:

I also want to acknowledge there is a flip side to this issue. That some light skinned African-Americans are teased for being real light as well.

But as Daruler said even if we were to concede or it could be proven that the whole Martin casting had nothing to do with race. FINE our point is that skin color is still an issue in this country and DARK-SKINNED women are NOT the "force" perpetuating it. Trust me we wish it would disappear.

Everyone seems to agree that it is still an issue. Well that is our point. We surely aren't creating the "yo momma is so Black" jokes and we aren't teaching our children to make those comments that Serenity talked about.

So obviously there is some other force perpetuating it.

But like I said in my second post: I have decided that I will stop trying to convince people who feel as you do that "dark skinned" woman are paranoid about this issue.

Maybe, it is just one of those things that if you have not experienced FIRST HAND, you cannot understand it. Just like whites cannot truly understand what it is like to be an African-American.

Maybe, we were a bit hasty in making the connection between Cita's skin color and her caricature. But to dismiss it at being totally irrelevant is just as wrong, given the long and continuing history that we ALL
acknowledge exists in this country in placing a hierarchy of light skin over dark skin.


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Aim for the moon,.... if you miss you'll be among the stars.

[This message has been edited by chAKAlate (edited May 14, 2000).]

WHOOOOOAAAAAA!!!!!!! I didn't get the chance to check in during the weekend, now I'm playing catch up. I was hoping this topic would generate some discussion, and it certainly did!

I think all of you have made some great points. I agree with Soror Captivator that BET stopped being what it was meant to be a long time ago. I, too, stopped watching the network. When my fiance first told me about Cita I had to see what he was talking about. There are millions of intelligent, beautiful black women (regardless of skin complexion) and BET could have found someone to be a veejay and positive role model.

What wonderfully thoughtful replies!! It is quite refreshing to go on a greekchat line when members and sisterfriends are discussing more than 'how to be down'! I also love the fact that we can have a diversity of opinion without being disagreeable. Keep up the good work ladies!!

On BET & Cita (is that her name?) I must first say that I have not consistently watched BET in about 6 or 7 years so I cannot really speak on Cita (although I have seen commercials w/ her.) I can't remember who said it, but BET has long abandoned it's roots of providing postive A-A entertainment in chasing the almighty dollar. Some of you may not remember this , but when BET started in the 70s it showed a lot of old Black movies that were not getting play anywhere else. At that time, I thought the only way black people showed up in movies in the 40s and 50s was as maids and here BET was showing movies with ALL BLACK CASTS!! This little girl from Georgia was shocked! Somewhere along the line Bob Johnson decided that it was much more profitable for him to air infomercials and videos than movies such as the Emperor Jones. BET is still trying to pretend, however, by airing the shows that are worth anything at horrible times. BET Tonight w/ Tavis is on at 11:00 p.m. when most folks are watching their local news to get ready for tomorrow, Lead Story is on on Sunday mornings at 10:30 when most folks are getting ready for, or at church. The only thing that you can watch during 'prime time' is videos.

Now, as for the off-shoot topic of Cita's skin color... I think it is important that we ask the uncomfortable questions about body image, skin color, etc. to see what message we are sending young people, especially young girls. Whether we realize it or not, we are subconsciously effected by what we see in the media. Why do people like those ugly, loud (in my not so humble opinion) Versace shirts? Because a) they are expensive and b) someone on TV told them they were "in". As a young child, or even as a adult, if you are constantly told (by the media) that the way you look is not "in" then it has to do some damage to your psyche. Not only does it effect the ones that are not 'in' but it effects everyone. The people with the 'in' looks began to think that looks are going to open doors for them (and they sometimes do), that people with varied looks are not as smart, worthy, etc. Of course people do not say "how you look is not popular", but what they do is cast certain "types" in certain roles. Since Cita is an antimated character, I would love to know how BET made the decision on her 'look'. That includes everything from her dress, to her speech pattern to her skin color and hair style. I'm sure they told the animators that they wanted a street savy, hip hop around the way kinda girl with much attitude. They then had to match those adjectives with her discription. What does a girl like that wear? How does she sound? How does she style her hair? What does she look like (facial features, skin tone, size/weight)?

I don't know if there are any sociology majors on the list, but studies have been done that show that people will attribute other positive characterists (such as intelligence, how 'nice' they are, fun to be with, etc.) to people they deem attractive.

As African-American women who are offended by the notion that you have to look a certain way to be deemed attractive, we need to continue to discuss it these types of forums (and in Face 2 face conversations as well)so that men and women alike will know that it is NOT o.k. to say things like "she's pretty to be so dark." or "I don't like light skinned men" ('cause y'all know it's supposed to be 'in' to be a dark man right now!.) We also need to be conscience of the image that our children get from toys, their peers etc. and counterbalance that. And most importantly, we need to make sure that the people who are putting the images out there are held accountable. If that means sending letters to BET, their advertisers, etc. then that is what we need to do.

