The NPHC Boycotts Bet?

AKA2D '91 · #1 10-30-2001, 07:35 PM

Apparently, the NPHC has decided to boycot BET for its "lack"of quality programming.

This is an email that I received...

I was at the National conference last week when it was
announced that the council of presidents will be
mandating that all nine of our NPHC organizations
boycott BET. Our council of presidents has been
trying to have a meeting with the owner of BET. When
they eventually had the appointment, they were treated
unfairly and unprofessionally. This is what I got
from the National Basileus of Omega Psi Phi who was
announcing this. He said that the programming is
basically not a good representation of our and to our
community.
Reading from my notes these were the reasons why...
The dimissal of Tavis Smiley

And the cancelation of Teen Summit

The acquisition of BET by Viacom, which boils down to
money issues

And the meeting that they did schedule with BET did
not go very well.

The station is not a fair representation of African
American Youth
The programming exploits our people

BET is more concerned with profit

And BET does not support any organizations that
contribute to our community.

Steeltrap · #2 10-30-2001, 08:37 PM

Discussion about the NPHC boycotting BET has been all over the NPHC Yahoo! group I belong to.
But I couldn't completely follow it....

stillwater15 · #3 10-30-2001, 11:45 PM

i've been boycotting b.e.t. for a minute, because i don't feel that their shows (w/few exceptions) are positive or thought provoking. for a station supposedly geared towards black people, the bulk of their programming seems to focus on music videos and comedy. in my opinion, our interests extend beyond those two categories. all tv's in the house have b.e.t. blocked and it will continue to be that way until major changes are made.

jali0004 · #4 10-31-2001, 10:43 AM

I also boycott BET, because I feel that the station doesn't offer quality programming. I got tired of Comic View, videos, and old reruns. I wish BET had more of the black viewers in mind instead of the bottom line. I know money matters, but being the only "true" black television station, you would think they would want to try new ideas, and programming. Or at least be in line with MTV (read: producing their own shows). They have so much potential. But the most important reason for me to boycott BET is the video show with CITA. When she said the only rocks black people know of, are crack rocks, I refused to watch a show that would promote such ignorance, and self-hate in public about it's own people.

sphinxpoet · #5 10-31-2001, 11:14 AM

I was also at the NPHC convention and when the council of presidents did this it was an issue. It has come up that on 106th and Park they wanted to have a round robin stepshow with all 9 orgs(funny how they have time for stepteams but no time for positive programs that we do) and this came to a head when the council of presidents basically said no! This after they got no stepteams for the NPHC convention (hmmmmm) but there were a lot of teams wanting to get onto BET! Why is it that it is easier to get teams to step on BET then for their own Orgs?

The Sphinxpoet

AKAtude · #6 10-31-2001, 11:24 AM

I had a conversation with a friend on mine last week about BET. He asked me when was the last time BET meant something to me. I thought about it for a minute and said back in the day when Donnie and Sherry were hosting videos. IMO, that is when videos were videos with no booty-shaking, half-naked folks parading around, and music was music.

He then asked how old I was at the time. I think I was in to BET from 12-20 maybe. Anyway, the point he was trying to make is that BET gave our generation what we wanted and maybe they are just giving the next generation what they want since they are the target audience. So, maybe as times change so will BET. Hopefully, they will change for the better because at this rate they are definitely near the bottom if they haven't touched it yet.

Ideal08 · #7 10-31-2001, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKAtude
I had a conversation with a friend on mine last week about BET. He asked me when was the last time BET meant something to me. I thought about it for a minute and said back in the day when Donnie and Sherry were hosting videos. IMO, that is when videos were videos with no booty-shaking, half-naked folks parading around, and music was music.

He then asked how old I was at the time. I think I was in to BET from 12-20 maybe. Anyway, the point he was trying to make is that BET gave our generation what we wanted and maybe they are just giving the next generation what they want since they are the target audience. So, maybe as times change so will BET. Hopefully, they will change for the better because at this rate they are definitely near the bottom if they haven't touched it yet.

I have to say, I never thought about it like that. Your friend brings up a pretty good point.

