First of all, Happy 4th of July! I’ll see y’all on Monday, Lord willing. Be safe and don’t eat any bad potato salad. As for me, I shall be at the movies all weekend long its too hot for anything else. Here are some farewell reminders and mentions.
Did you Report BET to the Authorities Yet?
Did you call the child labor enforcement people on BET?
Bureau of Field Enforcement
Division of Labor Standards and Enforcement
320 West Fourth St. Suite 450
Los Angeles, CA 90013
213-620-6330
Watch the video while you can:
Send a Blogger to Antartica
Did you remember to vote to send a Black Tech Blogger to Antartica? If not, VOTE HERE. We’ve almost quadrupled her votes, let’s put this sister in the lead! Use you email to do something other than send chain letters threatening folks with death if they don’t forward the email to 7 other people.
Howard Kurtz’s Hit Job on Black Women
You can head on over to Michelle Obama Watch to read my response to what can only be called a HIT JOB that Howard Kurtz did on Black women journalists. In stead of focusing on the BLATANT SEXISM and RACISM that could allow a young White male blogger to leap frog over these more experienced women kept in the shadows. Howard Kurtz slams them with specious innuendo that they can’t objectively cover First Lady Michelle Obama… because they are Black.
51 comments ↓
This is beyond ignorant. I’m on east coast time. So, I already tried calling that number. It just rang. I’ll call again.
This is a complete disgrace. BET is just complete trash. BET is hell bent on destroying the black community by promoting the most ignorant and least talent in our community. How in the hell are you going to all young girls on the stage like that, dancing to a song that degrades women. Oh, please do not tell me BET did not know about this. Those girls were in costumes in came out on que!
We need a list of the advertisers. BET needs to be shut down. They have no respect for black culture and black women and girls. Black folks upset over Imus and yet we let our own kind to degrade young girls and black women all day for a profit.
I can’t believe this song is a hit.
If Mr. Kurtz really believes that Black women can’t objectively cover First Lady Michelle Obama… because they are Black. , then he needs to stop covering White men like himself ….. today.
People in the main stream media like Kurtz, want who they see as their token in the White House and generally others of color need NOT apply…. particularly women…. Just saying.
Black folks upset over Imus and yet we let our own kind to degrade young girls and black women all day for a profit.
What is this mess, they are suppose to be happy they can shake their thang for money I guess. I’m waiting for a thong that is also a diaper to be invented for the even younger set.
I can’t. People actually purchase this mess on purpose? I only listen to the Backspin, Heart & Soul, and Gospel Stations on Sirius so this is all very new to me and very painful to listen to. Half the song is bleeped out! We really are our own worst enemies. I’m ready to stop talking about boycotting BET and take action. I’m serious my ears really hurt that was horrible!
Oh, I voted for Miss Antarctica. It felt good putting a little good into the world.
I voted. Also BET was forced to issue a public apology for Weezy’s rape primer performance. Even though they should be apologizing for the entire show it’s a start and that’s because of the number of people who took action.
Yes, I voted. It felt good to do something good that will (hopefully) wipe off the stench that I still smell after being subjected to that Lil Wayne “performance” sanctioned by BET. The BET “apology” is late and the station does not take responsibility for even allowing such a song to be sung (who really thinks saying “I wanna F every girl in the world belongs on any awards show? Get real BET). I only watched the awards because of the promise to pay tribute to Michael Jackson. I will never be bamboozled by BET again.
I guess Ghetto Gremlin and “I Don’t Know Who You Are” Drake have taken a page from Matthew Knowles’ book entitled, How To Pimp My Daughter for Money And Entertainment Purposes!!
BET should be fined! This was a pedophiles show. If they can fine the networks 500K for a 2 second nipple peekshow. BET should be fine 1 million dollars for having little black girls dance sexually to songs about hos. Again, this madness was planned and Black Evil Television publicly abused black girls because they knew nobody would care.
This is a complete disgrace. Viacom needs to be shut down and the Dept of Labor is a corrupt fraud. They encourage this type of behavior by NOT enforcing the law. Dept of Labor has basically cosigned on pedophilia.
Can you imagine if they’d had pulled little white girls on the stage?!!!
I understand that BET has supposedly blurred out the girls from the rebroadcast….ummmm….here’s a novel idea BET: EDIT OUT THE ENTIRE PERFORMANCE. Or better yet, choose your performers more carefully!
