It's a sad day in America when the only time black America can depend on the elites of black America (The Bob Johnson's of the world) to care about the whole black community is in an April fool's Joke. Why hasn't the NPHC stuck with the proposed boycott of BET? I think it is sorely needed. Other groups (NAACP, Rainbow/PUSH, National Action Network, etc.) are quick to boycott the Marriott, the Oscars, and South Carolina, but how come we cannot come down on our own just as tough? We have discussed it in the past, but what stops us from doing it now? If BET were not run by blacks (I know it's no longer owned by blacks, but blacks still run it), then these groups, including the NPHC, would be calling for boycotts like yesterday.
The article brings up valid reasons to boycott-the blatant disregard for the image of blacks, the crass greed of the leadership of BET, the blatant disrespect of credible community voices when it comes to the objections in the programming- all of these things happen and we stand by and take it. What this does in a sense is cheapen the struggles against others who deem to perpetuate oppression. It's kind of like the mother complaining that the cops brutally arrested her son for stealing a car (in this example, the son actually steals the car) while she does nothing to stop her own son from stealing the car in the first place. Yeah the cops will treat her son bad, but at the same time empower your son to fight against this racism by not putting himself in the position to get arrested (as much as he can). In other words, do not steal a car to begin with, therefore, it is easier to advocate against the cops when they come knocking. BET doing the programming that it does justifies any stereotypical image that hollywood, madison ave, or any record company puts out there of us. Boycotting hits people where they hurt most , in their poketbooks. As long as Bob Johnson says he gets paid well, he will continue. But one thing that sticks out is that I do not think that it's black people watching BET, But white people. Check out my post in the NPHC boycotts BET thread on AKA Ave for a breakdown of the numbers. It is impossible for BET to get the ratings it does off of majority black people
. What do you guys think?
Blackwatch!!!!!