Shelia Johnson Pulls an "Adolph Eichmann" -Has Blood on Her Hands

Well boo freaking whoo. Shelia Johnson is trying to protect the veneer of "respectability" by condemning BET 's descent into the bowels of HELL.  It must be hard out there on the country-club circuit being known at the "Matriarch of BET". What Shelia- you don't want to claim your cousins Tiny, Toya, Frankie and Neffie?  Are they sniggling and giggling at the stables and wine tastings? Y'all Shelia  says that she thinks BET is directly responsible for an increase in AIDs infections in the District of Columbia:

Johnson—who was at the Tribeca Film Festival this week for the premiere of The Other City, a searing, but ultimately hopeful documentary she produced about the AIDS epidemic in Washington, D.C.—says BET is making matters worse, and potentially contributing to the spread of AIDS, by promoting promiscuous, unprotected sex in raunchy late-night rap videos.

It wasn’t always that way. “When we started BET, it was going to be the Ebony magazine on television,” Johnson tells me. “We had public affairs programming. We had news… I had a show called Teen Summit, we had a large variety of programming, but the problem is that then the video revolution started up… And then something started happening, and I didn’t like it at all. And I remember during those days we would sit up and watch these videos and decide which ones were going on and which ones were not. We got a lot of backlash from recording artists…and we had to start showing them. I didn’t like the way women were being portrayed in these videos.” Daily Beast

Wait. Wait. let me see if I understand. You mean to tell me that half illiterate recording artists in a pre-Itunes age had enough clout to FORCE poor little Shelia to play something on her television station. Funny. In undergrad we had to read the autobiography of Adolph Eichmann. Eichmann was a Nazi officer. A real Nazi, not the kind we bandy about today on cable news. His rank was about the equivalent of a lieutenant. So he wasn't a general, but he was an officer. He was a logistics specialist who managed the mass deportations of people who would eventually end up in concentration camps.  After the war, he fled to Argentina, but the Israelis eventually caught up with Eichman almost 20 years later and he was put on trial for crimes against humanity. His defense at trial was that he was "just following orders." He was executed. Shelia Johnson would have us believe that she was a slave subject to the whims of Snoop Dog and I'm not buying it.  But it must be nice to engage in revisionist history.  I guess these little documentaries she puts out every year at  the Tribeca Film festival are her way of washing away the stain of her blood drenched billion dollar pay off  from Viacom. The sale to Viacom happened AFTER BET started running BET Uncut and I don't recall hearing you scream about The Great Descent when you were cashing Viacom's checks.  And while its all well and good that you are exposing Black children to horses. Your steps to ameliorate a scourge you directly benefitted from is in no way comparable to the damage you were complicit in creating. So just to be clear Shelia Johnson, if BET is contributing to the spread of the HIV virus, then you have blood on your hands. And a couple of film festival documentaries and an interview with The Daily Beast won't remove the stain. I have no problem with Black people making money. More power to you! But don't try to act as if you were some helpless victim. Enjoy your billions, you earned them. Enjoy Heaven on Earth because if there is any justice in the universe...

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Debra Lee is Ticked Off At the Washington Post :Ignore the Critics and Watch Your Ratings

We are changing, improving and serving the needs and aspirations of our viewers -- aspirations that are more often than not ignored by other networks. Debra Lee, CEO of BET

The NAACP giving you an image award makes me laugh.If that's what BET needs to make them feel okay with continuing to be the worst thing that has happened to black people in the last 25 years then ignore the critics and watch your ratings.
Marla, a commenter on WAPO.com in response to Debra Lee

Remember that article in the Washington Post profiling Reggie Whatshisname ("Channel Changer")? Well apparently Teresa Wiltz didn't get the memo that the Washington Post is BET's mouthpiece. After monitoring news coverage for over a year, its clear that in times of crisis, BET turns to the LA Time's entertainment reporter, Gregg, and somebody at the WAPO. Even though Wiltz didn't do the usual litany of BET criticisms, apparently she left out the important BET talking points. For those who have been following BET's toxic MESS clean up over the last year, it goes something to the effect of "blah blah blah GOSPEL SHOW blah blah blah HIP HOP VS. AMERICA blah blah blah GOSPEL SHOW and repeat."

