Robert L. Johnson did two really important things for Black people in his life. The first was the creation of Black Entertainment Network. It was a Black owned TV Network that displayed Black created media. It gave a chance for Black entertainers to shine that were not seen on other networks. It wasn't just Black people tuning in either. Then things changed. Robert Johnson sold the company to Viacom and began serving as the CEO and President as well as being the final say on what type of shows they would air. From that point on is when BET developed it's stigma of "booty shaking and dope dealing." The second important thing Robert Johnson did for black people was stepping down in 2005.
Debra L. Lee took over at that point. While it was more of the same for a few years she was greasing the wheels behind the scenes. By 2007 BET Uncut, After Dark, Midnight Love, as well as plenty of other similar programs were gone. Despite what Aaron McGruder depicted in The Boondocks, Debra Lee did the opposite of creating mind numbing programs. BET began to experiment with other genres of original programming; anews show "Don't Sleep with T.J. Holmes," several different talk shows, child friendly programs such as Lil Bill, Just Jordan and The Romeo Show, reruns of the classic comedy show In Living Color.
Since then the network has continued to find it's niche of what people want. Despite what Robert Johnson thought, it's not music videos. Instead BET has begun to focus on original programming; reality shows such as Nellyville, dramas like Being Mary Janes, scripted shows like Real Husbands of Hollywood. It's also managed to pick up popular shows like The Game that were discarded by other networks and turn them into money makers. BET is also doing something right now that no other networks outside of Comedy Central and AMC are doing.
Comedy Central, AMC and now BET realize something that other networks don't. The internet is killing TV. However, if you can bring in people who have created successful web content it will likely be successful on TV. Rumors of the network gaining the rights to air Issa Rae's series The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl for a long time. With the HBO deal falling through because of them wanting to lighten the skin tone of characters that seems more likely than ever. However recently they acquired the rights to air the web series Black and Sexy TV.
It's time we talk about the award shows that often bear the weight of most of the insults. Have you actually watched an award show since Robert Johnson left? The first thing Debra Lee did was put an end to all the shenanigans and create legitimate award shows. There are no more 40 man posses on the stage to accept an award for one person. You may get a mother or father every now and then but the designated weed holder will not be there. Security has been increased, possibly even added for the first time ever so there's no random acts of violence. Those that do happen are promptly ended and participants often times end up banned from future shows. It's all legit.
The more important thing is the award shows are all inclusive. We can applaud Viola Davis for winning an Emmy recently and we should. However, let's be honest with ourselves. The Emmys, Oscars, Grammys etc. do not want our black asses around. You can be an okay white actor and win an Oscar or Emmy but if you're black you need to be extraordinary. Viola Davis is 50 years old and has been putting in spectacular work in films since 1996 but has only recently began to receive recognition. She's not the only one either. In the words of Jadakiss "Why Halle have to let a white man pop her to get a Oscar? Why Denzel have to be crooked before he took it?"
Things like that don't happen at the BET awards. When I say all inclusive I don't mean it's just for Black people or Latinos. We're probably tired of seeing Robin Thicke sneak into a performance every year. This year Sam Smith won an award. Betty Wright said it best "Watch for the blue eyed soul because they'll clean on up." While Black people were celebrating Viola Davis Emmy win, there were white actresses such as Nancy Lee Grahn complaining because she doesn't have the same opportunities as a white woman that Viola Davis has as a Black woman. This was Viola Davis' first Emmy, she's actually the first black woman ever to win one for a drama series. Nancy Lee Grahn has won three and been nominated for eight. She also stated Viola slept her way to the top. This doesn't happen at the BET award shows.
The BET Awards a chance where black actors and actresses don't have to be twenty times better than their white competition and still lose. J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar do not have to watch Macklemore and Iggy Azalea win awards they don't deserve. Beck will not win an award and have to apologize for not having a speech because he thought Beyonce had the better album and should have won.
It's understandable that so many people would turn away from BET. Especially during the Bob Johnson CEO years. However, people change as do television networks. Over the last several years BET has worked to turn their image a complete 180. It would only make sense to give them another chance. If you can't do that the least you can do is abstain from the EBT Award jokes.
You can hear Darrell on the CP Time and Powerbomb Jutsu podcasts. He also plays classic arcade games on The Cabinet
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