@ AttorneyMom…. LMAO…GHETTO GREMLIN. Now that is hilarious!
OOkay Miss Thang so I am assuming you called and spoke to someone from the Department of Labor? What did they say? Did you call to file a complaint for reasont o believe that someone under the age of 16 was performing without a work permit?
I think they HAVE to take your complaint. Its not “optional.” Now, they can dismiss the complaint, but I don’t think they can say NO, we won’t even write it down.
Their “statement” is BS talking about they are not responsible for what they broadcast on their own dayum network. Sweet Jesus!
People will look for any ‘ol excuse to critisize Black females for something, no matter how small or trivial. Shoot, if it rains that must be some loud, ghetto Black girl’s fault right America? That is exactly what Kurtz did. He can take his opinion and shove it!
Modern Black Culture = A Gutter Culture.
I’ll try to call… but more drastic measures are needed IMO. Unfortunately…the things that I’m dreaming of aren’t legal.
@ PeaceNLove, you can’t tell me that Lil Wayne don’t look like a Ghetto Gremlin. LOL. You remember the movie Gremlins.
Those of us outraged here arenot the norm. I have friends and family sad to admit that don’t think the award show was ‘that bad’. So, it stands to reason that many of these clueless people embrace these fools that degrade/sexualize their mothers, daughters, their women and in some cases their selves.
Btw-
I will call and I have voted.
I didn’t catch the show and only saw it rebroadcast & the girls were edited out…I didn’t see them at all. I am appauled.
And thanks for the support. I’m in now in 16th place with 105 votes. The top 10 line-up hasn’t moved and the # of new votes they are receiving are few. But those of us in 12th -17th place are really challenging each other and will likely give the top 10 a run. My gain is one of the quickest moves up. (P. Smith from England is moving up fast, too. He’s a big twitter user who has traveled the world using twitter and has over 11,000 followers.) So, I am very happy and grateful for the support from the Black/Brown Blogging community. I am really seeing our influence!!!
Thanks Gina and WOAD readers.
Hello, I couldn’t see an email to send you a mail so I’m writing here. We started a petition to boycott BET for its DISGRACE of “tribute” to a humanitarian & world icon & for exploiting teens & women @ its 2009 award show. Can you please post the petition link?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uwi-xMI8rQg
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/sign-for-a-formal-apology-from-bet-for-mj-tribute
Bet is used to getting criticism & eventually dust settles. Please let’s make them hear our voice.
Yazmeen BET is immune to “boycotts.” If you understand the way BET makes money, you will understand that the viewers are not BET’s customers.
BET gets paid whether you watch it or not because Viacom negotiates with cable providers and makes BET part of the Viacom package. That means a portion of the cable bills of every person who has a cable package sends a small percentage of their cable bill to BET, whether they watch the channel or not. Right now, the FCC appears unwilling to force cable providers to “unbundle” cable tiers and offer a la carte cable that would let you choose which channels to pay for.
The other way, and the most important way, BET makes its money is from advertisers. Now THIS is where you have a great deal of influence. Although BET gets paid by cable subscribers whether you watch or not, advertisers rely on your purchases in order to survive. BET relies on advertisers. That’s why if you want BET to do anything, you have an advertiser call up and tell them to do it.
In each and every case where advertiser have been publicly shamed, BET has changed its behavior, albeit temporarily. When advertiser pulled out of a certain TV show, BET had to change the name and although I am credited with its cancellation, that show would likely have been cancelled eventually anyway.
So I admire your wllingness to go after BET, but alas you are following in the footsteps of those who have gone before you by signing petitions and directign your ire at BET.
Debra Lee does not care what you think. As long as her advertisers are happy she’s happy.
If you want Debra Lee to change her behavior, then you have to direct your ire at her enablers, the people who literally paid for the BET Awards Vortex of Coonery.
If you want to know where Rap City went, ask P&G.
I started this blog because previous protests were focused at the wrong entity. Debra Lee is estatic that you are focusing on BET because you are leaving her advertisers alone.
If you want BET to pay for its vortex of coonery, then you need to begin a dialog with the sponsors who paid for the vortex of coonery. If you want Debra Lee’s attention, you’re going to have to get a White marketing executive to chat with their ad agency about their displeasure with BET and you need to come up with specific demands not just “We Hate BET!”
So what do you want? Do you want the complete and utter destruction of BET? Highly unlikely to happen. Do you want advertisers to make certain commitments regarding the types of performances they will fund? Completely within your reach.