So in response to Wiltz's article, Debra Lee penned a letter to the editor. Debra Lee wants y'all to know that the NAACP gave their gospel show an Image Award:

Nor does she [Wiltz] mention that BET has won seven awards for its news programs in the past year; that BET won the NAACP Image Award for its annual "Celebration of Gospel" (the highest-rated religious program in television the past two years); that BET Networks received an Emmy Award for its long-standing "Rap-It-Up" campaign, which promotes HIV-AIDS awareness; or that the annual BET Awards show has been the No. 1 show in African American households for several years. Debra Lee

In all fairness I could have written a letter to the editor complaining as well because Wiltz left out my quote about BET being a multimedia crack dealer and all of its original programming was the low-rent version of its corporate cousins, MTV and VH1, but you didn't see me whining about that. Let me translate Debra Lee's letter:

Dear Washington Post,

Yes, we sell multimedia crack cocaine, but we also hand out frozen Thanksgiving turkeys once a year. We only sell multimedia crack between the hours of 10 and 2 and we take Sundays off. What happened to those talking points we sent over? Why didn't Teresa Wiltz plug any of our Gospel shows and our once a year Awards show and those three episodes of Hip Hop vs America where we featured some members of the Civil Rights Industrial Complex and BET Honors Recipient, Cornel West ?

Who cares if y'all got an NAACP Image Award last year? Didn't the NAACP also nominate an accused child predator for an Image Award? Didn't the NAACP give Tyler Perry and Award for his role as "Madea" in "Diary of a Mad Black Woman"?

The Rap-IT Up reference is ironic because they are running PSA's about responsible sex practices, yet turn around and feature videos glamorizing debauchery and irresponsibility. Wasn't there a a College Hill episode where the interns were humping each other on a pool table? Debbie call me when you start running PSA directed at young Black girls that say "You Are Not the Sum of Your Body Parts .... Even though we tell you otherwise every hour on the hour." Run a PSA that says "Stripping is hazardous to your health....Even though we tell you otherwise every afternoon between 3 and 6" Run a PSA that says "Drug Dealers are not Heroes, they are traitors to the race."

If I were her, I would stop mentioning "A Celebration of Gospel" before some angry church folks start targeting the gospel artists appearing on the show. I can hear some enterprising young preacher now giving a sermon about "singing in Pharaoh's Choir" or some stuff like that. "Paging Rev. Rollo Goodlove, where you at?" Because if they scare off all the gospel artists, what's left to deflect criticism? Take the Cake? Hell Date? Stop hiding behind the Lord's shirttails, you can't tell me videos talking about B*tches, Bullets and Bling are biblical.

Perhaps most unfairly, the story focused on a few programming misfires -- what network has none? Debra Lee

Um programming misfires? You gotta love Debbie's penchant for the understatement. Let's be clear, the reason you have has a year long spate of negative newspaper articles isn't because of a few programming misfires, but because of a massive public relations blunder of the EPIC variety. You let ONE show overshadow an entire season of shows. You followed that up with a
lewd cartoon you tried to pass off as a PSA which made you an even riper target. Instead of heading off critics at the pass and coming up with something to temporarily appease them, you chose to call them names in major news publications and send them condescending letters and hired a consulting firm to "monitor" them. If you were smart, which every indication is that you are not, you would have scheduled a series of meetings and formed a meaningless committee to make folks feel as if you were listening to their concerns and giving their concerns thoughtful consideration.

To be fair *cough* Debra Lee went to Viacom and asked them to reinvest the hundreds of millions of dollars that BET brings in. The whole reason Viacom purchased BET was because BET was and continues to be a CASH COW. Despite Black folks and advertisers forking over hundreds of millions of dollars, Bob Johnson bled BET dry and didn't reinvest a fraction of what he was pulling in. That is why they relied on music videos for so long. Because videos were cheap. Unfortunately for them, VH1 came along and realized that while music videos are cheap, so is reality television.

BET couldn't very well let VH1 become known as the destination for Black audiences because how would they convince advertisers that the road to Black audiences is through BET? SO what did they do? They started trying to play catch up. Only one problem, you have a DAMAGED brand. DAMAGED. Say BET to a group of regular Black folks and watch what happens. Not only are they a DAMAGED brand, but their own executives are contemptuous of their own audience or too money hungry trying to ink production deals with their buddies that even with 100 Million dollars of Viacom's money, they churned out dud after dud and defended the flops as they went down in flames. That's not bad programming, that's plain old bad business judgment. Notice that Debra Lee didn't mention a single scripted show in her letter. Everything is videos or reality television. In other words, high school seniors with HD cameras could produce most of BET's current programming.

BET does not have a programming problem. It has a cultural problem. Let's take her at her word *wheeze* that music videos only comprise 20% of their programming, that still does not account for the contempt with which they hold their audience. What irritates me most is that BET's talking points keep referring to the regime of B*tches Bullets and Bling as "Black Youth Culture." There is no WAY that an executive at MTV, CBS, ABC would ever say drug use, stripping, violence, and anti social behavior was synonymous with "Black youth culture." They would be gone! Out the door! The NAACP wouldn't be handing them an Image Award, the Hollywood Chapter would be beating down the doors demanding an apology, yet BET repeatedly says this over and over again. What is worse is that they have had advertisers like McDonalds parrot BET's garbage talking about "we're trying to reach a certain demographic." So what is McDonald's saying about Black people?

