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.
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