January 12, 2008 – What do we what? Change! When do we want it? Now!
Just as BET was honoring the best and brightest in education, business, and entertainment, protesters paraded outside
of the Warner Theatre.
Braving windy, but bearable temperatures, hundreds of protestors walked up and down 14th Street in single file formation
carrying signs that said “BET does not depict me”, and “I am not a thug”.
For the last five months, protesters have also picketed the home of Chairman and CEO of BET, Debra Lee.
The protesters just want BET to clean up its programming act by showing the positive side of African American culture.
They want it known that the community is tired of the degrading and demeaning images of African Americans on the BET
Network. Images, the group and its supporters say depict African American men as thugs and gansters, and African American
women as b*tc*es and h*s.
"We’re doctors, school teachers, mothers, scientists, we’re respectful”, said Nia 2X of Black on Black Unity, the grass roots organization that claims to advocate Black liberation and human rights.
“BET is doing a horrible job in their depiction and portrayal of Black people. It's disrespectful and it’s
very harsh to children”, continued Nia 2X.
“The children are our future, and if we as adults allow the television network to depict us in error, then we
deserve what we get. But without protest, then there is no peace. We have to stand”, she further states.
Put simply, BET is being criticized for showing too much of the negative in Black culture, and not enough of the positive.
“There has to be, for lack of a better phrase, balance", said radio host and civil rights activist, Joe Madison.
“Maybe BET ought to stand for Black Education Television. What BET needs to understand, as we approach Black
History month, is that there is so much we can teach our young African American children, and to teach others. Our history
is rich. Our history begins with time. Our history goes beyond what we see predominantly in entertainment”, Madison
continued.
Ironically enough, BET plans to air the inaugural BET Honor show on the BET network February 22nd, during Black
History month.
While proud of the individuals BET has chosen to honor, Dr.E. Faye Williams chair of the National Council of Black Women, and one of the organizers of the BET protest says, “We want to show that Black people have been historically doing
good things".
"That’s the kind of thing that we hope BET would be doing. And its owed to us for all the civil rights workers
who died for the cause, for Ms. Lee to live where she lives, for Ms. Lee to be able go into the theatre (Warner Theatre) that
she’s in. She owes us more than she’s giving to us.” (Listen to interview below).
Hundreds of civil rights activists have led the charge against negative stereotypes of African Americans
in the media and entertainment that include the late C. Dolores Tucker, Dick Gregory, Martin Luther King, Jr. III, Joe Madison, Reverend Al Sharpton, Walter E. Fauntroy, and others.
Says Washingtonian, David Whitehead, “BET has been in a downward decline every since the Clinton years, doing
the gangster rap, and such. It’s derogatory to everybody, including white and Black people.”
“They also got rid of Emerge Magazine. That was a good magazine for Black America.”
As protestors continued up and down 14th street, chanting "Lift us up, BET! Don't tear us down!, young
children could be seen along side their parents.
“You can see the young people out here protesting as well’, says Whitehead. “Some young people may
not be able to handle the images and they try to go out and imitate what they see.”
“BET needs to revamp their entire programming with more history, more story telling, more Carter G. Woodson,
and W.E.B. Dubois. Better programming, good game shows, things that uplift our minds and race", says Whitehead.
While protesters say while they are not anti-BET, nor do they blame the artists, they do hold BET to a higher standard
when it comes to depicting Black life.
Perhaps BET is listening, and starting to get the message.
Last evening’s BET Honors awarded accomplished African Americans in the categories of education, business, media,
and entertainment.
While protests continue, artists and others in the entertainment industry praise BET for launching careers, providing
employment, and opportunities.
However you look at it, somewhere, somehow, a change is gonna come.
Honorees
Entrepreneur Award - Janice Bryant Howroyd, Founder Act 1 Personnel, Corporate Citizen Award - Richard 'Dick' Parsons (AOL/Time Warner), Award for Education
- Professor Cornel West, Media Award -Tyra Banks, Public Service Award - Congresswoman Maxine Waters,
Entertainment Award - Alicia Keys