Sorry for the length (and any typos, misspelling,etc.), but this is a complex topic, that deserves mention.

[This message has been edited by Eclipse (edited May 15, 2000).]

I agree with you wholeheartedly SF Eclipse.

It's actually kinda funny, but while I was reading an African-American newspaper from the city I live in, out falls a small 20 page magazine titled BET Weekend Magazine (Whitney Houston is on the cover). I'll be darned if there wasn't a small blurb written on "our girl" Cita (maybe the same article you read Akatude). Apparently, Cita's REAL name is Kittie Troy. She is a 29 year old Washington native, who attended Clark Atlanta University and received a bachelor's in journalism from the University of the District of Columbia. BET asked Kittie the following questions about Cita.

What's it like being a cartoon character's alter ego?

"I love it. I'm ecstatic. This is what I've wanted since forever. But Cita is not a cartoon. She's a virtual-reality character. Every day, I get strapped up to sensors and mikes that allow me to be the voice and the actions of Cita."

Who did you use to come up with Cita's personality?

"A lot of it comes from me. I consider myself to be an articulate person, but I can flip it. It's not any one person. It's a complete combination of different people I've come in contact with over the years."

What 'hood is Cita from?

"Cita is not from anywhere. That is underlined, underscored all the time. Cita is around-the-way. From what way? You'll never know."

What about people who have a love-hate relationship with Cita?

"There's somebody out there who exemplifies who Cita is. She enjoys jonin' on folks and whatever else comes along with being ghetto-fab. I hate that people pigenhole Cita simply because she speaks in a certain kind of ghettoism. She talks about world issues, the Diallo verdict, Columbine. She quotes The Isis Papers. I don't think it's stereotypical. She's about as real as they come."

Is Cita a good example for kids, given that you have a 2-year old?

"Umm, to be honest, no. I think it's inappropriate for children under 16 to watch Cita. It's adult material."

Where do you see Cita in a few years?

"What? Oh, it's Cita for president, baby! The White House is about to be Black- literally and figuratively. Meow!"

Ladies, maybe it's just me, but after reading this article I think Ms. Troy contradicts herself. She clearly states Cita is not for the under 16 viewing audience, but what she apparently doesn't realize is THAT'S EXACTLY WHO IS WATCHING HER!! I don't know of too many of my peers that watch the "Jam Zone" faithfully.

Not to mention school will be out in a few weeks, if Cita is inappropriate for viewers in this age bracket, what is BET going to do about it? Take her off the air for the summer and risk their precious ratings? I hardly doubt it.

Just my opinion.

http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/eek.gif I agree with ya Chakalate i can relate totally. I was called "black" so many times i thought that was my name. I've been discriminated against by other blacks far more then by whites. The question is who is continuing to perpetuate these negative stereotypes about darker skinned women? I think many of us play a role in this. Of course the white man started the division but many blacks continue to feed on it. How many dark skinned sistas only date light skinned men (is that a problem?), or how many grandparents treat lighter skinned grandchildren better then darker ones (it happened in my family, what does that teach us). For a long time i didn't want my daughter to be dark skinned not because i think its unattractive, but because i didn't want her (doesn't exist yet http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif ) to be treated like i have been as a darker sista by some ignorant black people. (maybe some brothers feel the same way and are trying to lighter their family tree, lets just be real, you don't know why someone chooses to date a particular type of person. I can't tell you how many brothers i've seen with white women who are far from being beautiful, but these brothers are attracted to thier white skin. White or anything close to it is still the overwhelming symbol of beauty in this country, its up to us not buy into it. A brother told me that his mom would not appreciate him bringing home a dark sista into their creole family (now what is that all about). Its all in perception. Light skin does not spell beauty, nor does dark skin spell ugly. Its just that everyone has a preference which is fine. Beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. Sistas (light and dark) we have to teach our children to appreciate all types of beauty not just the carbon copy we see in the media (and many are beautiful). And lets STOP comparing Black Women to one another we are all so different. Some "Black Women" are not all black, they are mixed and therefore will reflect that part of their ancestry as well, so how can we compare an all black woman to a half asian woman you can't, they are both beautiful but in different ways with different physical make ups, that's one of the problems comparing apples and oranges and saying one is better then the other. I think the one drop of black blood philosophy should be squashed forever because it is just not helping us at all, if anything it divides us into the little racial subgroups, each trying to out do the other. And we can't really expect someone to understand how we are treated as darker sistas when they have a totally different experience. But i found my self esteem in God's word that states that i am made in his image and i am fearfully and wonderfully made, that a woman's beauty should not come from her outward adornment but from a quiet and gentle spirit found within. From a dark sista whose daughters may come out light skinned or dark skinned beautiful any which way.

ps don't like Cita, enough said.

