Open Letter to BET
Since its inception, BET has prided itself on being the voice and representation of Black people in America; filling the chasms of deniability and invalidation oft created and left by the predominate networks who couldn’t – or wouldn’t – see the value or significance of Black livelihood.
In a time where “blackness” was medially defined through the eyes of white bigotry and subjugation – which unabashedly continues today - BET, then, served as the contrasting counterbalance that provided the positive perspective categorically omitted elsewhere, practically proving itself to be the safe-haven and preserver of “black identity and unity”.
BET had become a place where Black people could learn about themselves holistically – their historical contributions and unlimited future potentialities – without fear of judgment, condemnation, or characterization, in a world where such has become the status quo.
But something went terribly wrong. Falling in the hands of those who obviously don’t have the unifying, progressive best interest of the Black community at hand or at heart, BET has slowly become the very thing it was created to offset: a stereotypical reinforcement that places the Black community’s lowest rungs as its highest achievements. With the sell of BET to Viacom, “selling out” become more of a literalism than a euphemism. In effect, BET lost its “Soul” [no pun intended….but I like it].
Therefore, on this day of February, 21st, on the latter end of Black History Month, I find it rather disturbing that various BHM infomercials and appreciations are obvious contrasts to the stations regular parochial programming; rendering “Black history” an obligatory interruption on a station where it should be an adamant and valuable mainstay throughout the year.
One would think that the programming for Black History Month on BET would run seamlessly and transparently as a part of its regular programming, putting equal importance on history and the future as it does the present. But then I am reminded that BET is an acronym for Black Entertainment Television (my emphasis), and not Black Enlightenment Television or Black Education Television; in which the latter two would only be the concern of an organization who actually cared about the community it is supposed to represent. An assessment of BET’s regular programming alone is a clear indication that this is obviously not the case.
As a result, BET has found itself in a position of redefinition, but not so much in a positive light, unless your “positivity” gauge is calibrated on the number of “eye and ears” that are reached as opposed to “hearts and minds”. But now, equally befitting, are the acronyms: Blacks Embarrassing Themselves, and Buffoonery Every Time, along with the infamous, Black Exploitation Television.
Therefore, in this month of Black History, we should use the last day of the month, February 28th, to recognize and commemorate November 3, 2000 as the death of BET; for this is when the soul left the body.
Since its inception, BET has prided itself on being the voice and representation of Black people in America; filling the chasms of deniability and invalidation oft created and left by the predominate networks who couldn’t – or wouldn’t – see the value or significance of Black livelihood.
In a time where “blackness” was medially defined through the eyes of white bigotry and subjugation – which unabashedly continues today - BET, then, served as the contrasting counterbalance that provided the positive perspective categorically omitted elsewhere, practically proving itself to be the safe-haven and preserver of “black identity and unity”.
BET had become a place where Black people could learn about themselves holistically – their historical contributions and unlimited future potentialities – without fear of judgment, condemnation, or characterization, in a world where such has become the status quo.
But something went terribly wrong. Falling in the hands of those who obviously don’t have the unifying, progressive best interest of the Black community at hand or at heart, BET has slowly become the very thing it was created to offset: a stereotypical reinforcement that places the Black community’s lowest rungs as its highest achievements. With the sell of BET to Viacom, “selling out” become more of a literalism than a euphemism. In effect, BET lost its “Soul” [no pun intended….but I like it].
Therefore, on this day of February, 21st, on the latter end of Black History Month, I find it rather disturbing that various BHM infomercials and appreciations are obvious contrasts to the stations regular parochial programming; rendering “Black history” an obligatory interruption on a station where it should be an adamant and valuable mainstay throughout the year.
One would think that the programming for Black History Month on BET would run seamlessly and transparently as a part of its regular programming, putting equal importance on history and the future as it does the present. But then I am reminded that BET is an acronym for Black Entertainment Television (my emphasis), and not Black Enlightenment Television or Black Education Television; in which the latter two would only be the concern of an organization who actually cared about the community it is supposed to represent. An assessment of BET’s regular programming alone is a clear indication that this is obviously not the case.
As a result, BET has found itself in a position of redefinition, but not so much in a positive light, unless your “positivity” gauge is calibrated on the number of “eye and ears” that are reached as opposed to “hearts and minds”. But now, equally befitting, are the acronyms: Blacks Embarrassing Themselves, and Buffoonery Every Time, along with the infamous, Black Exploitation Television.
Therefore, in this month of Black History, we should use the last day of the month, February 28th, to recognize and commemorate November 3, 2000 as the death of BET; for this is when the soul left the body.
R.I.P BET.
Tungz
