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Blacks Debate Social Value of BET Network
CNSNEWS.com ^ | 8/01/02 | Michael L. Betsch

Posted on 8/1/2002, 11:09:48 AM by kattracks

(CNSNews.com) - The Black Entertainment Television (BET) cable network has strived to be the preeminent source for news and entertainment in the black community since it was founded 22 years ago. However, some conservative blacks claim BET only cares about promoting sexual imagery, violence and racial division in its programming.

"BET has the opportunity to present the image that they say thy want - a positive image, an image of hardworking black Americans, decent black Americans - but they're not doing it, said the Rev. Jesse Peterson, founder and president of the Brotherhood Organization of a New Destiny (B.O.N.D.), originally created as a support group for black American families.

According to Peterson, blacks are always complaining about how the "white media" promote blacks in a negative light. He believes BET has the potential to correct such racial insensitivity but is making no attempt to do so.

"They promote a whole lot of music that encourages the anger in the young blacks," Peterson said. "They promote girls acting like little whores, you know, booty-shakers."

Peterson believes the rap music videos shown on BET promote behavior in black males that is "really degrading to the girls." He said the videos frequently show girls dancing with "little or nothing on, shaking their booty" while the male rappers repeatedly refer to them as "whores."

"That encourages other young blacks to live and act that way," Peterson said of the rap persona exemplified on BET. "It's really a put-down for black Americans."

Further angering Peterson is BET's 'Journeys in Black' series that profiles controversial members of the black community, including Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, the Rev. Al Sharpton, and trial attorney Johnnie Cochran.

"They're not positive role models for the black community, but that's what's being promoted," said Peterson "That's what the people see and that's who they believe are their heroes and leaders."

Peterson noted that there has never been a "Journeys in Black" episode dedicated to black leaders in the Bush Administration, such as National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice or Secretary of State Colin Powell. "They show people like Snoop Doggy Dogg," he said.

"Snoop Dogg is not a good example for the black community," Peterson said, but he noted that BET makes the 'gangsta' rapper "look like a hero and look like someone that everyone should strive to become."

Recently, BET.com ran two music headlines referring to Snoop Dogg that Peterson criticized as irrelevant and unimportant to black Americans: "Snoop Dogg Wins Porn Awards for 'Doggystyle' and "Snoop Dogg Crowned 'Stoner of the Year' At 3\super rd\nosupersub Annual Stony Awards."

"Every time he receives an award, they promote that on their news hour," Peterson said. "It's amazing."

As for pressing news coverage, Peterson said BET airs a half-hour news program at 11 p.m.

"Anything that appears racist -- they encourage it, they promote, they show it over and over again. But if it's the other way around, you may not see anything about it," Peterson said. "They're doing what they insist the white media not do.

"They don't seem to care about other major events that are happening in the country and throughout the world that would inform black Americans," Peterson said.

But BET Vice President of Corporate Communications Michael Lewellen dismissed Peterson's complaints against the network that reaches 73 million homes daily.

Lewellen said Peterson is focusing only on a "very narrow part" of BET's overall programming strategy and is "not watching enough of our network." In fact, BET has a "diverse" programming grid, including news, political discussion, health issues, teen forums and music, he said.

"We are more than music videos and have been for a very long time," Lewellen said. By his account, BET focuses more on the issues relevant to African-Americans "than any other network."

But music, he said, is the "quintessential form of artistic expression" in the black community.

While Lewellen admits that the content of rap music videos has the potential to contain controversial lyrics or imagery, he said BET does not control the content of the videos. The network does, however, screen all music videos for questionable content before airing them, he said.

"We pre-screen the videos that come in," Lewellen said. "There have been instances in the past where we thought the video content pushed the envelope a little too much or went down a road, from a standard standpoint, that we didn't agree with."

While music-based features comprise nearly 55 percent of the BET's daily programming, Lewellen said news-related features, including politics, sports and finance, fill in the remaining 45 percent of the grid.

BET Nightly News is the only national newscast in America that "covers news of relevance" to the black community, while BET's 'Lead Story' is the "only show of its kind" that features a round-table of black "intelligentsia" debating national issues of importance with policy makers and opinion leaders.

"Another positive example" of BET informational programming is the 'Journeys in Black' series, Lewellen said. He noted that the profiles of Farrakhan, Sharpton and Cochran are "somewhat controversial," but those black men are also "leading individuals who have shaped and influenced African-American culture."