Dang!

This is a hot topic! Most of my Sorors and sisterfriends said what was on my heart. This is a touchy subject and I enjoy reading the different viewpoints.

We must remember to be empathic of other's plights. You don't know my pain if you have not travelled in my shoes. Never discount another person's feelings or viewpoints. Good topic excellent dialogue! Pink Dream

Whoa, my eyes are burning. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif Just kidding.

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Sincerity, Loyalty, Unity

Hello ladies. I'm not a member, but I would like to comment. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif
I think that if we were STRONG black women, a "cartoon character" should not bring us down or make us less of what we are. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/wink.gif If people look at this character and compare it to the educated, intelligent, strong, hopefull, black women that we portray to be and think that we are as CITA is... then that's their dumbnest.

What I'm trying to say is...look at some of our rappers and singers that act as if they are thugs or sluts. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/rolleyes.gif If you were able to hold a real conversation with them, they would blow your minds with the knowledge that they behold. Sometimes, people do what they have to do to sell. (Which is not actually right) Now you may get angry at me but I laugh at Cita because she is FUNNY! She's a BIG JOKE!! Not real!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/rolleyes.gif Cita's "Ghettocism" does not make me question my ability to be the black woman that I am. When she comes on television, we don't see the words... "CITA, THE MODEL OF THE REAL BLACK WOMAN" show at the top of the screen.

I do think that she does get a little stupid but that's when I turn the channel.

Think about this..you may think that Montell Jordon is the male mack that tries to get all the women that he can get. BUT......he has a degree in Law, happily married with a beautiful daughter. I also heard that he is a member of Kappi Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. (I heard). Now look at that!!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/cool.gif

I think we should look within ourselves to see who the true person is. If we all know who our each and individual selves are, then this CHARACTER can't destroy who the REAL BLACK WOMAN is. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by gypsy (edited May 15, 2000).]

Oh MY GOODNESS, Miss AKAtude, I do declare!

Can we say it like Prince: CONTROVERSY!

On the more serious side...What does geographic location have to do with the way a dark-skin female feel about this particular topic? The way we were raised? What exactly does that mean? I am so confused, I can hardly type. This really upset me a little. Yes, I am dark....Yes, these racism within our race exist......No!! I am not paranoid.
We need to take this opportunity to feel one another.

Deja

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TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN....MUCH IS EXPECTED.

[This message has been edited by AKAtude (edited May 23, 2000).]

Hello Sorors and Sisterfriends...as explained before, my question was why is this discussion even under this topic heading? Wasn't there one started before this one was started to DISCUSS CITA?

Like anything else from interests to styles, dislikes and likes, location does have an effect.

I do like how the subject made a twist to talk about the ORIGINAL subject at hand (Cita and BET).

To all those that got offended by my posts...NO offense was intended.

[This message has been edited by AKAtude (edited May 23, 2000).]

This question is for all....
As someone who has never watched Cita's show (y'all make me feel so old and out of touch!!! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif ), can someone give me some examples of some of the more 'ghetto' things she does/says? What about this character is so offensive?

Greetings Ladies, I hope you don't mind me responding to your topic!

I saw Cita for the first time on Saturday morning and all I have to say, is that she makes all African-American women take 2 steps back on our climb up the ladder.

On Saturday, Cita responded to a letter that a young woman had sent in. The writer said that she loved Cita but her friends didn't. Cita responded by calling the girls friends 'bougei' and 'stuck up'. And also said that the girl needs to kick her friends to the curb. *sigh* I won't even get in to the way Cita is dressed. I'll just say she looks like a lady of the night, and I will leave it at that.

I too had stopped watching BET. Most of the time when I turn it on, there are either videos or infomercials on. Where are the quality programs?

To BET I say: You couldn't come up with anything better than this? Out of all the beautiful, articulate, African-American women in the United States, you chose this 'creation' to represent us? SAD!

ZetaAce



[This message has been edited by ZetaAce (edited May 15, 2000).]

I posted the one right above the young lady's before yours. I spoke on the Cita issue. And don't worry, my remarks were not out of anger. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

Maybe we can get back on the track that you led us with. http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

I've glance through some of the comments that have been posted. I agree with some points of view and disagree with other. I watch Cita and may i frankly add that I enjoy her show also. A lot you you commented about the light skin/ dark skinned issue and where were the positive dark skinned hosts/hostesses. There are several good examples of dark skinned hostesses, i.e the host of OUT THE BOX, and the doctor/co-host of Heart and Soul.
While the majority of the panel keeps on bashng BET and CITA...keep in mind that along with her Ghetto-fabulous grammar that Cita does touch on some real and important issues. A lot of the comments that she makes are sensable and true, while some are mainly of jest and jones. I think that we have to take Cita with a grain of salt and stop looking at the negative side of things all the time. I, myself, am of a darker skin complexion and my looks favor Cita's in many aspects. I did not see her as a negative icon until I read this message board. Oh, there are also some more positive black faces on ALL and on Teen Summit. If you decide to single out the negative aspects of CITA...why not Hits form the Streets or L.A Live the hosts are dark skin and they at times tend to act "ghetto." I really have no complaints about BET, except for the infomercial, and I think that this is due to the fact that it is white owned. I enjoy the shows and you really have to take a lot of them with a grain of salt.

