While I don’t watch all of these shows, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to put the connection together. I’m sure if you Zoom Out (Great By Choice reference), you will quickly notice many of the items i’m going to talk about in this piece. However, if you remain in your feelings because you watch one or all of these shows and really relate to a particular character, then you will attempt to dismiss what is being said.
Full Disclosure: I only watch Scandal, but I watch it faithfully. Judge me if you must, but it is what it is. I believe the creator and writer, Shonda Rhimes, is flat out AMAZING! And no, this isn’t her only or first show. She has been a HUGE star for about a decade now, so miss me with the “she is only big because she is objectifying a black woman” mess.
5 Things These Shows All Have In Common
Let’s not waste any more time and get into the crux of the matter. Hopefully, by discussing what the characters and “reality stars” have in common.
1. Hair Weave, Not Natural Hair
I support the right of every woman to wear their hair like they desire. It is yours and you can do what you like, but every character in all of these shows (yes, these reality stars are characters as well) wear weave. There is no balance between real life and what you see in these television shows. Weave is made to seem like the only option for black women if they are going to live up to the standards of beauty in this society, the European standards of beauty I might add.
We have to remember our boys and girls of the next generation are watching these shows as well. And whether you want to admit it or not, it leaves a very impressionable mark on their mind, body and spirit. As it stands now, that mark is telling them their natural hair and beauty isn’t enough and I just think it is sad.
2. The Myth of Independence (No Need For Marriage)
If I am not mistaken, not ONE main character on these shows are married. This seems like the universal move in movies and entertainment to further erode the perception of the black family and they are doing a great job. I remember years ago seeing the Game and the main character was married, but they are divorce now.
The mantra in these shows is an independent woman can hold down their life an don’t need a man, nor marriage. I’m all for women handling their business, but to think that raising a child, family or drifting into the future without a man is just down right ridiculous…and you can quote me on that. These messages are destroying our youth and it is a damn shame we seem to wholeheartedly support this across the board.
3. Promiscuity
Not every show is about whoring around, but these ladies all have their suitors and are lying in bed with more than a few of them. Even the show that I watch faithfully has the Olivia Pope knowingly sleeping with a married man. I will admit the story line is a little deeper than that, but on the surface (where our youth is watching), it isn’t a good look. The other shows follow the same as women are not married, not looking for marriage, or worst and engaging in open sexual activity.
Black women have a long history of being objectified on screen and the tradition continues with these shows.
4. Drama Is The Normal In The Lives of Black Women
Each and every show represented above is chiefly about the drama circulating around the lives of these black women. Although each one of them are successful in their own right, they are not able to keep it together long enough to enjoy it. There is always some sort of tragedy, ratchet person, or negative behavior trait represented that spirals the show into chaos and drama. Again, all of this only goes to strengthen the perception that black women and their lives are full of drama and nonsense.
5. Decline of Morals & Family Values In Black Television
You may not agree with my list or insights, but you would be hard pressed to disagree with with this statement here. The television and entertainment industry is done showing black people, women, men and family in positive lights. All we get now days is drama, terrible behavior, vices, sexuality, obsession over fashion, materialism and money.
These items do not fully represent all of the angles these television black women relate to one another, but hopefully it can start a dialog and get a greater conversation started.
I totally agree.. I wont tell the young actresses should earn a living. However it saddens me to see such misrepresentation of Black Women in America. This post also touches on the subject.
http://writtentherapy.com/?s=scandal&submit=
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