While perusing Twitter last week I came across an interesting “Trending Topic” which, for those unfamiliar with the innerworkings of Twitter, it is simply an event or issue that a majority of people on the site are currently talking about, called #BETmessedupwhen.
While I refrained from commenting at the time, it wasn’t for lack of material, rather, I didn’t want to inundate my follower’s timeline’s with my many thoughts on this topic, but I will do so today.
BET, otherwise known as Black Entertainment Television, or “Black Evil Television,” [for those of you who watch The Boondocks] messed up a long, long, time ago.
Created, as many things in America have been, in response to the neglect of minorities by mainstream America; at it’s inception it provided an alternative to then musical and cultural leader MTV, who had become notorious for ignoring Black artists, most notably Michael Jackson before it became apparent that Thriller simply could not be ignored. BET created an outlet for the then burgeoning movement of Hip Hop, and became home to a multitude of Black shows and specials.
That was then, this is now.
“90s Babies” have truly missed out on what once was. It’s as if they received the watered down version of everything that I received as a child.
MJ has died, Jordan is retired, The Fresh Prince grew up….even Hip Hop has changed…rare is it to hear the songs that made political statements like “Fight the Power,” or any of the musings of NWA…we have instead switched our collective anger that arose from growing up during the crack explosion of the 80s, to being amused by rappers who not only glorify the same drug..but who often have never even lived the life nor sold it themselves.
…instead, 90s babies have been raised on “My favorite rapper growing up was 50 cent.”-Souljah Boi<50 came out when I was a senior in high school. If ever there was a time to say “Back in my day,” it is now.
“Back in my day,” we had Pac and Biggie…enough said.
So where did BET mess up? When they diverted from Black Entertainment and made Blacks THE Entertainment.
It happened gradually. Cancel Midnight Soul, a testament to black love. Eliminate show’s like The Basement which was once an outlet for mainstream and unknown artists alike; and quietly do away with their news programming. In short, #BETmessedupwhen they “Dumbed it Down.”
Overload the station with reality television, take away variety by refusing to show any video not “106&Park Approved,” eradicate any source of news or information; then top it off with mediocre awards shows and throw a dash of Church shows on Sunday.
Believe me, if I could switch BET for Centric I would.