Actually, BET is a black-owned corporation, regularly listed on Black Enterprise's "BE's Top 100's" list in entertainment. In order to be listed on the Top 100's, a company must have at least 50 percent black ownership, if I am not mistaken. I think the fact that it IS black-owned is what makes some of BET's of programming choices so annoying to me. They should know better.

DG

The reason why Cita was "signaled out" and not the other BET personalities is because the article in Essence was about Cita. So, I wanted to know what others on the board thought about the overall image. My opinion has not changed. I dislike the image that she projects. Whether or not her commentaries are thought-provoking or true, I think there is a better way for it to be done. We keep talking about ways to rid our society of stereotypes, but Cita perpetuates some of the same stereotypes we want to exstinguish.

OH! My goodness!

PinkPassion08,

Please except my apology for the comments. I did not mean to cause confusion and division. My comments were, I must admit were provoked by past ghost. That was no reason to jump all over you. Please except my apology soror.

Thanks Deja e-mail me.

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TO WHOM MUCH IS GIVEN....MUCH IS EXPECTED.

Greetings Sorors and Sisterfriends. I now have a very big smile on my face! Thank you Deja. I do accept your apology. The last thing I wanted was some straight drama in this much too positive message room. As another soror pointed out, the previous issue that arose would have been much more suitable for face-to-face discussion. That way, your tone, facial expressions and true feelings and meanings would be better to convey than my typed messages that can easily be misconstrued.

I love you all!

****gives everyone a great big group hug****

SkeeeeeeeWeeeeee my Sorors (ok --- I got caught up in the moment...)

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>>>"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised... Proverbs 31:29-30

Hello Sorors and SF's,
This is one HOT topic. I can remember being younger and wishing that I could be darker. I'm not a "light-skinned" sister, but I fall somewhere in between. Anyway, I always wanted to be darker and can remember using the sunless tanning lotion so that I could get that way. I guess it don't work for those of us who are naturally pigmented. I got the idea of wanting to be darker from seeing how beautiful sisters like Charnelle Brown (Kim from A Different World) and Patra (Reggae artist) were. Over the years I grew to be comfortable with who I am with the complexion that I have.

I went to school with girls who really thought that they were the hot stuff because they were light skinned. It was as if being light makes you more beautiful. Well I personally feel that if you can't look at a light skinned person and imagine them being beautiful with darker skin then they aren't really all that beautiful. And the same applies to those individuals with darker skin. When it comes down to it, living in "White" America we are all BLACK. It doesn't matter if we are as bright as the sun or as dark as night we will all still have to deal with the same issues of racism and discrimination. I just don't understand how in the world we can fight the battle of discrimination on the outside when we are fighting the same battle within our race. There are two books out by Binilde Little entitled Good Hair and The Itch that deals with the light skin/dark skin issue. If any of you haven't read them they make very interesting reading.

On another note. When it comes to AKA I must admit that while in high school I met a young lady through a family member who had just crossed into AKAland. She was a very dark skinned beautiful sister. She told me how everyone had told her that she was too dark to be an AKA and that very stereotype alone was what made her determined to become an AKA. She felt it was her duty to let other women know that being dark will not hender them from being an AKA. I just thought that was something interesting to throw out there.

QUE PASAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! HELLO (proper hello), Konichiwa (hello in Japanese), SUP (ghetto hello), HOLA (spanish hello), Bonjour (french hello), What a gwannn (Jamaican hello)so now that ive said HI in every language I know i hope we are cool http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/cool.gif now. I came across this site and thought your topic was one of the most interesting due to the fact that my friends and i were having the exact same convo about it this past weekend and on BET ......strange things do happen....my theory was hey im just looking at the men any way any size shape color or form (well they have to have a good form) http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif :P ...there is one veejay who is a brownskinned natural haired woman but my friend said she is funny looking...lol...and that she does not represent the rest of us brownskinned population...i have noticed a sort of pattern on BET especially on videos...the light skinned curly haired look on women is the thing now...but my friends step father enlightened us he said that BET is probably trying to cater to a broader scale of audience meaning caucasions too so they may think that they are making both parties happy...anywayz enough of my mouth
one love...zeeen (jamaican goodbye), sayonara (japanese goodbye), bonjour (french), one (DMX goodbye), chat later (internet goodbye), adios (spanish goodbye)
aight ill stop http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/biggrin.gif
peace