Not Buying it Jameela

This is my response to some of Jameela Donaldson's recent comments on What About Our Daughters.

Yeah it is a little late to be trying to discuss why you created THAT WEBSITE. I read your comments (see post called "What About Our Daugthers Wins Battle!!!) and find it interesting that you are maintaining that you receive images of children and post them in the hopes that parents will see or someone will help the children. Sure Jam. The next time I see someone getting hurt or making a fool of themselves I'll just post them on the internet and maybe someone will help them. Sure. I guess it wouldn't be helpful at all to send those photos to an organization that helps children or something. I don't know about the US but in Canada, if someone suspects that a child is being abused then they have a duty to report that to the proper authorities. We don't post their photos on the internet.

So what if the photos are posted elsewhere on the net? It matters where it is posted and in what context. Putting them all together on a site called YOU KNOW WHAT makes a big difference. People don't expect others to take their profile photos, or photos on social networking sites and re-post them somewhere else. They probably feel safe on those sites with people who want to make friends or date. If they wanted their photos on THAT WEBSITE they would have sent them in personally.

I have an idea for you. Why not start a site called "Ugly People Who Should Hide Their Faces". Go around to dating sites and Myspace and find people who you consider unattractive. Then post their photos on the site. On the same site post people you consider attractive. Then those ugly people will learn that they shouldn't take photos of themselves, and they should wear make-up, get surgery, or hide their faces so they are no longer ugly. If we use your reasoning Jam then that would be a public service.

Maybe Jam, people don't notice the gallery with positive images because THEY VISIT YOUR SITE FOR THE NEGATIVE IMAGES! If they wanted nice photos of people they would not visit a site like yours. They want to see the train wreck and they are not going to be distracted by the pretty flowers you place around it. It doesn't work. That goes the same for the articles. People go to your site to see Black people looking badly and I doubt they care very much about anything else posted there. You even said yourself that no one mentions the articles or positive images...pssst here's a secret...they didn't even notice them.

I would suggest scrapping the site and creating one about positive and historical people of African Descent all over the world. We need a site like that where people can go and see how to be leaders, successful, and happy in their lives. The media is already flooded with negative images of us. We don't need to add to that. Hey Jam, I understand that you are trying to use the internet to inspire Black people to do better. Well many bloggers, newspapers, magazines, and websites are using theirs to inspire you to do better. Doesn't seem to be working on you either.

Bronze Trinity

What the Heck Was McDonald's Thinking?

Hmm. Maybe corporate America is finally getting the point. Mickie D's just dropped Twista from their concert series. Twista asked a legitimate question... Why the heck did they book him in the first place?

Jameeela Donaldson FInally Trots over to WAOD- BET Releases her from BUNKER! - Welcome! You're a little late though- I'm officially bored now.

What do you do when your first foray as a television producer gets savaged by the critics and results in mediocre ratings despite the fact that your most vocal critics actually encourage people to watch your show? Well, you try to provoke your critics into providing more publicity for your show.

Folks the creator of THAT SHOW must really be needing some ratings for THAT SHOW. Gurl, I have done all I can. I can't make people watch THAT SHOW if they don't want to. Where you been? I invited you over WEEKS AGO!

All this over lil ole me. Jeez, I dont know where to begin. But I will first begin by addressing a few misconceptions about the site. Jameeela Donaldson, HOtGhettoMess.com in the comments section of What About Our Daughters. DELUSIONAL Right Up to the BITTER END!.

Welcome Jameela, I love Black men too. We have that in common. Smooches back at cha! You might want to read my post New Loyalty Oath for the Black Blogosphere. Seeing as how you are regurgitating foolishness that has already been addressed here. And NO, this wasn't all about little old you, but usually the pawn is always the last to know.

Didn't your show already premiere? So why are you finally trotting over here a week late? Did BET finally let you out of that bunker? Feel free to leave comments anytime, but we are not going to be publicizing your show anymore here. I know the ratings were disappointing, but this publicity stunt of yours is a little desperate. I ain't throwing you anymore watch parties gurl. You are on your own.

You are a day late and a dollar short and still apparently DELUSIONAL, but you're good for business so come back anytime GURL! Anytime! I have to warn you though, you are about to be bumped from our front page, but I will let you stretch your 15 minutes about 30 more seconds. It is the least I can do:)

F.Y.I. , in the future, can you refrain from just reposting comments you have made on other people's blogs? You could at least provide some original content for your nemesis the Black blogger who successfully got EVERY.SINGLE.ADVERTISER to drop your show. Surely I have provided you with something new to say. Just because your show is unoriginal does not mean that you have to be that way in real life.

UPDATE: SHE JUST KEEPS POSTING COMMENTS. IT. Won't Stop! We've moved on. You. Should. Too. As far as unkind words I think you have flung your share at me. Are your comments your idea of intellectual discussion? Poor thing. Nope, I don't think THIS site will be the one people forget in a month, but good looking out!

3 Comments - Show Original Post Collapse comments

jam said...