When you begin your dialog, don’t be belligerent about it. In every interaction I have ever had with an executive at these “family friendly” companies ( EXCEPT FOR MCDONALDS), the White executives have expressed genuine regret and have worked swiftly to bring about resolution. Notice I didn’t say Black executives. Unfortunately it is often African American employees within these large corporations that are giving BET, their seal of approval. You think the CEO of Proctor and Gamble is watching cable TV? Nope.
So I will post your petition and link, but I encourage you to direct your focus at those who are truly capable of bringing down the hammer on Debra Lee and that’s the regulatory authorities in California and BET’s advertisers. They paid for this disgrace, shackle them with it.
@AttorneyMom I am 30something
so I remember gremlins quite well. Yea, I gotta admit, he does look like one of them. Not the cute fuzzy ones but the mean stinky ones 
@gem2001 Do we have a list of sponsors who advertise heavily on BET, particularly during the “awards” (I use that term loosely)? I’d love to see us organize a letter writing campaign. BET has to clean up it’s act.
On another note, one of my favorite sitcoms was The Game on the CW. It was multiracial, light-hearted, with a touch of drama. CW recently cancelled the show and I heard that TBS or BET might pick it up. I prayed it would be TBS because I thought they would do a better job keeping the show tasteful. I understand that BET (who is airing reruns of the show) might pick up The Game. I am happy for the cast if this happens (everybody needs a job) but I’m really worried that the quality of the show. I don’t want it to be dumbed down and ghettofied (is that a word? let’s add it to the dictionary. lol) like everything else is on BET.
@peaceNlove you are going to have to track that down. I didn’t watch the show and I don’t watch the station. I have no clue who their advertisers are. Sometimes you can guess from the ads on the webpage, but not always. Typically its P&G, Auto, and Insurance.
@gem2001 Thanks. I have a friend who has it on her DVR so I think I will make a list of the advertisers and post them here if that is ok with you.
I would love to have a list of sponsors, so I can direct my viewing audience on my blog to voice complaints. Where can I find such a list? Is BET required to list who is bank rolling their product? I just shake my head when I see this. When I was younger, my parents told me to stay out of grown folks business. We were made to leave the room when grown folks were talking. Now, kids can dance on stage with you while you spew filth.
@ PeacenLove, I am talking about the ones that appear after you pour water on the cute one. : – ) I just brought the movie for $5.00 at Wal-mart to add to my favorite movie collection.
Gina, thanks for caring about me. My azz almost died and Blkseagoat is the only one that called me. Check out my post on Character Corner. You remember Character Corner – the blog you helped me set up. : – )
I will give BET a pass for the Tiny and Toya show. When I first heard that BET has a new show chronicling the lives of Clifford’s baby momma and Lil Wayne’s ex-wife, let’s just say I was not a happy camper. I thought to myself, “Why do we need another show that glorifies the stereotypes of the day?” Does the black community really need another reality to show that sets the Civil Rights Movement back another thousand years?
Since I am suffering from insomnia, I decided to go to BET.com and watch the first installment of what I believed would be another glorification of baby momma drama. I could not have been more wrong. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the show is more about self discovery and growth of two young women.
The main characters of the show come from two different worlds; yet, they end up at similar place in their existence. Tiny (a former member of Xscape) comes from a stable and supportive two parent household. Her father is a member of the group, The TAMS. Her mother is very loving and supportive.
On the other hand, Toya, who is the ex-wife of Lil Wayne, was raised by a drug addicted single mom. As a result of her mother’s addiction, she had to live in different households through childhood. To date, her mother is still on drugs.
Although these women come from two completely different backgrounds, both women end up at a place where they have to make a decision either continue to sell their self worth and dignity for the bling or dig deep within themselves and pursue their own personal goals.
I strongly feel we should give this show a chance.
Correction: Does the black community really need another reality show that sets the Civil Rights Movement back another thousand years?
Yazmeen. I agree with Gina. But I refuse to sign another petition. There are literally hundreds of petitions against BET. BET does not care. I don’t know how old you are but people have been boycotting BET for years. Organized boycotts. The problem is the white advertisers who keep enabling BET. If you really want to impact change. You must go after them. There should be a website devoted the the sponsors that co-sign on these racist images that BET has made hundreds of millions of dollars. That’s the only way to get BET to change. Understand it’s only temporary.