As far as the programming for BET goes, I think it's half and half. I like the videos, I love Black in the Day, I like *some* of the movies that they show. However, I agree, there needs to be more. I think that they need a whole 'nother station, BET2. That station can have all of the programming that BET has now. Then on BET, we can get some Black TV shows (NOT syndicated); news at noon, 6, and 11; movies here and there; Teen Summit; Community Summit (where they can invite different guests from different cities and discuss problems (and possible solutions) that plague our families and communities; a talk show (Iyanla, maybe) . . . Basically television programming just like we see on major networks (NBC, ABC, CBS, & FOX), except it will all be black. Then we wouldn't have to worry about how many black faces we see on network TV, we wouldn't call UPN the Urban People's Network, we wouldn't be upset when Black shows got cancelled, and we wouldn't have to spend any more time complaining about BET's current programming. I swear, I don't know what the big deal is about this. It just doesn't seem that hard to give us what we want. Everyone can be happy. If this generation likes the way BET is now, they will love BET2. And we will be happy with BET. Nice and simple, problem solved.

Either that, or we need a new network altogether, and then BET will feel real stupid, because they will have competition. While people are boycotting, is there any talk of starting a new station with positive Black programming? Or are people just boycotting, and we end up with nothing EXCEPT what we have now?

If there are any of you out there that work in this industry, and would like to hire me so that I may help you implement this new station, please, feel free to email me.

jali0004 · #8 10-31-2001, 02:23 PM

Akatude, Your friend makes a good point. I am 21, but I cannot stand BET. I won't say that I don't watch videos (on MTV), but I don't like to see booty-shakin videos either! But I may be the exception. Does anyone on greekchat in my age group feel like I do?

I remember BET when they did have programming, or at least tried. I was probably 8 or 9, but I remember the show "Tell me something good" and even though I didn't know all the old school songs then, it was still entertaining. And then there was Donny Simpson and Sheryl (I forget her last name) doing Video Soul, and good episodes of Tean Summit, and does anyone remember the show, Black College Knowledge Bowl, or something like that??

I think a viable solution for them would be to have BET2, and the BET network. Is that too hard to ask for?? Is it too expensive for them to do that?

NOWorNEVER · #9 10-31-2001, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jali0004
Akatude, Your friend makes a good point. I am 21, but I cannot stand BET. I won't say that I don't watch videos (on MTV), but I don't like to see booty-shakin videos either! But I may be the exception. Does anyone on greekchat in my age group feel like I do?

I feel you. I'm 19 and I hate BET. To me, the station has abandoned important values that are needed for our community. I can't remember the last time I saw Body and Soul or a health related program. They need to air that the same amount of time as they do Cita's World (which i cannot stand) and 106 and Park. If I'm not mistaken, BET stands for BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION. I don't know about anyone else, but music and comedy are not the only things of interest or entertainment to me. I miss programs like Teen Summit and Video Soul. BET has really fallen off and I feel, as someone else said earlier, that it's all about the money. Black people are talented and thoughtful, so why is it the the folks at BET don't have an original idea in their heads??? Everything they do is a copy off MTV or from another station. Think about it:
*MTV came out with the Tom Green Show
then BET came out with Hits (which I must admit, I like)
*MTV had Total Request Live (TRL)
then BET came out with 106 and Park

*The View-------Oh, Drama! (what kind of name is that anyway?)
*MTV jams-----Rap City
Whenever I'm watching BET and I want to tell my brother 106 and Park is on, I'll say ghetto TRL is on.

And, as I mentioned before, I hate Cita. What's the point of her show anyway. It's insulting. And if I see one more butt crack or nipple showing on BET Uncut, I don't know what I'll do!

mccoyred · #10 10-31-2001, 03:12 PM

On another NPHC listserve, there is a big debate on this issue. The debate there is not over the boycott itself but the fact that the decision was handed down by the Council of Presidents of the NPHC and not disseminated through the individual orgs w/ the input/approval of the membership.

Here is a copy of the official email that was sent out by the NPHC:

Date: Fri Oct 26, 2001 4:55 pm
Subject: NPHC Organizations Boycott BET

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Please pass along to respective list serves)

************************************************** **

The NPHC National Office was informed, as of 3:50 p.m. (Cst.) today, of a BET sponsored round-robin step show scheduled to commence next week Wednesday, October 31, 2001.

The National Board of NPHC is truly concerned that members of organizations served by the NPHC umbrella may be taking part in activities hosted by BET in the coming weeks, an entity currently being boycotted by NPHC organizations. A decision was reached and an announcement made by the Council of Presidents at the NPHC 61st National Convention advising members of the boycott.

We appreciate being notified about this concern and welcome any information that will serve to move us forward, "Unified in our Quest to Shape the Future."

Fraternally,

Cassandra Black

National President

National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc.