Once again, you are wrong. BET had nothing to do with my decision to "trot over" to WAOD. I just had enough of the falsehoods. Its one thing to dislike the site or the show but its another to tell outright untruths, so I figure I would address them below...
(btw the ratings were huge thanks to you, tee hee hee )

Um, that isn't what Reuters said Gurl. They said your ratings were kind of soft(I mean even with all of my help, you couldn't outdo Lil' Kim). F.Y.I television executive producer, BET is not in the ratings business, they are in the AD SALES business and your show didn't sell any ads. So UM.... Well.... That is not good. I have to question the judgment of anyone that would make you the executive producer of ANYTHING after some of your comments left on this blog. So thanks for directing traffic from your site to mine, I welcome the comments from your supporters, but I'm officially bored with you now. Okay!... Check out Bronze Trinity's response to the foolishness and rationalizations.

.....SO like I was saying, DL Hughley is coming to my turf!
Details soon.

DL Hughley Coming to My Turf - The Universe is Mocking ME!

You know all I really want to do is chill out behind this keyboard and relax, but apparently the Universe has other plans, yet again. Thinking that I could take a few steps away from activism and return to logistics and strategy, I was horrified when I opened our local entertainment weekly and saw DL Hughley's grinning mug promoting his appearances in Austin on August 17, 18, and 19th. Are you freaking kidding me? He'll be at the Capital City Comedy Club 512-467-2333.

I've been after this fool on this blog since May 7, 2007. He is the reason we started Sharpton Watch. He is the reason I was on BET.com in the first place. When he was in Ft. Worth, one of my readers, Eddie, along with local grassroots organizations organized a successful protest, Hughley sold less than half of the available tickets. WHY LORD WHY?? WHY is the Universe mocking me? ( Gina picks self off the floor)

Folks hold on to your hats, we're in for a wild and wacky ride. At least I will learn how to organize and throw a street protest. This should be enlightening. Those of you who live in the lone star state, take off Friday the 18th. Come on down and take part in the festivities. ( And the college kids will be back in town too. HAHAHAHA!) More details to follow.

(Gina heads back on her posting vacation. Yeah Right!)

Do We have to Boycott the Superbowl Next? CNN Sports Contributor Says Dog Fighting Worse than Rape?

"Keep in mind, too, that while Kobe Bryant is a situation we can sort of compare this to, this (dog fighting) really is much worse. Not only can you argue that the crimes are much worse in terms of, you know, killing dogs and that kind of thing."

~ Larry Smith, CNN Comparing Michael Vick to Kobe Bryant

Hat Tip to Sandra Rose.

HOLY MOTHER OF GOD! SWEET JESUS! TAKE ME NOW LORD! TAKE.ME.NOW! ( Gina picks herself off the floor)

I called it. I told y'all that somebody was going to say or do something stupid and make me come off my posting vacation. DAMN YOU LARRY SMITH! Damn You!

Now I know plenty of folk who love Fido to pieces, but COME ON! Larry! baby! A dog is an animal, and although people are part of the animal kingdom, we typically confer some extra status to those animals frequently referred to as human beings. I know it is hard to believe, but girls and women are human beings too Larry!

The violent sexual assault of girls and women is a very serious allegation, worthy of some serious contemplation before using it as an example in the latest brouhaha over yet another grown man who plays a game for a living allegedly engaging in stupid, inhumane, FOOLISHNESS!

Now, if the allegations against Michael Vick are true, then he should be thrown under the jail, however, that is going to be left up to a judge or jury. I am reserving judgment.

I think Larry Smith's comments are very telling and instructive. Is this the way that the great thinkers within the Professional Sports Industrial Complex feel about violent crimes against women and girls? If this is way Larry, a seemingly reasonable human being, feels, what about the less enlightened( I am being kind today)? Sisters and Brethren, WE'VE GOT A PROBLEM!

So my question is this: IN light of the never ending FOOLISHNESS directed at women by the Professional Sports Industrial Complex, what would happen if the women of America stopped funding foolishness for just ONE day?

WHAT IF THE PROFESSIONAL SPORTS INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX THREW A SUPERBOWL AND NO WOMEN SHOWED UP?

Don't think women could affect a male dominated industry? What would happen on Superbowl Sunday if women patted the men in our lives on the head, pointed them in the direction of the closest sports bar, and shoved them out the door? What would happen if we didn't slave away making sweetish meatballs, Killer Queso, 7-Layer Dip, and hot wings? What if the chips and dips aisle was full of product on that Sunday afternoon?

No fighting long lines at the grocery store. No watching idiotic commercials and ridiculously long pregame shows. No having 30 people traipse on our good carpet and sit on our good furniture. What if we sent the menfolk on their way and kicked back and watched one of those inane Lifetime Original movies on Superbowl Sunday?WHAT if we stopped funding foolishness for just ONE day? I bet they'd figure out REALLY fast that FIDO has no financial resources. Women do! It is about time we started pointing that out to the simpletons in the Professional Sports Industrial Complex.