I applaud those who have have recognized that the only people BET will listen to are advertisers. You can lay siege to their homes and they will still ignore Black folks. P&G is talking about "moving" their ads from BET's soft porn in the afternoon disguised as music videos. I don't know if that means they are pulling the ads completely or just moving them elsewhere on the network, but McDonald's and GM would be hard pressed not to follow suit.

I think Teresa Wiltz was downright heroic to write this article. Somebody must not have told her that BET runs the Washington Post. I bet she knows now. Y'all feel free to write a letter to the editor in response or post comments to Debbie's letter. There are only 4 comments on the Washington Post right now. See what we can do to at least take that out to 20 comments. Most of the comments... okay ALL of the comments are critical of BET and Debbie Lee.

There are some who will get their view of black life entirely from the one station that touts itself as being for blacks. I am not impressed and I hope that other black stations that are morally sound will arise in your place and that BET no longer will be the voice of black america because it stopped representing us along time ago. The NAACP giving you an image award makes me laugh. If that what BET needs to make them feel okay with continuing to be the worst thing that has happened to black people in the last 25 years then ignore the critics and watch your ratings. Marla from the WAPO Comments in response to Debra Lee's letter.

Marla, they can't ignore the critics, the critics have finally figured out a way to to mess with their "paper." BET is a damaged brand. DAMAGED and as soon as Comcast figures out who to partner with to target African Americans between the ages of 12 and 18, BET's target audience, you will be able to sit back and marvel at the implosion. It is coming. They have already taken aim at "older" Black folks. They are about to start a 24-hour Black news network. Like I said, BET is a damaged brand.

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A Message From "Enough is Enough" Regarding Sponsorship of Religious Conference

To the What About Our Daughters readers:

I have received reliable assurances that the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference has not and will not receive any financial contributions or sponsorships for its annual conference. I would like to

thank all those who have worked to bring about a resolution to this matter, particularly those who have expressed concerns about the appearance that black clergy are divided in this campaign against offensive and misogynistic lyrical content in the entertainment industry. I am confident that at this year’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference this issue will be further addressed.

What About Our Daughters has been and is a positive force in challenging misogyny in the entertainment industry. There is no doubt in my mind that the administrator of this site, Gina McCauley, has used the highest journalistic standards in reporting this matter. While those of us who are passionate about the exploitation of black people in the popular culture are combating this issue on a variety of fronts, it is my sincere hope that we will remain focused on the real issue, and this is, the corporations that produce, sponsor, and distribute lyrical and visual content that degrades black women, glorifies violence and criminal activity, and negatively
stereotypes black men as pimps, gangsters, and thugs.

Peace and Blessings,

Rev. Delman Coates, Ph.D., Organizer
Enough Is Enough Campaign for Corporate Responsibility in Entertainment
www.enoughisenoughcampaign.com

This blog has played its role in this religious melodrama and as far as we are concerned its curtains for "Payola in the Pulpit." The parties most intimately involved are satisfied with the outcome- We will not be addressing the matter further on this blog.

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The silence is deafening

by guest contributor Tami from What Tami Said

On Friday, Jan. 25, WAOD posted the article "What would Jesus do...about BET," breaking news about a letter (press release) praising Black Entertainment Television for evolving and "standing up for freedom of expression." The communique was signed by high-profile preachers and leaders of prominent religious groups, and disseminated by Rev. Ronal Tune, a consultant affiliated with The Carroway Group, a PR firm employed by BET. In that post, and the others that followed, we asked how holy men and women devoted to the uplift of the black community--leaders like Father Michael Pfleger, who little more than six months ago purchased billboards around Chicago decrying misogyny in rap music, and Bishop Vashti Mackenzie, an advocate for black women--could in good conscience align themselves with BET.

The letter seemed like a bold slap in the face to black people and women in particular. Here were our leaders praising BET for tossing crumbs to the black community, while continuing to kill our people every day through a celebration of violence, materialism and misogyny. It couldn't be true that our community's religious leaders have such disdain for us. Could it? Rev. Tune says:

I'm shocked at the assumptions made in this post so I have e-mailed all of
clergy on the letter to make them aware of it. Perhaps they will respond to your
statements individually. I spoke to Rev. Haynes after I received a call from
Enough is Enough and it appears that he was under the impression that there was
a different letter being referred to in his conversation with whoever called
him. When I told him it was the same letter that he received from me, he said
there wasn't a problem. I assure you, that every person on this letter regarding
the BET Honor Show read it prior to release and knew their name was on it.

