BET and TVOne: Who's Really to Blame?

I've been involved in some marvelous communication lately with a couple television executives and some random, 'round-the-way television watchers. It seems as if people are growing incredibly irate with the current state of Black television. I've even read an article on theroot.com concerning The Real Housewives of Atlanta and how black women are portrayed incorrectly. Overall, one resounding theme is that people are looking to BET and TVOne to promote African Americans as educated and intelligent individuals.

I'm not saying that we as a race are NOT intelligent and not educated. We do have a plethora of black-owned businesses, networks, etc. But, neither BET or TVOne are black-owned. One day, we'll come to a place where a fully black-owned mainstream media agent takes the world by storm.

That said, we cannot look to BET or TVOne as outlets of/for our intelligence. Granted, there is some decent educational programs on both networks that offer an insight into Black culture and values and history. But, I have noticed that the network personalities on both have failed to realize that it's not enough. It's just like BET on Sundays...there's about a four hour or so block of television devoted to the church, then it's back to regularly scheduled programming. Gone are the days of BET being completely devoted to God on Sundays.

But, as we delve into the past just a bit and then return to our present and future television, whose really to blame for the lack of educational Black programming on television?

Us.

Yes, I said it:

Us. We are.

It is us who fail to continually support our educational programs on said networks but will desperately tune in to see what Tiny and Toya are doing this week or continually watch rehashed re-runs of Sister, Sister or The Game.

It is us who nominally watched the documentaries on black race and socioeconomic challenges we face but routinely watch music countdowns to see if our favorite video made it to the countdown. It is us who barely watched the presidential coverage on BET but repeatedly watch the BET Awards to see the same thing we've seen twice, three times, or more times before. It is us who wouldn't discuss children's education on TeenSummit but have no problems discussing Beyonce's latest lacefront wig.

I'm not here to point fingers specifically, for I'm not blameless. I do watch The Real Housewives of Atlanta, I do watch some other reality programming, but I DO KNOW that I cannot blame BET for not showing more educational programming when I know most folks didn't watch it or don't want to watch it. We as a whole don't want to see something intelligent! We want to see whose wig is being snatched off and who's getting beat down or cursed out.

I'll quote a comment left on the article I read on theroot.com:

"It would be great if there was a high-quality cable station devoted to black issues, arts and culture, but for some reason nothing like this seems to fly on cable. Both Bravo and A&E started out with the intent of celebrating the arts, but soon took the low road instead."

Truer words are rarely spoken. Gone are the days of even those channels showing programs about space exploration and our history as a people, gone are the days of those channels showing how the world words financially and geologically. We now have rampant reality shows and who-wants-to-date-me type shows. What?

Channels like A&E and Bravo started out well and then changed its format, because WE changed it. BET had some decent programs and shows but soon changed because WE changed. Even MTV rarely shows music videos anymore except roughly between 3am and 10am, simply because that's not what we want to see.

So, because of our nosiness and interest in others' lives and the drama that unfolds when those lives intertwine, we lose programs that could help to propel us and our children into the future. We can't blame anyone until we ourselves can show a vested interest in quality programming.

"We can't blame someone for not doing something we failed to do ourselves..."

Getting It Together...

I did say some time ago that I was going to come in here and write a lot more often. I think I have become flooded with the Facebook popularity and finally being more active on MySpace; seems only natural that I would come back here. I'm thinking of making this blog the more exclusive one; no more notes on Facebook or blogs on MySpace unless I see fit to post them there. This will give me the opportunity to get back to actually writing. Following the shenanigans of my online and personal friends via their Facebooks and MySpaces are fun; however, they can become quite irritating over time because we all seem to have this different persona when it comes to sites like that. Here is where you will get my innermost thoughts and feelings about a myriad of subjects.

My so-called life? I'm living it. I think I hate the fact that I am still in Jacksonville and have grown complacent to a lot of its foolishness, but I've become too lazy to move somewhere else. My first choice would obviously be Chicago, but after visiting New York City for my birthday and becoming a totally different person while there has bumped that selection near the forefront. Houston is still an option as is Los Angeles. I think I need to really think about where I want to take my life in the next ten years.

I've decided that it's high time to get my career path going. Yes, I have dabbled in the journalism industry after college and it didn't fit my needs at that time, so that's still a viable option. I've toyed with the idea of teaching but the kids these days are scary! Maybe they just need that one teacher that's not going to take their sh*t and slap them around a couple times, like they did in the ol'school. Yes, Target is great and all, and it does pay the bills and has me coming into contact with a LOT of different people and personality types, but Target is a JOB...I want a career. I think I have played around a little too long while some peers younger than me have advanced a little further (I'm not envious at all; I've made my own decisions and lived with them). I think I have had a LOT of fun doing what I want to do when I want to do it...now it's just time to squeeze in some grownmanness. LOL.

I've started singing with a gospel ministry here in Jacksonville and things are REALLY taking off. I'm so excited about them and love the spirit they possess jointly and severally. Our name is Ledger and Voices of Remnant. You can check us out at http://myspace.com/voicesofremnant and even purchase our EP on there. I'm excited and I hope you can share in that enjoyment.