I'm not saying we ought to do it.... I am just throwing it out there. That. Is. All. ( Gina heads back on her posting vacation)

(See Full Transcript of Smith's Comments)

SPEAKING OF MICHAEL VICK... THE NAACP is weighing in. At least now we know why they didn't bother holding a press conference regarding THAT SHOW. Maybe I should learn how to throw a ball.

Where do we go from here? Emergent Power of Black Bloggers

We've seen it before with the CBC-Fox Debates, Shaquanda Cotton, and cases of African American women whose kidnappings and murders have been overlooked ( Stepha Henry) by "mainstream media," Black bloggers are beginning to leverage their online power to obtain off line results.

THIS REALLY IS NOT ABOUT THAT SHOW
THAT SHOW on a certain network will be a mere footnote in history, the real story, overlooked by the "mainstream media" in all of this is that OUR generation is coming into its own as activists. We don't do things the way that our parent's and grandparents did . We shouldn't have to. They sacrificed so that we could have access all of the tools you have seen during this brouhaha over THAT SHOW. You saw us getting our message out to the news media. You saw us go toe to toe with one of the largest media conglomerates in the world and we did it with a cellphone and a desktop computer. That is all.

BLOGGING WHILE BROWN
It is important that we continue to nurture this emerging activism so that our efforts related to THAT SHOW are not just a flash in the pan. That is why Blogging While Brown is so important. Next year is an election year and whatever party you support, bloggers are going to play, perhaps, a much larger role in the electoral process than ever before. Black bloggers MUST be a part of that. Also, this is an opportunity for those who want to start a blog or expand their skills to get access to the technical experience to help them get their point across.

So for the next few weeks I will be working with the team over at Blogging While Brown to get it off the ground. Plans are to have it in Atlanta, GA next summer and have it at the same time as one of the many festivals held in Atlanta every year. So I won't be posting as feverishly as usual. However, posts will still be made because I would like to introduce you to our first Guest Contributor to What About Our Daughters?, Bronze Trinity. You guys have already met her in the comments section and in her inaugural post on Saturday.

WAOD's FIRST GUEST CONTRIBUTOR
Bronze Trinity is a successful blogger in her own right. She is one of the members of the Afrosphere Bloggers Association. She was one of the first people to embrace this blog. In the past few months she has been working tirelessly to develop the online infrastructure to help further the efforts of African American bloggers. She is not a fire breather like moi can be on occasion ( when provoked). She's basically a very nice person who loves Black folk. I will continue to moderate the comments. I occasionally will pop in if something pops up that I can't be quiet about( I'll probably make it 48 hours).

LOOKING FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN WHO BLOG
I am also looking for other African American women with established blogs. What does that mean? That means you have a body of work already out there preferably several months worth. If you are not there yet, keep blogging and contact me when you are ready. As you all know, blogging over a long period of time takes a unique personal passion. Anybody can start a blog in a fit of fury ( I did.) But it takes an effort to keep plugging away at this month after month, pushing through burnout ( very common), and the boo birds that invariably pop in on occasion.

THIS BLOG is about negative portrayals of African American women in popular culture. I am passionate about a lot of things and even comment on other folks blogs, but THIS blog has a very narrow focus so guest contributions will have to be on topic.

I want to thank everyone who played a role in all of this. I didn't ask to be thrust into all of this, but now that I have been, I think it is important to do what I can to make sure that other people can use this example to SPEAK, ACT and ENGAGE for themselves.

Stop Funding Foolishness!

What About Our Daughters Wins Battle!!!

Hi everyone,

My name is Bronze Trinity. I am a graduate student and a member of the Afrosphere Bloggers Association. I will be guest blogging here for a while to keep fighting againist negative representations of Black women. My first post my impression of what has happened this week.

What About Our Daughters has won the BET battle!

What was once a disgrace and offense to the Black community is no longer offensive! Based on the activism and drive of one fantastic blogger, Gina McCauley of What About Our Daughters blog (WAOD) the offensive title was changed and all offensive material was removed from the show. THAT MEANS WAOD WON! No the show was not canceled but the show that aired was no longer offensive. The whole point of the protest was to stop an offensive show from being aired that would insult and spread stereotypes about Black people. In actuality, that offensive show NEVER AIRED! Its was CANCELED! What they aired instead was a version with the offensive title and content removed. I think that the fact that the show's content had to be edited actually proves that there was a lot of offensive material in the original show. If the show was a poignant social commentary to begin with then there would have been nothing to edit in the first place. What was left was just disjointed video segments. It didn't lift anyone up or inspire anyone to do better. It was a piece of crap!

At first I was worried that people were bringing too much attention to the show and actually giving it publicity. What if it had actually been a good show? Fortunately it was garbage, many people, the media, and critics saw the garbage and are now in the process of writing negative reviews. This negative publicity would not have been generated if WAOD did not bring attention to the show. It is taking attention away from BET's other shows! I hope that this finally motivates them to change the type of programming they carry. I also hope that channels like TVONE, that provide better programming, can capitalize of this by getting new subscribers! Understand this, one blogger with vast activism skills stood up against a television corporation and stopped an offensive show from airing. THIS IS A VICTORY!!! Please congratulate Gina because this is a victory against negative depictions of Black people in the media.

