BRAVO to Deshawn Snow:You're Too "Human" to be on The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Essence.com is going to ride this Real Housewives of Atlanta into the ground baby! ! Essence got an exclusive interview with Deshawn Snow. Deshawn got the boot because she didn't leap off the couch and try to stage a fake fight on national television with another fully grown woman like the beloved buffoonish NeNe (YEAH I SAID IT) . This is what Deshawn told Essence:

[One of the producers] called and said that I was “too human for a circus show” and that because the show did so well, they are about to pump up the drama and they didn’t think that I would fit in. He gave me an example, saying that during the reunion when I found out what a few of the other ladies said about me, they were expecting me to say more, but I’m not the type to go “television” and start acting crazy because somebody’s talking about me. I’m fine with the decision. It wasn’t my decision. They let me go and there are no hard feelings. Essence.com

Nene the walking stereotype is going to be rewarded with her own show. To all those "executives" that I have "bantered" with over the life of this blog, in person an in email, about whether entertainment is reflecting the biases and tastes of entertainment executives vs. "giving the people what they want." This is Exhibit A, B, C, D you're not giving people what they want, you're telling them what they want. The show wasn't hurting because someone sane and dignified was in the cast. However one commenter said it best, BLACK women will watch this show in droves and support it even if BRAVO basically called their cast a bunch of circus animals.

The same thing happens in music and film a tiny group of people decide which images of Black women permeate the culture and which don't. There are no accidents. Its not an accident the number one show on BET is chronicling the life of a recovering crack addict.

Comments

[Mary]

"Nene the walkig stereotype is going to be rewarded with her own show. "

dang, for real, oh lawd, you know she's like New York2, right, oh lawd!!!! why?????

but on another note, this is not the first time this happened. on housewives of orange county, there was a very religious, calm person on there and she definitely got the boot too. now, skanky tamra, slutty gretchen (whatever), bitchy vicky and depressed jeana are the main protagonist, now to mention the new girl who is obssessed with youth, all real losers if you ask me but boy are they entertaining.

[SeriouslyD]

This was the first season I've watched The Real Housewives of Anywhere and I must admit it was sort of like a car crash - you know you had no business looking but you couldn't turn away. I understand why Deshawn was let go and, bless her heart. The other women consistently worked my nerves. Lisa was cool until she started that "throw the rock/hide the hand" mess. Kim was simply delusional and irrelevant. I was done with Sheree when she sent her little girl out of the door with her hair looking all crazy and the next person at the door was the Exclusive Shoe Salesman. Please. Comb your baby's hair before concern yourself with a 7 figure settlement. And lastly, I know Ne-Ne has a huge following because she "keeps it real" and "says what's on her mind" but ghetto is ghetto. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not judging anyone. I grew up in the hood and I love my people. However, there is a time and a place for everything. All that loud, head-rolling, finger snapping, no-bra wearing mess EVERYWHERE you go is truly unnecessary.

[miriam]

"BLACK women will watch this show in droves and support it even if BRAVO basically called their cast a bunch of circus animals."

I am totally playing devil's advocate here because I don't support this show AT ALL (never even saw it once) but....

with a quote like the above, doesn't that imply that the entertainment executives are giving what the general public wants? If the BW are willing to watch it "in droves"?

[HARD TO BELIEVE BUT I AGREE WI]

As a black man I agree with the above article. I think black women have been told what to watch on TV (black women are the easiest to market to). I do think they are portraying a stereotype of a black woman. The problem I'm seeing is that the number of black women following the stereotype is growing in real society. I'm all for putting up better images of black women on T.V. Hopefully better images will help black men out. I know I'm tired of dealing with self- centered, loud, materailistic black women .

[Noel]

I have never seen one episode of this show, as a matter of fact, I only watch a select few shows and I do that at my leisure online. I don't bother with television and this is one of the main reasons why. 90 percent (maybe more) of it is trash, pure and simple.

I am not surprised they try to script buffoonery on these reality shows, they started that shit with the Real World. The only season where it really was 'human' and interesting was the first and it was just all silly stupidity egged on by the producers after that.

You all remember the famous 'rape encounter' with Tammy and Dave, and the abortion in season two?

That was the beginning of feeding stereotypes about black folk on what is supposed to be 'reality tv'. They tried to paint Kevin Powell as the angry black man in season one (they didn't succeed) but I will say they sure did in subsequent episodes.

Anyway that's my rant.

I hope the money and negative exposure those sistas are getting on Atlanta Housewives is worth it in the long run. Too bad it's at the expense of average black folk.

[Ursula]

This does not surprise me. DeShawn was one of my favorite characters on the show because she was real to herself and she tried not to get into the mess of the other housewives. I did not become a watcher of the show until it was ended and saw the marathon and I was hooked, but not impressed.

My family had a conversation over the holidays about the show and discussed the fact that the show got new money housewives, prime example....athlete's wives. NeNe and Kim were the only exception. I have not watched the other housewives series, but I think they have more of a variety of the type of women they have on the show.

[Naima]

I think most BW actually like stereotypical characters. Just look at the popularity of Madea and the street lit genre. That's us supporting that mess.
The change has to start w/ BW. We support entertainment that degrades us and claim "they ain't talking about me" (but the ones who say that, usually do fit the stereotype of who they are referring to)

[Eva]

I agree with the post except the last sentence, I am a woman who has been in recovery for nearly 22 years and I see nothing wrong with showing a black woman in recovery at all.

[Fed up observer.]

A group is so starved to see images of themselves that they will take whatever scraps they can get. That is my opinion, like it or not. I am not into blaming the victim here. The FACT of the matter is that Black females have been ignored/done dirty when it comes to images of ourselves by BOTH the Black media machine AND Hollywood. Period.

I support Deshawn.
I support NeNe.
I support New York.

Why?

Because they are ALL my sisters, and if WE do not support each other, then NOBODY else will. Anyone who disagrees, well take a look at the state of Black female's emotional health/self-esteem in 2008/2009 and then come tell me I am wrong.

"Ghetto" my eye!

[Kim]

I can,t believe any of these women would still consider being on the show after the comment they made. Please ladies haven't they potrayed you enough. Do you or have you seen bravo dig into any other housewives life like real housewives of the oc or ny stop the madness get a grip on yourselves.

[Bree]

"I know I’m tired of dealing with self- centered, loud, materailistic black women."

Then go date a white woman! Black men are NEVER satisfied no matter what we do. If we were the exact opposite of what you said in your statement, you would find something wrong with that too, so get over yourself.

[Fed up observer.]

Bree, you are so true. These Black men and their garbage will NEVER change, so the best thing is for us just not to deal with them.

[Fed up observer.]

OOps! Bree, I meant to say you are so "Correct". Sorry girl!

[Fed up observer.]

Eva, your story is one that deserves to be told, but the thing is certain elements will turn it into an opportunity to act like we Black females are the ONLY females who fall into drug addiction.

That is why Black females need our OWN media, by US for US about US.

[Latifah Sharpe]

Hi, Mrs.Deshawn Snow I 'm so glad I 've finally got to meet you I love your lovely and nice personality and I'm glad I'm a DeshawnSnow Angel!!

Love, Latifah at Therrell High School!!