As I worked from home today I watched/listened to several TV shows in the background that disturbed me with their negative portrayal of African Americans. From the “˜Jeremy Kyle’ show to Maury Povich Show and the endless “˜baby daddy’ DNA tests and the numerous startling revelations that I don’t really know who is the father of my child because I was sleeping with several people in the hood”... I realized that there are few TV shows on during daytime and prime time that promote positive images of our community. I also saw footage of the 69 year old bus monitor that was bullied by the kids on the bus. That also bothered and disturbed me. Then there was this article that I read on “˜Basketball Wives,’ where the author described an instance where two little girls were playing “˜Basketball Wives!’ Yes they were playing “Evelyn” and “Jennifer.” What??? SMDH!!!
Talk about sad and disturbing! I realized that something worse is going in addition to African American women being portrayed as gold diggers who will fight at the drop of a hat over petty nonsense. Our children are being taught that this sort of behavior is acceptable! Even though I would never let my children, God children or nephews watch this program or any like it”...I have to accept that some parents will and do. That’s a story for another blog. I realized with a tear in my eye that these little girls, innocent as there are already have it in their psyche that the behavior they witnessed on “˜Basketball Wives’ is totally acceptable. I also realized that the bullies on the bus think that that behavior is funny and acceptable. I say this because children copy what they see adults do, they figure if adults do it, then it must be okay”... These little angels think that the proper way to resolve a conflict is to act like a pure D. fool (as my Mother would say) or to bully someone.
We are in trouble”...Big trouble! In addition to not watching degrading portrayals of African American women have to teach our children the right way to resolve a conflict and that bullying is NOT funny or acceptable. Instead of letting them play “˜Basketball Wives’ how about we let them play “˜First Lady of the United States?’ How about that? Or better yet pick up a book and read it!!! I’m just saying!
BMWK family”...how do we reverse the effect that shows like “˜Basketball Wives’ have on our children especially our little girls?