The war is not over and Black bloggers are going to find creative ways to use internet activism to improve the lives of members of the African Diaspora. We are taking back our lives, confronting and dealing with our own problems, and stepping up to change things. We will fight crime, drugs, AIDS, poor education, low self-esteem, poverty, and all the problems that affect us. This was a great example of how it can be done. We will use this example to help us fight all of our problems!

I Could Not Have Said It Better- So I Won't Try

See what BET could have been. TVOne Broadband. Select the "lifestyle" channel.

"Who's Your Caddy" - Brought to Us by Bob Johnson

Billionaire Bob Johnson still hasn't purchased a soul or any common sense. Go over to Eurweb to read his full comments. Apparently "Who's Your Caddy" is his first jaunt into movie making under his new studio.

"We'll let Jerry Springer get away with that or we'll let Morton Downey get away with that or we'll let the people at VH1's 'Flavor of Love' get away with that. But when it's black folks making the decision to do that, all of a sudden people start saying you can't do that because you have a greater obligation. And then they go to advertisers and many white advertisers will head for the hills the moment they see themselves in the middle of a black controversial issue. They will stop, [partly] because they don't really want to be on it; don't value it; or they don't know how to handle it."

Is that so? Thanks for the heads up that advertisers are easy to scare off of a show. That is very useful information. He's good for something folks!

Let's Play Where in the World?

Where in the world was the Black "establishment" during the HGM controversy? Why were ordinary folks left to fend for ourselves? Let's have a roll call. Who were the folks that should have spoken out that didn't?

Today was a VICTORY for ordinary Black folks EVERYWHERE! When our "leaders" were MIA, we held our own! If you can't come out against something called "Hot Ghetto Mess" what is the use of having them at all?

BET SHOULD CUT ME A CHECK! That was just LAME

Sweet mother of GOD. No wonder they had to have a sensational name and tie it to that god awful website. There are no words. Just. Just. Speechless. That was what Reginald Hudlin called " so doggone good?" Viacom y'all need to fire him because he has really bad taste. Maybe I am too old. Was it just me or was that really really BAD?

Folks don't sleep, we are going to keep the pressure on because I can assure you they are going to try to sneak in some bootie shaking videos in the next five weeks. The only bad side is that we will have to watch that God Awful show five more times. Maybe we can pull lots?

Was THAT really worth blowing th entire roll out of you new original programming? Hubris. Hubris I tell ya!

The irony is that this should have been BET's shining hour, millions hundreds of people (the show had really bad ratings) who normally don't watch were watching and when their moment came, they put on a really bad show. Its not original programming if it is made up of YouTube Clips we have already seen.

Which Companies Advertised in Your City?

This is a thread to post which companies advertised on BET's "We Got a Better Mess." Off topic posts will be rejected. Take your general impressions of the show to the "What Did you think " thread. I will moderate the comments when I return. Check out what other bloggers are saying as well.

Folks don't just list the local companies, give them a friendly call. They probably have NO clue. Have them tap the cable company on the knuckles for putting their stuff on THAT SHOW.

What Black Bloggers Are Saying About BET's "We Got to DO a Better Mess"

Mo' Kelly is on a TEAR over there at the Mo' Kelly Report. Y'all know I don't believe in talking to BET, they are lying money grubbing sociopaths, but for some reason Mo' wants to talk to Jeanine Liburd, VP of Communications (her contact info is over at Mo's). I just called to tell her to talk to Mo'kelly and she was in a "conference call". FYI BET has been in a perpetual conference call for the past three weeks. Really Viacom, you should just run the place by a remote control computer. I don't think you could do worse.

Afro-Netizen is also not impressed by the name change. BET's new family values show changing its name from "Hot Ghetto Mess" to "Racism on Auto Pilot". (Or is it "We Can Do Better"?) Well, a fetid rose by any other name is still a fetid rose, right?

UPDATE(11:31) - You guys have got to listen to the audio of Reginald Hudlin's Interview with Television critics last weekend. Things did not go well. Notice when a reporter asks them last week why they just didn't change the name. Jam basically says that they didn't need to. Also listen to her dodge her website playing fast and loose with rules about posting potentially underage girls half naked. Y'all think we caused him a little headache?

UPDATE(9:52)- Someone has commented that the blog was mentioned on CNN. When and what show? I want to post a link

Jasmyne Cannick - Excellent writer that she is, basically articulates the points I would make if I could actually write. HAHAHA! She points out BET's unique position, how BET is abusing that position. She also brings up Shirley Q. Liquor. If you don't who Shirley Q. is, you need to. Its is pretty good and she goes toe to toe with Hudlin and Donaldson. Read "We Could Do Better... But We Won't." Reporters and producers who are looking for somebody other than me for comment, contact Jasmyne or the folks over at Racialicious. They spell it out far better than I can and they will do it without sounding like a Baptist preacher trying to convert folks ( it is a blessing.. it is a curse).

