Your Reality Revised: Celebrating Everyday Amazing You
by Akilah Richards
“The Real Housewives starts in 30 minutes! Whatever you’re trying to say…um, wrap it up, ‘cause you will no longer have my attention!”
I remember once during Real Housewives of Atlanta, when Kim and Nene created the “Tardy for the Party” concept, and I made the mistake of singing the infectious chorus in the presence of my daughters. I was taking them on a play date when my 6 year old repeated the song, snapping her fingers and giggling in delight while she got out of our truck.
Rruuuuuuurrrkk! *That would be a record scratching*
When I tell you it took all of my rationale not to run out of the car and hurl her to the ground, football tackle style, then put her in a headlock and make her swear to God and Justin Bieber not to ever, EVER, sing that song again, lest folks start thinking I allow my children to even know that the show exists, much less watch it, I am not exaggerating even a little bit. #ForgiveMeLord
As parents, we are outright competing with media to raise our children in the way we see fit. My husband, Kris, and I do not believe in sheltering our daughters, and are probably more liberal with information than most adults find “appropriate”. Yet still, I cringe at the promo clips of the reality shows when my daughters are watching TV. It feels like a crap shoot of sorts to allow the girls to watch TV, because even though we have a short list of programs they can watch, the doggone commercials are so laden with sexual innuendo, hoochied-out girls and women, and little girls trying their best to look “grown and sexy” that it’s hard to keep up with the conversations we’d need to have to remind the girls of The Lie that TV sells.
That said…
Hello, my name is Akilah, and I actively engage in the viewing of reality TV.
Now you say, “Hello, Akilah!” with enthusiasm and a spirit of non-judgmental welcoming, because I’d bet my last brownie that many of you are right up in RTWA (Reality TV Watchers Anonymous) with me.
“Am I supporting the skewed perceptions of women in general, and black women in particular?” I would wonder as I tuned in for a front row seat to the frontin’, backstabbing, and rabble-rousing—key ingredients in the Reality TV recipe. But I’ve realized that the issue does not lie in me watching the train wrecks, snack in hand, Twitter account fired up to ROFL at the comments made by my wicked funny tweeple. Nope, the issue lies in the fact that I can switch to almost any channel and find a smorgasbord of reality show options that follow the very same recipe.
In short, there is a severe imbalance, and if there were two or three good options of shows that fed my spirit as much as the other shows feed my warped sense of humor, you and I would be better for it.
What would you say about a series that highlights the Who and How of non-celebrities and celebrities who have decided not to use obstacles as excuses not to live their fullest versions of themselves?
You know of her, you may BE her, so now, let’s celebrate her, and use her intrinsic motivation and this-is-how-I-roll mentality to ignite that inextinguishable flame that allows you to define, design, and live the life that is a reflection of the things you used to call your dreams!
So many everyday women have upgraded their dreams to REALITY status by going out and living their best lives. Healthy doses of their specifics—how they juggle all the facets of their lives, and what happens when things don’t work, coupled with guidance from professionals in the health and well-being arena, would be entertaining, insightful, and (God forbid) empowering!
[Place palm here to high-five writer]
CAST YOUR VOTE in support of Reality Redefined. Oprah’s OWN TV is on the hunt for refreshing new programming, and the Execumama Lifestyle Series has the solution. VOTE OFTEN, and please, spread the word.
Click the link below to vote!
http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=video_details&response_id=1797&promo_id=1
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