I'm also going to be in a commercial for the Channel 4 ten o'clock news here in Jacksonville. Shooting is taking place this Thursday and I am soooooo excited about that. While I am sitting here typing to whomever I should definitely be trying to memorize my script. Pity I haven't done so before.

And yes, I am quite single and I LOVE it. I do have my people that try to knock down my door but I don't have an interest in them. I have "dated" (and we use that term so loosely these days, but I mean the word "date" not "hookup") a couple individuals without taking it anywhere physically, but in some regards I don't think I am prepared for all the madness and work that goes along with a relationship. I have to get MYSELF together first before I can offer myself to someone else. Feel me?

I'm getting it together. You'll see...stay tuned...

Bullseye Bullsh!t...

I'm going to try to get up in here a little more often to actually write stuff. I'm not going to try to get all meaningful or anything like that, but just basically explain my so-called life as I see it.

So, of course, most people that know me, know that I work at Target. It's a wonderful little company that tries so hard to establish itself as a diverse company (catch that subliminal message in there, if you can). Anyway, I can honestly say that I love what I do, whenever I do get the chance to really do it. But, as of late, I have really been encountering a LOT of foolishness that I typically DO NOT tolerate.

Back in October of 2008, I was the Food Avenue Team Leader. It was such a thankless job, for I was always under the impression that I was doing such a horrible job, even though I couldn't see where I was doing so badly. Nevertheless, the opportunity arose for me to become a GSA - Guest Service Attendant. Anyone who knows me knows I wanted to be a GSTL - Guest Service Team Leader, but the GSA position is not a lateral move, but more of a demotion. I was NOT interested in taking a marvelous steep decline in pay, so I negotiated to keep a reasonable amount of my pay for my voluntary demotion. It was accepted, so I accepted the position.

Some parts of me feel as if I have sold out or something. Granted, Food Avenue was a very stressful position to have, but it feels as if a lot of the responsibility of the Front End has been squarely placed on my shoulders, unnecessarily. I have been approached to "raise the guest survey scores", because everyone knows that I am quite friendly and approachable. That said, since I switched over, the survey scores have relatively increased and the Front End has gotten a LOT better, in my opinion.

However, it seems as if there is TOO mch responsibility placed on my position, even though it is NOT a team leader position. What is that about? Then, there are a couple persons that are in the team leader position (I won't divulge names simply to avoid feather-ruffling; I know for a fact that people google my name and this particular blog will come up, thanks) that DO NOT fit the particular position. I'd like to not feel like there is some favoritism, nepotism, or even some sense of discrimination (racial and sexist) going on, but it's hard to NOT take notice, if I can be so honest. You mean to tell me I can be reprimanded for sitting on the Guest Service desk and "talking about non-team member issues while the registers are in backup", but a certain GSTL can run rampant amongst the aisles in the store "helping guests"? You mean to tell me that a certain GSTL can continually remind me that I have no real control over the Front End because I am "just a GSA", but I can still be subject to disciplinary action for not closing registers and cleaning? Yo mean to tell me that I can be scheduled as a cashier (sans Wednesdays, my closing nights) but when a GSTL is scheduled he should NEVER touch a lane?

Maybe I'm just crazy. I'm going to leave this right where it is before this becomes a novel.

Musical Support...

What's going on people?

I know it's been a while since I have posted, but life has taken me in many different directions. Believe me when I say that my future is looking bright!! I've enjoyed more time with my family, I have been in the studio a little bit doing some session vocals, and I have been blessed to purchase a car that I LOVE. God is so awesome.

Okay, so, I wanted to talk about something today. As I was sitting in the Comfort Suites hotel (my mother and youngest brother have come down to visit), I had a good conversation with the front desk attendant. He happens to have a gospel group in the Jacksonville area, and we spoke about things and the music life here.

What dawned on me and what I told him was that it is really good to hear local groups actually support each other. He had gone to a concert for another gospel artist, and he had taken his group to show support. Now, I thought that was pretty admirable, because a lot of times you will have groups trying to outsing each other and outdo each other. It's good when groups can come together and enjoy a service together without someone oversinging or trying to show off how they may be better than the other.

I've noticed, in my long years of life, lol, that a lot of people and groups in the music industry (in each genre) will try to outdo the next artist. I've seen it in a music showcase and I've seen it at the Stellar Awards; I've seen it at the GMWA Convention and I have seen it at the Grammys. Everyone seems to be interested in seeing who can sing better than who, who can harmonize better, who can riff or run better, who has clearer runs, who can outgrowl you, and who shouldn't ever be singing at all to begin with. I think it's such a shame, when the focus should either be on the ministry or on the music (depending on which genre). That's why I was VERY glad to hear that an artist had no problems supporting the works of another.

I hope that when I get deeper into the music industry (if I ever choose to do so), people will actually notice that it's not about the melismas and the tightest beat...it SHOULD be all about supporting one another's craft. I'll pray on it...