Faye Anderson gets it. In "BET Must Do Better" Faye calls the name change what it is... putting lipstick on a Pig. She, like I will be putting sponsors on blast come Wednesday night. She talks about previous efforts to reign in BET and why this time has been different.

Open Letter to Ad Agencies - BET Goes Back on Word. “Hot Ghetto Mess” is still a Mess!

The blog, “What About Our Daughters?” has Sent the following letters to television advertising agencies.:

This letter is to alert you and your clients of a show airing on Black Entertainment Television tonight at 9:30PM CST called “We Got to Do Better.” The show was formerly called “Hot Ghetto Mess.” Following a public outcry, including a campaign started at my blog, “What About Our Daughters?,” Black Entertainment Television, relented and changed the name of the show as part of a compromise.

It appears as if the change in show title was just a ruse and BET intends to continue to promote the website HotGhettoMess.com by having the host, Charlie Murphy use the phrase “Hot Ghetto Mess” throughout the show. This is unacceptable and is not what we agreed to. The purpose of the name change was to sever the television show from the disgusting abominable website, HotGhettoMess.com .

If you have clients who have purchased advertising that will appear during the show, this letter serves as notice that we find it unacceptable for a corporation to associate itself with a show that promotes a website that contains photos of young African American children in abusive and neglectful conditions, teenage girls with their breasts exposed, some against their will, and a general pattern of bullying the poor, the mentally ill, the delusional and the very young.

If your clients have ads appearing in the show, please pass this on. We will keep a record of which ad agencies we sent this alert to in the event that your client becomes the subject of a boycott or protest as a result of their funding of “Hot Ghetto Mess” and you failed to inform them of the potential negative consequences of purchasing advertising on the show, whatever BET calls it.

Sincerely,

Gina
WhatAboutOurDaughters.blogspot.com
Whataboutourdaughters@gmail.com

Folks, I stayed up all night into the early morning hunting down, emailing and calling the 15 top multicultural ad agencies in this country to warn them and their clients about what BET is trying to pull. We have no way of knowing which companies are going to purchase advertising on HGM Redux, but I got money that says that by contacting these 15 ad buyers that we hit at least half of the sponsors. So when we target the advertisers, they will know that their ad agency let them walk into a hornets nest without giving them warning. NOT A GOOD THING!

IT would have been too much like RIGHT for BET to be honorable even in defeat, but NO, this is BET we're talking about here. Aren't they tired of me yet? How do you screw up a handmade compromise? For those of you who poo pooed the name change, you were right. We should have finished them off, you cannot be reasonable with these folks. . That mistake will never be made again. I keep trying to retire and exit stage left and BET keeps yanking me back in.

Today is the DAY! Get Your Pens and Pencils Ready!

Folks I hope you have found yourself a watch party. If not, throw your own. IT has been a tough three weeks since I discovered the original HGM site ( of which I still have screen captures). I knew 30 seconds after I saw the ads pop up next to that blackface cartoon that a show called "Hot Ghetto Mess" was not going to air. I went to school with these marketing executives. They are risk averse and being associated with a blackface cartoon, by itself, was enough to drive them off.

I don't know what tomorrow will bring, but I know this. For the first time in 27 years, BET was forced to change course. Unlike BET Uncut which took SIX years to kill, this took more like six minutes on the phone with a CEO's office.

So get your pens and pencils ready. Write down your impressions and record the products and services advertised on the show and let us all sit back and wait to see what is going to happen.

This has been a ridiculously good learning experience for moi even though I have to deal with the occasional vermin that has been attracted to the site by the increased attention. This was worth it. This was absolutely worth it.

Whichever side you came down on this issue, do not lose sight of the fact that this battle was waged by two African American female attorneys in their thirties. Somewhere Thurgood Marshall, Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher and Charles Hamilton Houston have got to be smiling because both of us were zealous advocates for our positions right up to the bitter end. We ought to be proud of that.

Regardless of whose side you are on, I hope that this episode has given all of us a glimpse into the potential for Bloggers of Color, even if they are fighting with each other. Next summer we hope to all be able to gather to help lay the groundwork for future efforts by Bloggers of Color at the first International Black Interactive Conference, tentatively called Blogging While Brown.

Check out one of the best articles by a reporter about this whole brouhaha. Its is balanced. She talked to more than two people and she brought in an impartial expert. "BET still has 'Mess' Even With Title Change" . It is by Monica Haynes, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Enjoy The Best Of WAOD - After Imus: Now What

I think I have made the original point of this blog. If you stop funding foolishness, it will go away.

I admire Jameela Donaldson for sticking with it for what must have been three long years of catching pure hell. I don't agree with your methods, but I have to admire you for hanging in there for so long.