Meanwhile, the offending letter was stricken from Rev. Tune's Clergy Strategic Alliances Web site. (Now folks ought to know that you can't erase stuff from the Internet so quickly.Here it is.) Gina and Shecodes called and e-mailed the signatories of the BET letter.


Dr. Cynthia Hale quickly responded, assuring that we were all on the same side, that the leaders who signed the offending letter meant to congratulate BET Honors Award honorees only and that they were unaware of BET's duplicity. Dr. Hale promised to speak to all pastors involved and get back to us.


On Tuesday of this week, Dr. Iva Carruthers responded to WAOD's inquiries through the site's comments sections, saying in part:

Yes, we share the concerns about misogyny and the degrading and disempowering media images and messaging—both blatant and subtle—not just by BET, but in all American media. So yes, I signed the letter and I was not at all deceived.

It is unclear how Carruthers' "concerns about misogyny and degrading and disempowering media images" squares with lauding BET for standing up for "freedom of expression," or how praising the channel's "willingness to listen to viewers" with community activists' experience that BET is anything but willing to listen and respond.


No other leader has bothered to respond to WAOD's inquiries. Not one. And we are waiting.

It has been little more than 48 hours, excluding weekends, since WAOD broke this story. Now we know these religious bigwigs are busy, but if you were a community leader, would you let your name stand associated with BET on a site devoted to ending the war against black women--a site that receives thousands of hits a day and is listed as one of the Web's most influential sites on Technorati. I wouldn't. Unless, of course, I supported the channel and its content.

The way I see it, silence = endorsement. If by Friday--one week after WAOD's initial post--this Web site's readers have not heard from the religious leaders that signed the BET letter, then we all know where we stand. Don't we?

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What would Jesus do...about BET?

written by guest contributor Tami of What Tami Said

It must be unprecedented—clergy kneeling at the altar of Viacom, shouting praise to a purveyor of bouncing booties, big pimpin’ and a bounty of bling.

In an announcement allegedly signed by representatives of major religious bodies, such as the Progressive National Baptist Convention, the New York Theological Seminary and the National Baptist Convention of America, Inc., Clergy Strategic Alliances (CSA) gushed:

We would like to congratulate BET and Debra Lee on presenting the inaugural
BET Honors Awards, dedicated to recognizing the achievements and contributions
of distinguished African-American leaders in their fields. As the leading
network for programming in the African-American community, viewers are able to
see the diversity of the Black experience expressed in various art forms ranging
from music and movies to gospel and current events. Over the years, we have seen
BET evolve and change, and while we might not always agree with every step they
make, they have always shown a willingness to listen to their viewers, and
adjust accordingly.

As religious leaders, we are encouraged by BET’s enthusiasm to engage in
dialogue with those of us who have expressed concerns over some of their
programming. BET has responded to these concerns by bringing its viewers new
shows such as Exalted and Sunday Best, but we all know that real change takes
time. We are excited about what the future holds for BET, and will continue to
nurture our relationship with the network and its leadership in their efforts to
provide new and innovative quality programming to our community. SOURCE

One new awards show and a sprinkling of gospel make BET a source of “new and innovative quality programming” that shows the diversity of the black experience?

You might argue that BET is no worse than its paler Viacom brethren—MTV and VH-1. And you might be right. But I have yet to see a group of community-minded holy men and women endorse either of those channels based on their one or two offerings of social value. But BET gets a hug and a cookie for airing Exalted and Sunday Best. I guess a little shoutin’ on Sunday morning erases a multitude of weekday sin—sin like materialistic excess, degradation of women, the sexual hijinks of the College Hill interns, the bumping and grinding of Hell Date, the g-strings and arched backs of the bet.com "B-girls," the crassness of “Read a *&%%* Book,” the celebrated violence of American Gangster 2.

The CSA Web site says:

At CSA our goal is to equip pastors and congregations with the skills necessary
to build power and improve their communities.

If that is the Clergy Strategic Alliance’s mission, then an alliance with BET ain’t so strategic.

Black women—the backbone of the church, the most faithful in the flock—are demeaned every day through BET programming, their children fed a steady diet of shucking, jiving and filth. Why aren’t these religious leaders standing with the women who pack the pews on Sunday, the church mothers who cook the repast, the ladies on the fellowship committee? Why aren’t they standing with ordinary black folks who are trying to raise their children in a world dominated by BET's values or lack thereof?

Gina asked me to remind you all that this isn't the first time a group of clergy members got together to try to stifle a movement led by ordinary people. In fact, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous letter from the Birmingham jail was written in response to a similar alliance of clergy willing to accept crumbs instead of justice.

http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Letter_Birmingham.html

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