Goodbye...(Musicking Lisa)

I'm sitting in the middle of my bedroom floor as I type this (on my phone, no less), practically ignoring text messages and the like...

God has a way of bringing things to an end when you don't want to, but need to. I was thinking of a particular person who is trying to come back into my life, and I was dreading the decision to cancel them out. Reading my friend Corey's note about "cancelled programming" (Yes!!) was a good start...

Then, I'm half-listening to Lisa Fischer's So Intense album, half-pretending to clean my room, and I hear the last song on this CD. Mind you, I haven't ever really listened to the whole CD (I mean, it was released in the early 90s), but this particular song has been on repeat for the last three hours.

Last Goodbye
Lisa Fischer

I knew that this was coming
There'll be no looking back for me
I'm kind of glad it happened this way
There's not much more I can take

It's never easy when you have to bid a farewell
Right now I'm in a daze; I only hope I'll live to tell

Tears will dry; make room for new ones I will cry
Pain subsides; we'll both survive the last goodbye

I'll have to start from where I'm standing
There'll be no looking back for me
Understand that it's over and done
Love will take my memory

Soul doesn't grow with life
We must allow old wounds to heal
At least that's what I'm told
I only know the way I feel

Tears will dry; make room for new ones I will cry
Pain subsides; we'll both survive the last goodbye

It's never easy when you have to bid a farewell
Right now I'm in a daze; I only hope I'll live to tell

I know there's gonna be pain
But for some reason I'm not afraid
Because even the darkest night
Always leads to a brighter day

Tears will dry; make room for new ones I will cry
Pain subsides; we'll both survive the last goodbye.


Yep...def gonna mail this one out...or even email it.

10-28-08...Reflection...

Whattup peeps? I'm in my reflective mode...and this will be one of the most personal blogs I have ever written...

Today is October 28, 2008...as most everyone knows, my father passed away about three months ago (thirteen weeks to the day). Today, he would have been 49 years old.

I'm not exactly sure how I feel about that. I've never been extremely close to my father, but that stems from me not really accepting the fact that he did the best job he could. I looked around at my friends, and even some of my family, who still had both their mothers and fathers as a permanent part of their family. Yes, I was an envious child; seemed to me the best families had both parents at home.

To no discredit to either of my parents, I had always wished that they were both there...maybe I would have grown up a different person? Don't get me wrong...I LOVE the me that I am today. Strong-willed, independent, opinionated, sarcastic, and critically analytical person that I am, I have grown into myself. Yet, I often wondered how I would have turned out had my father and mother been married and raised our family together. I'd be a lot closer to my sister and maybe most of our family wouldn't be so disjointed...

My father did the best job he could...he and my mother weren't married, and I wrongfully blamed him fully. He and my mother were both in the navy, deployed at different times, stationed at different places, simply because he and she were not married. Growing up, I never fully understood that...but it made me a bitter child towards my father. I'd blame him for the slightest things...I never hated him, ever at all...just wished he was there.

As I got older, I noticed my way of thinking was quite biased and even jaded. Nevertheless, I always realized that he wished he were closer to me...and wanted the best out of our family possible. He always spoke highly of his children and his family, even though, most of the time, we were some of the most dysfunctional people you would ever see. We needed our own reality TV show! LOL. Nevertheless, he had a deep-rooted sense of family that, even after his death, still holds today. I still run into people, via email and in person, that tell me how often he spoke of me, his son, doing so much educationally and being a role model for him. Go figure! The son being a model for the father? Surely, I MUST do that honor some justice, for he was a role model for me...

Yes, I miss him...yes, I wish I could take back all those years of misguided envy and loathing. But, I thank God for his time here on Earth...because he has helped me grow in more ways than one...

I think sometimes that I could never be the man my father was...but, I don't think I want to be anymore. I want to be the best me that I can be, based on his life and his experiences. Yes, I look like him, hell, even close to his twin. LOL. But, I'm me...

And that's just what he has taught me to be.

Love ya pops...rest easy. Be of good work to the Lord...
William Bailey - October 28, 1959 - July 30, 2008

Opinionations...

Hey hey, whatcha say?

So, check it. I've been lurking around a bit, reading some blogs here and there, and I'm seeing a resounding theme...and it's a bit disturbing to me.

There seems to be an influx of people who are unwilling to accept one's opinion...and right within my own close network.

I'm friends with a multitude of people who have differing and similar opinions on various subjects. There are times when I have vehemently disagreed with someone's opinion and there are times when I have fully supported someone's decision. However, I have never superimposed my opinion on anyone, nor have I ever engaged in a mudslinging campaign to denounce someone's opinion as blatantly biased and subjective...

Yes, it's wrong for someone to engage in name-calling and childlike retorts because your viewpoint differs from that of another; but, it makes you NO BETTER when you judge someone and criticize them for having a differing point of view.

We are all grown, consenting adults, and we all have the mental tools to agree to disagree in our debates without resorting to insults and namebashing campaigns with others. That shows a vindictive, retaliatory spirit that can eat you from your core without you realizing it...

And it's not a good look for your intelligence.

That's just my $0.02, 2¢, whatever...