Enjoy some of our archived posts and see how we ended up here. Don't worry. I ain't going to shut down the blog , just hand over day to day operations to some other bloggers for a while while I work on some movement building issues. Our new writers will be starting on Friday. I had to get them time to get their stuff together. I'll still be around and working feverishly in the background on logistics and strategy.

Folks remember that a blog is not an organization. It is a benevolent dictatorship. It is merely the outgrowth of an individual's personality and passion. So imagine what ever small demand you make on a blogger and multiply that by 1000 for all the other people that make their tiny demands. All those tiny little demands like " ad me to your blogroll" ( which is tacky by the way), or "I got this project I am working on can you put it on your blog" or " I got a show, can you come on." all add up really fast. Your cooperation in these matters is appreciated.

April 18, 2007

Was anyone else discouraged after Oprah’s Town Hall Meeting ?

I think there plenty of us that are equally outraged about the portrayal of African American women in popular culture . Now we need to get organized. It is time to DEFUND THE WAR ON BLACK WOMEN! Period. End of discussion. This isn’t about artistic expression. This is about capitalism. People have a right to basically say whatever they want to, but I don’t have to subsidize it in any way. Hence the term “starving artist.”

I know that there are countless groups throughout the nation that have been fighting the good fight and have gone relatively unnoticed by MSM ( mainstream media). Nor do I think we can rely on black men to lead the charge. So if you or your organization has started a local, regional, or national effort to take ACTION, let me know and I’ll post it on this blog. If you already have a distribution list to issue calls to action. Let me know, I’ll post it. I am not trying to create a new organization, just serve as a conduit to connect like- minded people together. My technical abilities are rather limited and I have the attention span of knat, but I can manage to post on a blog to get this started. We need a Moveon.org or EMILY’s List for black women.

I’m not interested in any committees, dialogues, commissions or a task force. Those are just ways to wear passionate people out. Diane Weathers said black women should take the lead in this fight. What are we going to DO now?

July 24, 2007
HAHAH! Why didn't I listen to my own advice. It's like I am psychic or something.

An Introduction to some AMAZING Black blogs!

My Black Blogging Brethren and Sisteren ( is that a word?) are preparing to take this object lesson and run with it. I hope you will visit their sites. They are some wonderful writers and passionate activists. They were here before I got here and they will be here when this blog is gone .

If you want a sampling of the diversity and vibrancy of the Black Blogoshpere or Afrosphere or whatever you call it, you can take a glimpse at some aggregator sites with a wide sampling of Black bloggers.

The First is Bronze Trinity's Afrospehere Pageflakes Newspaper. Make sure you click on all four tabs.

RSSpect.org- Carries live feeds from countless numbers of Black bloggers.

African American Opinion - Contains cross postings from Black bloggers on a number of issues.

"Hot Ghetto Mess" is Hot Ghetto GONE

It took me a while to realize that WE actually won. I've outlined why I offered BET the suggestion of changing the name in my last post and I am willing to reserve judgment until the show premiers, while putting advertisers on notice that they will be held accountable for whatever BET airs, whatever the name.

To those who chipped in towards the purchase of the MACBOOK, I have refunded you money through PayPal. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KINDNESS, BUT I WON'T BE NEEDING A LAPTOP. If you have any problems, please let me know.

BREAKING NEWS! - BET Changes "Hot Ghetto Mess" to "We Got to Do Better"

Special Edition of the Black Women's Roundtable at 12:30 CST 1:30 EST

There was a back channel of communication opened Friday with BET. A third-party indicated that BET was on their knees and didn't know what to do. I never spoke directly with anyone, but gave the third-party a list of alternatives including changing the name to " We Got To Do Better." (scroll down THE PAGE HAS BEEN MOVED- BET, Don't make me have to resort to screen captures AGAIN! Okay, here is the new page where you can see the page description for WE Got to Do Better. I also got a screen capture this time.) Well BET took the lamest option that they could and changed the name.

"We Got To Do Better" (WGTDB) is an entertaining, tongue-in-cheek examination of the good, the bad and the ugly of Black popular culture. Utilizing comedy, man-on-the-street interviews, video clips, pictures and music, WGTDB aims to shine a spotlight on prevalent images in pop culture and examine what role they play in the American lifestyle. WGTDB goes where most shows fear to tread! As host Charlie Murphy guides you through booties shaking, thug life, baby mamas and pimped out high schoolers, HWGTDB will explore what the prevalence of these images in the media and on-line really means to all of us. Cutting edge, original, relevant and irreverent, WGTDB is like the traffic accident you can’t look away from. Viewers will laugh, they'll cry, they'll think, they'll learn and hopefully recognize ... we've GOT to do better."

HA! DO yall see where somebody was using the find and replace function to chance HGM with WGTDB? They left on the "H". Notice "car wreck" has been changed to "traffic" accident. Black Exploitation Television: All style. No substance.