Lewellen said BET chooses to examine such controversial issues because they are of relevance to the black community, especially those items that the "mainstream" media does not find newsworthy or has only "glossed over" in terms of their coverage.

"The content is diverse; the content is comprehensive," Lewellen said. "We will continue to build on that type of programming that educates and informs."

E-mail a news tip to Michael L. Betsch.

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TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
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1 posted on 8/1/2002, 11:09:48 AM by kattracks
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To: kattracks
The social value of BET? A big fat Zero! BET is doing its part to further divide the races.
2 posted on 8/1/2002, 11:13:58 AM by leadpenny
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To: kattracks
Where can I tune in the WET or is that racist?
3 posted on 8/1/2002, 11:21:20 AM by 2banana
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To: mhking; rdb3
ping.
4 posted on 8/1/2002, 11:28:43 AM by FreedomPoster
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To: 2banana
Where can I tune in the WET or is that racist?

Of course that's racist because white people aren't 'disadvantaged' don't ya' know?

Try telling that to the poor people in Applachia.

Oh yeah, they're just 'white trash' or 'rednecks' so they don't get a break. /sarcasm off

5 posted on 8/1/2002, 11:28:55 AM by Looking4Truth
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To: kattracks
Go, go, go Jesse Peterson!
6 posted on 8/1/2002, 11:32:28 AM by blam
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To: blam
BUMP!
7 posted on 8/1/2002, 11:34:35 AM by kattracks
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To: 2banana
"Another positive example" of BET informational programming is the 'Journeys in Black' series, Lewellen said. He noted that the profiles of Farrakhan, Sharpton and Cochran are "somewhat controversial," but those black men are also "leading individuals who have shaped and influenced African-American culture."
Enough said...
8 posted on 8/1/2002, 11:44:29 AM by Far Right Of Left
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To: kattracks
Kudos to the author. This was a very intelligent piece.
9 posted on 8/1/2002, 11:48:37 AM by YourAdHere
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To: rdb3; Khepera; elwoodp; MAKnight; South40; condolinda; mafree; Trueblackman; FRlurker; ...
Black conservative ping

If you want on (or off) of my black conservative ping list, please let me know via FREEPmail. (And no, you don't have to be black to be on the list!)

Extra warning: this is a high-volume ping list.

10 posted on 8/1/2002, 12:10:28 PM by mhking
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To: kattracks
features a round-table of black **"intelligentsia" **v debating national issues of importance with policy makers and opinion leaders.

HAHAHAHAHA...they mean "liberalsia". They had Alan Keyes on and could barely control their hatred.

I like BET. They play the old pimp moves from the 70's.

11 posted on 8/1/2002, 12:14:17 PM by AppyPappy
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To: kattracks
Rev. Peterson is a rare sane voice in the black community, speaking the truth against the negative destructive forces in his community.
12 posted on 8/1/2002, 12:16:20 PM by OldFriend
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To: kattracks; mhking; rdb3; Miss Marple
Hey, this conservative LIKES listening to gangster rap. Okay, I'm technically a neo-conservative with strong libertarian leanings, but still, I like gangster rap.
13 posted on 8/1/2002, 12:30:24 PM by hchutch
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To: hchutch
Well, yes, but you like Howard Stern as well.

That's ok. We're still the "big tent" party. :-)

14 posted on 8/1/2002, 12:37:36 PM by Miss Marple
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To: 2banana
There has been a WET channel for years... its called PBS.
15 posted on 8/1/2002, 12:44:03 PM by HamiltonJay
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To: Miss Marple
LOL.

Seriously, I guesss I must be some sort of heretic... Howard Stern, gangster rap...
16 posted on 8/1/2002, 1:00:01 PM by hchutch
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To: hchutch
I like gangster rap.

As is your God given and constitutional right, but if I'm around, PLEASE listen with earphones!

17 posted on 8/1/2002, 1:13:11 PM by JimRed
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To: JimRed
Kinda hard in a car. The cops don't like that too much (well, at least if the hassle I got for listening to music with a headphone while riding my bike as a teenager was any indication).
18 posted on 8/1/2002, 1:16:58 PM by hchutch
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To: blam
Go, go, go Jesse Peterson!

Unfortunately he's a tiny voice in the wilderness.

19 posted on 8/1/2002, 1:28:19 PM by iconoclast
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To: leadpenny; mhking
Don't entirely agree...while some programs drift into the racial aspect I have seen some outstanding BET programs. I'm truly addicted to John Sally's program...
20 posted on 8/1/2002, 3:07:34 PM by meandog
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