Check out my exclusive interview on “The Dr. Vibe Show” about my article “My Apology To Black Women”! —–> http://bit.ly/2hsIC4O

I look at what I’ve accomplished in this world and they can say what they want to say. I employ black people. I employ them and give them hope and inspiration. Until they’re doing what I’m doing on my level, I let that sh*t roll off my back, man.”

           –Anthony Anderson on the negativity surrounding “Black-ish”, Sway In The Morning          

In July, news of Anthony Anderson’s new show Black-ish hit the social media airwaves. And, at the drop of a dime, it cause insurmountable amounts of controversy and outrage that even forced Anthony to defend his position. The criticism, while warranted and dually noted in this current media landscape, was incredibly premature and borderline immature. Many of the people speaking negatively against the new television program neglected doing research to support their claims. They just attacked and defamed. When the footage came out, many stood looking like haters and doubters who get up in arms about anything progressive black people in the industry attempt to get going.

We aren’t talking about the normal cooning display of overdone slavery narratives and butler/servant movies. At its base form, Black-ish seems to be a compelling satire that will make us laugh but also think about coming to terms with your identity in a society that portrays everything white as delicate and pure and everything black as evil, ratchet and detrimental to progress. I’d seriously doubt that Anthony Anderson, Tracie Ellis Ross and even Laurence Fishburne would stoop as low as to make a modern day minstrel show that supports the ignorant perceptions and stereotypes that we’re constantly stamped with as a community.

Take a look at what I found on ABC’s website Black-ish section. It details five rather light reasons why a viewer should watch the show. However, the fourth reason warranted deeper thought and interpretation. The image is placed below.

The definition of the word satire (via literarydevices.net) is “a technique employed by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or a society by using humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule. It intends to improve humanity by criticizing its follies and foibles. A writer in a satire uses fictional characters, which stand for real people, to expose and condemn their corruption”. Have you noticed that it takes entertaining folks and completely entrancing them to get them to even hear what you have to say? As a young adult novelist, I’ve definitely have to go my hardest when I write to captivate the attention of my intended audience.

The purpose of writing is to inform your reader, attempt to sway them to your point of view or philosophy or make them feel a certain emotion, whether its joy, pain or sorrow. To draw the attention of your intended reader, you have to do whatever you can. Anthony Anderson and his crew are using comedy. Simply put, if you are a fan of the first three seasons of The Boondocks, the comedy of Dave Chappelle and his classic work on The Chappelle Show you can say absolutely nothing about Black-ish. As a matter of fact, if you aren’t doing anything to change the situation that you whine and complain about, you should shut your mouth altogether!

It tires me to see folks that are blatantly unproductive critique people that are actually doing something with their lives. I see this crab in the barrel mentality all the time in high school. The fact that these grown folks will shamelessly slander somebody’s name, brand or idea without doing proper research is beyond me. If you saw the several previews of Black-ish, you’d instantly be able to tell that bafoonery wouldn’t even be prevalent in the show. If anything, they’re trying to create a modern day Cosby show. I mean, what’s the problem with that?

Ladies and gentleman, the hate and shade isn’t necessary. You jumped the gun on this one, plain and simple. Why not watch the show and then start the critiques? I know I’ll be front and center tonight at 10:00 sharp!

Want to know why I apologized to black women? Check out my exclusive interview on “The Dr. Vibe Show” for more clarity!

BET’s new show “The Quad” is coming out on BET January 2017! Check out my thought process on what HBCU’s could learn from HBCU centic media, especially the “Drumline” movies!