Changing the name and dropping the logo does three important things. First, it severs the show from that abominable and disgusting website and does not further promote it ( THAT was their Achilles heel. The content of the website was indefensible). Second, it prevents normalizing the application of the term “Hot Ghetto Mess” to poor Black folk through the use of cable television. Third, it prevents the use of a blackface cartoon as a promotional tool.

Any advertiser that is going to be foolhardy enough to advertise on this show, whatever the name, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERY CLIP, EVERY PHOTO, EVERY JOKE that appears anywhere NEAR your commercial. You will not be able to say that YOU HAD NO IDEA. IGNORANCE will not be treated as an excuse and Foolishness will be punished SEVERELY!

I have got to think about that. Weigh in folks weigh in. " Technically" "Hot Ghetto Mess" is "Hot Ghetto Gone."

Dial In Number (646) 478-4750. Listen live at blogtalkradio.com/black women. at 12:30PM.

DL Hughley FINALLY Admitting to Feeling the Heat

So the man responsible for the whole HGM Mess finally realizes he is up a creek after he attacked the Rutgers basketball team on The Tonight Show when he said a group of Black women were some of the ugliest women he had ever seen in his life. Now he sits down with Sister 2 Sister Magazine to try to explain himself. He wasn't explaining last month when he was unrepentant. What a difference a month and his buddy Charlie possibly getting his show pulled makes?

He's been catching hell ever since the Ft. Worth protest initiated by Black blogger Eddie Griffin after he read about Hughley on this site. I have information that Mr. Hughley is about to catch ALOT more hell, but I can't talk about that right now. But y'all ain't seen NOTHING yet. The Ft. Worth protest is going to seem like a trip to Disney World.

Y'all this is working. Can you feel it? Do you believe?

Thanks Pastor Tatum!

Tell Kathy Hughes to Put TV One on I-tunes

I have my own issues with Radio One and we can discuss those on another occasion, but recently I was curious about alternative programming for African Americans. Now TV One definitely targets grown Black folk. They recently put up a broadband channel and offer clips of their original programming. Y’all it will make you cry. Just a sputtering mess! I was like OMG where have you been all my life.

They have four channels, Comedies, News, Lifestyle, and Gospel. Click on the Video Tab at the top of the page and then select a channel.

Comedies- reruns (skip it)

News - You know cable news thinks that there are only THREE black folks who can articulate a thought on camera: Rev. Al, Rev. Jackson, and Oprah. Well This channel has amazing commentary and interviews, and Documentaries. The only drawback is my favorite preacher even has a show called Sharp Talk, but I will let that slide. UPDATE: Out of curiosity, I decided to watch the Sharp Talk clips, they actually are good as well. Rev. AL actually lets his guests talk and what they have to say about police brutality, colorism, and Hip Hop is compelling.

Gospel - Y’all it will make you cry, cry I tell ya. You know how ABC had Extreme Home Makeover? Well TV One has a show called Divine Restoration. They remodel older black churches.

Lifestyle - The big draw however, is the lifestyle channel. Michelle Singletary has her own show talking about finances ( no, buying diamond encrusted gold fronts REALLY ain’t a prudent financial decision) She has this amazing clip where she is talking about child support. They have a cooking show and some lifestyle programming, but the best show to me has got to be Black Men Revealed.

You will find Black Men Revealed clips on the Gospel, Lifestyle, and News channels. Sisters! OMG! Just. Just. OMG You gotta see this show.

I would sooo pay .99 to download the entire episodes onto my I-pod. Y’all e-mail Kathy and tell her to upload full episodes on to I-tunes for those of us who don’t have Comcast Cable.

Sisters, go watch that Black Men Revealed show.

Whereas a certain other cable network makes us want to shake our heads in disbelief, TV ONE make you want to hold your head up high.

You can send them e-mail through a viewer contact form.

It is so nice to be able to post about something other than a certain show on a certain network that shall not be mentioned again until Monday morning on this blog.

PLEASE CALL the WASHINGTON POST and ask for the OMBUDSMAN

Thank you guys who all e-mailed Paul Farhi about his fluff piece of an article about JAM Donaldson. Mr Farhi responded to my e-mails as well and he is clueless about the opposition. To make matters WORSE, the POST has seen fit to host Donaldson on their Washington Post Chat tomorrow at 11:00ET. You can best be darn tooting sure that MS. Gina will be participating. I took the whole week off to battle this foolishness. Join me in challenging MS Donaldson tomorrow. Y'all know how I roll so THAT OUGHT TO BE INTERSTING.

Call and ask for the ombudsman they will transfer you to her voicemail and leave a message. Maybe if enough of us e-mail and tell her about Paul Farhi's reply e-mails they will do something. He was clueless that the African American community is on the brink of a civil war between those Black folks with commonsense and those without. 202.334.6000 or 800.627.1150. Leave her your name and e-mail address with a contact telephone number.