@PeaceNLove, Bright light, bright light. LMAO
@ Gina, Boy, let me call a woman, except Debra Lee, a “heffa” and I would get a post from you threatening to band my behind. SMH Oh, I fogot. I am not Sandra Rose and Nicole Bitchie. Oops, never mind.
@ Gina, thank you for the post on facebook and Character Corner. I am glad that you still care about me. I will follow your advice and stay off the internet after today. I am addicted. I can’t help it. LOL
Sorry, still in deadline hell. Voted for the Antarctica Lady, and called Child Labor, but forgot time difference, so I just did a real letter. It’ll go in the mail tomorrow. I think real letters are more effective, but will call again tomorrow if I get a chance.
Thanks Roslyn! I am laughing that she’s not the Antarctica Lady :_
*shrugs*
They had their parents permission to be on stage…and by all accounts BET didn’t know they were going to be up there…it was Wayne’s last minute decision.
Child labor has nothing to do with this…
Go after the advertisers if you like – but the rest of the argument just seems silly.
Or complain to the FTC b/c of profanity….that should get them fined…
If you want to know where Rap City went, ask P&G.
Yeah but they have another show called The Deal that comes on and is very “Rap City” esque…and all they did was move the host of rap city and the videos to their video rotation – so nothing really changed….
And 106 is still going strong…
@jj as usual our little contrarian tries to convince ppl that resistance is futile.
actually I could make a pretty compelling argument that the girls were the equivalent of backup dancers and as such they were performers who required a work permit. especially if it true that they are also in a musical performance group.
So its silly to u but not to everyone.
Second, parental permission does not trump the law. Again, I dn’t know if laws were violated, I’m just saying clearly BET does not have safeguards in place to protect the underage attendees of their awards show. Perhaps they should be prohibited from allowing anyone under 18 from attending.
regarding 106 & park, under you argument Charles Hamilton Houston and Thurgood Marshall should have packed up their bags after their first court victory or defeat. The fact that Jim Crow continued to exist after their earlier attempts didn’t mean they stopped trying.
If all this is “silly” then you should have no problem observing while others express their outrage in the manner of their choosing.
@jj did you at least vote to send the Black woman to antartica?
@gem
As usual you take what I say and twist it to your convenience – I didn’t say resistance was futile – I basically said – find a better method – cause the current one ain’t working…..and yes, if earlier attempts didn’t work and you kept doing the same thing then I’d say pack up your bags and go home until you had a better strategy.
And yes I voted
Why is everybody so focused on BET? They are a lost cause let’s pay attention to TVONE. TVOne is producing great programing. Unsung, one on one interviews, they did a great job tributing Micheal Jackson last week. They replayed 2 of his concerts, several of his videos, the mini series Jackson American Dream. They played his 30th Anniversary Special. TVONE is doing a great job. Let’s highlight the network that’s getting it right, spread the word about them and ignore BET.
@sarah well first, people are more apt to complain about what they don’t like than applaud what they do.
Second, some people view what BET did last week as harmful. So they have every right to say so.
Third, you are correct in that the solution isn’t to reform BET, but to promote and offer alternatives. BET is incapable of being anything other than what it is.
Fourth, I am somewhat reluctant to jump too heavily on the TV ONE bandwagon due to their ties to Radio One which is the radio version of BET AND the fact that TV One isn’t available in many parts of to the country.
My cable system won’t add TV One…
Howard Kurtz should be ashamed of himself, and using his logic, should be banned from any commentary about white politicians ever again!
I was sick to my stomach when @ gremlin actions, and they call this the face of hip-hop, sorry but they are wrong, gremlin doesnt represent hip-hop he represent coonery at its finest, and I knew Debra Lee knew about this, she is just sooo fake…. smh
I just filed an electronic complaint with the FCC regarding the BET awards show. I encourage others to take this action in addition to letter writing and calling. Here is the link to the complaint page. It will walk you through each step:
http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm
I sent a letter to Organic Root Stimulator, one of the BET Award’s marquee advertisers and I would suggest other women do the same. There is no one else in the world buying their product beside us and they are worth millions because of it. I have serious issues with the black hair care industry in general (that’s another topic), but if we can’t make demands of companies whose entire bread and butter is black women than we’re in real trouble. There are many companies that know they can treat black people poorly because they assume we will not walk away or challenge them. Companies like ORS are no different than BET when they exercise such poor judgment. They’re all suffering from the same disease—indifference or maybe willful arrogance. I would like to give ORS the benefit of doubt, as I have not received a response as of yet, but I would encourage others to contact them as well. They have an easy online form– http://ors.railsplayground.net/ or you can mail a letter to their address. There were plenty of other advertisers, but this one struck a cord with me, because we are their ENTIRE business. After reading the lyrics to that song, I just became even more incensed. Who could perform that live before an audience with a straight face? There’s something scary about a person with that kind of detachment and lack of shame. There’s something even scarier about an audience that sings along, no matter how awkward the situation is. Did anyone walk out?