Virginia LeBlanc
National Executive Director
National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc.
Memorial Hall West 111
Bloomington, IN 47405

Office: 812.855.8820; Fax: 812.856.5477

HQ E-mail: info@nphchq.org; Web site: http://www.nphchq.org

NPHC: Unified in Our Quest to Shape the Future

Beauty1913 · #11 10-31-2001, 06:20 PM

That's very interesting, mccoyred, about the NPHC receiving concern from the membership of the constituting organizations about the boycott itself. I have two views on this issue. The first is that the membership of the NPHC organizations have a right to be concerned. This is because many of the employees of BET and I would even venture to say that a sizable number of employees of Viacom are members of the NPHC orgs. If the NPHC is officially boycotting these companies, how would this effect these peoples' jobs and reputations in the workplace. Implementing massive boycotts like this is difficult when you are talking about the livelihood of the very people you claim to be representing. The second view is sort of a spin off of what I read Robert Johnson (The conceptor of BET) say in the most recent Forbes Magazine: He basically said that people should pretty much accept BET for what it is. BET was never intended to be the one voice and representative of Black America and all of its concerns, political agendas, problems, wants, and needs. It began 20 years ago with the onset of pop music and the similar phenomena that was taking place in the society. He said that if people would simply remember that BET is merely a television network like the others that exist, and exists for a specific purpose, to entertain, then there would be much less discourse over what is being broadcast. I have to agree with a lot of that. I feel that, as someone stated before me on this thread, that the answer to this dilemma is to simply create more stations. We cannot blame BET or the visions of the owners of the station for what they choose to broadcast. What we can do is mobilize the appropriate people to start a station that broadcasts shows that are in the various interests that are being expressed here and elsewhere. Otherwise, we have to just take BET for what it is worth. I am not saying that I am on any way satisfied with what is being shown on BET, but I just don't expect anything more than what they show. That's pretty much all that we can do.

sphinxpoet · #12 10-31-2001, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mccoyred
The debate there is not over the boycott itself but the fact that the decision was handed down by the Council of Presidents of the NPHC and not disseminated through the individual orgs w/ the input/approval of the membership.

Only problem with that statement is that the NPHC at the 60th annual convention gave the power to the Council of Presidents to make decisions on behalf of the body without the body's approval. So when they(the COPs) agree on something to go against them may be a problem...........

MsOnyx · #13 11-01-2001, 11:27 AM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Beauty1913
[B][COLOR=crimson] The second view is sort of a spin off of what I read Robert Johnson (The conceptor of BET) say in the most recent Forbes Magazine: He basically said that people should pretty much accept BET for what it is. BET was never intended to be the one voice and representative of Black America and all of its concerns, political agendas, problems, wants, and needs. It began 20 years ago with the onset of pop music and the similar phenomena that was taking place in the society. He said that if people would simply remember that BET is merely a television network like the others that exist, and exists for a specific purpose, to entertain, then there would be much less discourse over what is being broadcast. [QUOTE]
-------------------------------------------------

No matter how disappointed we are with the quality of BET programming, we have to bear in mind that
BET is just one station. It began as one person's vision. We cannot expect BET to represent all of us. While it would be better, IMHO, if BET presented a more rounded view of Black life, it cannot/will not represent all of us. Someone will always feel left out.

I agree with Ideal08, we need more than one "BET"
to get a full view of the different perspectives of Black life.

There was a thread previously asking why others haven't come together to develop a new station.
I'll have to search for it.

jali0004 · #14 11-01-2001, 11:40 AM

But I think a lot of us are saying that it's sad that his vision for BET is one that portrays blacks in a negative way. I respect his vision, but it saddens me that his vision is the only one the rest of america see/believe about our people. (I hope that made sense!!) And another thing, BET wasn't always bad or how it is today. Maybe his vision changed. If he only wanted an entertainment station, why tempt the rest of us with Tavis Smiley and Teen Summit????

Here's my question:

Mr. Johnson has a right to do with his television station (when it was his station) what he wanted. Do you think he has/had a responsibility to the black audience, the black people; to make BET more of a traditional network than just a music/entertainment avenue??

mccoyred · #15 11-01-2001, 02:25 PM

I was not able to make the convention in Philly. However, the next question becomes HOW the power was given. Was there a vote of NPHC delegate? Was it an outcome of a discussion and sent to the COP for a statement? I guess since the overwhelming majority of members were not at the convention, it seems so sudden. Unfortunately the other listserve assumes everyone was there but of course that could not be true. Please offer some additional input.

Quote:

Originally posted by sphinxpoet

Only problem with that statement is that the NPHC at the 60th annual convention gave the power to the Council of Presidents to make decisions on behalf of the body without the body's approval. So when they(the COPs) agree on something to go against them may be a problem...........