If you want to get an idea of the ridiculous paucity of Black people working in a creative capacity in TV, an apt comparison would be if in the movie Horton Hears a Who, there was another smaller world on a speck of dust on the eyelash of one of the whos, who lived in that world, which was on the speck of dust that Horton, the elephant was carrying. Is it really that bad? Maybe not, but even on a good day, it sure seems like it.
Several years ago there was a call to arms by Black leaders (I know, ha ha!) who all of a sudden found media cachet by hollering about the lack of diversity in television. Why is there no diversity in the casts of these network shows? Why is there no diversity in the writer's room on these network shows? Why is there no diversity amongst the show runners and executive producers of these network TV shows? Suddenly, faster than a paparazzi flash bulb exploding in the faces of BeyonJay, all over Hollywood, diversity initiatives starting popping up like zits on a soda drinking teenager. There was a frenzy of excitement because it seemed like something significant was finally happening and for once being Black in the TV business was a good thing. But, of course, it was short lived and after a few people got some interviews and an even fewer number got actual jobs, the fervor for diversity exited the minds of TV power players as fast as it was forced in.
Sadly, but to the surprise of no one who pays attention to such things, TV is back to being whiter than bleached teeth and Black people interested in seeing someone who looks like them on the tube are now given the unbelievable choice of The Game, House of Payne, and Under One Roof, none of which anyone would call Must See TV and some would say they aren't even, Might-Maybe-Glance-at-Two-Seconds- of- a-Scene-TV. Doubly sad, in this age of watching TV on every device but a can opener, prospects for this wackness changing are slim and none and slim just got deported. I hate to end this post on such a Dick Cheney-esque darkly cynical note, but nobody's even talking about this issue anywhere any more. It's as if TV is American Idol and Black people wanting to work in creating and writing for TV ,are some off-key, clown-ass contestant who was sent home after he was told, "We'll see you next year for tryouts but know in advance, we aren't checking for you,"
4 comments:
What I think needs to happen is that we need to get some of these million/billionaires that are not public people to get up off of some $$ and contribute to the larger group of us.
As long as we continue to work for others (networks, dreamworks....etc) we are going to have let others take the lead and ask for a seat at the table. Whenever you ask, you have your hat in your hand, and that is a position of weakness.
I am SICK of stupid TV...so that's why I don't watch it. I would rather watch the friggin' Nigerian Television Authority with its shitty-ass sound and picture/color quality then CBS, NBC or any other CRAP on network television. I can not tolerate foolishness.
So....American Idol and the rest of it can go jump. What I worry about though is the black kids at home, with mom and dad working their tails off that is watching vulgar poorly written and performed tricks on tv. From soaps to evening drama and comedy....tv is in the tank.
Perhaps a new day will come....but some anonymous infusion of $$ may be the trick we need.
Sometimes we reap what we sow. Although I agreed with your post, we as Black people need to realize that we cannot expect others to do for us what we wont do for each other.
There was a time when we had folks in positions to help and assist but they chose to live the 'Hollywood life' and provide no substance and now they're gone. Quite honestly, I've had much better results dealing with non-Blacks in the entertainment business than with Blacks which does not make me happy.
What type of programming would you suggest? Better yet, is the internet a viable alternative, which will one day may be the preferred medium, to create and view programming? If a blog can get so popular it has power; Undercover Brother can start as an online cartoon and transition to the big screen(when broadband wasn't even close to where it is now), why can't a "made for internet" show, that gets attention due to it's quality, and not absurdity, at least get the attention of networks..if that's the goal? Then there may be an opportunity to create those spaces for Black creative talent to work..again, if that is the goal.
Of course networks could say, "No, we control who works on this program." The great thing is, the answer back can be, "No problem, because I have an audience, I just wanted to see if you wanted to buy it...on my terms. Because your advertiser buddies must see some potential..then again you could be approaching me because you, "jus' wanna help us black folks out." Again, if that is the goal.
That's just from an n of 1.
For a long time now I have realized the sobering reality of tv and the unbalanced racial numbers on productions... not just tv but production as a whole (film and tv) is white. Yes, there are a few "brothas" handling crowd and traffic control, "great job Leroy, fine job parking those cars and handling your peeps in the "hood", while we make the next "hood" film."
The bizarre twist to this, and what should have been the remedy years ago, was the emergence of BET. The network was supposed to become a haven for Black creatives to produce work for our own. HA!!! I always wondered, when Bill Cosby was trying to purchase NBC, why didn't he consider BET? Buying BET would have been far less costly and Coz would have had the ability to direct an arts-based network to greatness.
I decided five years ago to create my own network on the internet. Internet networks are the future (utube is a network, get it?). A network is comprised of three things... programming, viewers, and sponsorship. Get those three elements going and you have a network! I will make this network and beat tv at it's own game and I dont need a lot of money to do it. So, as with all things, karma will soon slap white Hollywood in the mouth, just be ready when the revolution begins.
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