Also, one thing I noticed is that BET is advertising for a new channel called “Centric”. I don’t know if this is news to anyone besides me, but I thought I’d share, considering they are creating Viacom’s answer to TV One. I find this interesting, because in asserting that they are developing centric for an older, 25+ black demographic, they are essentially confirming that BET is for children, which makes what they do all the more despicable. It would be great it BET was really a youth driven channel, but it’s not. Its detached adults, shoving nonsense from other adults down the throats of OTHER people’s children. If Centric is for the adults, than who is BET for? What’s happening in hip-hop these days for the large part is not generational. It is not youth driven as it was when I was younger. Young people are being dictated to, by hip hop artist who are old enough to be their parents i.e. Russell Simons, Jay-Z , Diddy. These moguls pretend to be the voice for a generation they are not a part of, because they can’t bare to let go of their gravy train. It’s obscene!
Attorneymom, I agree with you about Tiny & Toya.
I voted! She is going strong but still needs everyone out there to support her.
Here are a list of advertisers from the BET Broadcast. I understand from WAOD that McDonald’s has asked for ads to be removed from portions of the broadcast. In any event, here are the ads that I believe I saw on the show. I did my best so I hope I didn’t leave anyone out. I put an * next to any show that was a BET show. In addition, the number next to each sponsor shows how many ads I think were shown during the original broadcast. I also seperated the sponsors – some ads were shown during the show (via electronic banners I believe), other sponsors were specifically called out by the announcer (“brought to you by….”), and other ads were shown as traditional commercials. I also listed the adverstisers that played immediately before and immediately after “the performance” in question. I am not sure if this makes a difference or not, but I put them in there anyway!
After you read the list we as consumers have to decide how to proceed and how to get our message to BET through their sponsors.
DURING THE SHOW
Protege Footwear
Inglorious Bastards (movie)
Subway
Coca Cola – 3
US Army
Nintendo DS
Yoplait
Citi Trends
Organic Root Stimulator
Applebees
The Conduit
Nationwide
Halloween (movie)
I Am King (A Fragrance from Diddy)
Rising Icons*
BROUGHT TO YOU BY….
Pepsi
Verizon Wireless
Ford Urban (is this a website by Ford geared for black folk? I hope not….I will research this later)
Protégé Footwear @ K-Mart
U.S. Army
COMMERCIALS (*= BET Show)
Pepsi
Verizon Wireless – 3
Pizza Hut
Tiny and Toya*- 6
Pressure Cooker*- 3
Pay it Off *- 4
Omega Studios – 4
Prudential Real Estate – 2
I-Phone/I tunes – 2
Sobe LifeWater – 3
Buick – 2
KFC – 4
U.S. Army – 3
Frankie and Neffe* -3
Wendy Williams Show* – 2
Centric (a “new” network) – 2
AT & T
Funny People (movie)
McDonalds – 2
Tylenol
Monique Show* 4
Mercedez Benz and Volvo (may be local commercials)
Coca Cola – 3
Palm Pre
Marines
Cadillac
Subway
Public Enemies (movie) 2
Ford Fusion – 2
Inglorious Bastards (movie)
Dominos – 2
Cotton – 2
T-Mobile
Nationwide Insurance
Protégé Footwear
Toyota Venza
Antwerpen Hundai (local?)
Cover Girl
Ice-Age (movie)
Transformers (movie)
Sprint
Rising Icons*
Prudential Retirement
Cash4Gold
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (movie)
G.I. Joe (movie)
Rap It Up campaign – 2
Tronix Country – 2
Ads Directly before the performance:
Rap it Up – BET Campaign*
Wendy Williams Show*
Tiny and Toya Show*
MoNique Show*
Pay It Off*
Ads Directly after the performance
Pepsi
Apple i-Phone
Ford Fusion
KFC
Transformers
Tiny & Toya Show*
I voted and also added the site to my Twitter and Facebook pages to encourage my friends to vote as well.