Why Aren't We Picketing BET and MTV?

By Sharrod Patterson
Black College Wire

Sharrod Patterson

On April 4, Don Imus, a famous radio shock jock, pulled a Michael Richards when he referred to the Rutgers University women’s basketball team as “nappy-headed ho's” during his nationally syndicated show.

As expected, the usual suspects found it opportune to step back into the national spotlight and act as a liaison for the black community. Two days later, Imus made a most unimpressive apology to the Rutgers women. The Rev. Al Sharpton and other notable black leaders were also unimpressed by his apology and said they would picket his home station, WFAN-AM in New York, until Imus was fired.

This is a remarkable way to get a point across to the right people. My question is, if derogatory words and gestures bother our black community so much, why we are not picketing the Black Entertainment Television headquarters in Washington? Since the 1990s, BET and Music Television (MTV) have contributed to the stereotype that black women are “nappy-headed ho's.”

Both networks are owned by mega-media conglomerate Viacom. CBS was a part of Viacom before splitting off last year; the same CBS that broadcast Imus’ radio show. Was the fact that Imus’ show did not make money for or from the black community the reason he was so readily attacked?

The simple fact is that BET is the only television “soapbox” that can reach black Americans young and old.

This is not an attack on BET, MTV or even Don Imus. This is an observation. The only other network mostly dominated by blacks was UPN, which was also owned by Viacom and was combined with the WB network to become the CW. The once-positive black television shows of which we have grown so fond are in great danger of being cancelled.

We as black people cannot be totally upset that our women are demoralized and emotionally spat upon when the image the world will see is Nelly tossing up money and pouring Crystyle down the bosom of a scantily dressed young black woman.

The Imus remarks hurt so badly because they were directed toward the cream of the crop in the black community. Maybe this is the adversity —or better yet, the motivation — the black community needs to take a stand and make a change.

Don’t get me wrong. Imus deserved to be removed from his syndicated radio show, which went out to nearly 70 stations. However, everyone should be held to the same criteria, even if the offense is not completely verbal.

Maybe next week the president of BET will utter a racial epithet or make some racial remarks and Sharpton will picket BET headquarters. Maybe then we will finally have no choice but to take responsibility for how we are portrayed in the media.

Maybe our women will get the respect they so rightfully deserve.

Sharrod Patterson, a student at Winston-Salem State University, is photo editor of the News Argus. Articles in the Voices section represent the views of their authors, and not necessarily those of Black College Wire. To comment, e-mail [email protected].

Posted April 20, 2007