FYI, Newsweek did their very own hatchet job on those of us who are opposed to the airing of "Hot Ghetto Mess' This author is even more ignorant and obtuse and didn't try to speak to ANYONE in opposition to the show before calling us names. If I had Newsweek's phone number I would call there too. Joshua Alston said the following about US:

But whereas BET hopes to expose the germs to direct sunlight with "Hot Ghetto Mess," those who oppose the show want to act like the mayor who's expecting a visit from the Olympic committee: keep the riff-raff out of sight so people will forget they exist.

Well I guess we have to at least thank the Washingtonpost for not attacking the critics of the show. Alston is completely and totally clueless and hasn't read an inch on What About Our Daughters? There is a difference between taking a child to the woodshed to whip em with a belt and taking them to the woodshed to beat them with a 2X4 and then parading them through town so that everyone can see their bruises. This isn't about covering up anything. This is about gratuitous exploitation and greed Mr. Alston. Get your analogies right next time. If you need help, call me. I'm good at em. ( Except for "Star Wars" analogies apparently. LOOKING at you OMI!)

Big UPs! To Howard's student paper, The Hilltop. They are college students, but at least THEY have a clue unlike Newsweek and the Washington Post.

See What Happens When you Promote Blackface?

For those who don't think that blackface is a big deal, check out these UNICEF ads running over in Europe. IF UNICEF could get this wrong. imagine the carnage that would be caused with something like "Hot Ghetto Mess."

Sweet JESUS! It is not all fun and games people and they are not going to get our inside joke. Thank you AA Political Pundit for letting me post about something other than HGM. Its been like two weeks.

AA Political Pundit didn't just whine about these post on his blog, he contacted UNICEF! And guess what? They pulled the ads! Sound familiar? Folks I promise you it really aint that complicated. When an advertiser is confronted with pictures of their own stupidity, the sane ones admit a mistake and move on.

This is the POWER of Black bloggers in action. How many more of you need to be convinced that this is a new day in blogging activism in the African American community?

An Offer to Help End the "Hot Ghetto Mess" MESS! ( Long Post, but Necessary)

One of my new acquaintances ( I can’t decide if she’s a “friend” because of the way she talks to me sometimes.) called me yesterday to argue that I should at least attempt to have a conversation with someone from BET about “Hot Ghetto Mess.” I scoffed. But she went on to explain some kind of model for civil disobedience and the various steps of escalating pressure and said that somewhere in that process there has to be “reconciliation” or something. She can explain it better because I really wasn’t trying to listen to hear her about talking to BET. My position all along was that Black folks don’t need to ask BET for anything. Once we start efficiently and effectively wielding our power as consumers, BET will come looking to talk to US. However, she was undaunted , and continued to explain the methods of Gandhi, MLK, and even trotted out Jesus ( Is she sure my Mama didn‘t call her?)! So I am extending an offer to BET to sit down and have a “conversation” about “Hot Ghetto Mess.” Y’all know how to reach me. This post explains why that might be BET’s best interest. I hate when bloggers, actors, musicians, reporters, etc. use their forum to talk about their personal issues, but I will relent this one time because I think it might make some things clearer to folk.

Today I read a post over at Bronze Trinity, one of the very first bloggers who embraced this blog when I was first starting out. She said:

“I am in awe and everytime this blogger achieves something I am shocked. I always think 'oh nothing will happen' or 'what's the point'. The next thing I know it she has a victory. I really do not understand why this is working because I never expected it to...maybe she rubbed a genie or something...Its hard to keep up with this activist blogger”

I can't count the number of times since I have started this blog that another blogger has sent me and e-mail saying "Gina, I can't believe you did X." Every once in a while, I would slip up and give a blogger some unsolicited advice, but I have taken pains to hide my background, skills and abilities. To whom much is given...blah blah blah. People won't ask you to help if they don't realize you know how to do it. Been there. Done that. Not. Fun.At. All.

I have a confession to make Bronze Trinity, despite the colloquialisms, the strong Texas accent, the frequent typos, and loose adherence to spelling and grammatical rules, I am not some little country bumpkin from Texas with a blog. There is a reason why this blog exploded out of nowhere, which I think you will realize shortly. Did you notice that from the inception of this blog I have placed limits on all the things I will and WON’T do?

Background

Almost since birth, I have held a leadership role in every kind of organization imaginable. The apex of my accomplishments as a student leader was supposed to be an event I planned at the University of Oklahoma. I brought Johnnie Cochran to campus. Now to hear my friends tell it, the speech was a smashing success. They had a great time. I DID NOT! I was exhausted and tired and the people who gave me the most grief were the people I worked so hard to make sure they could get to see Johnnie in Oklahoma (Y’all know it was US!)

At the end of his speech as I am escorting him to his next engagement, ONE OF THE THINGS I WAS OBLIGATED TO DO! This student film crew, two Black girls, wanted to stop for an unscheduled on camera interview, I tried to explain that Mr. Cochran had to move along, but this SISTAH said something really nasty to me and humiliated me in front of one of my idols. Shortly thereafter I went to dinner with Johnnie, Melvin C. Hall ( also an attorney and the only African American member of the OU board of Regents), and James Blake ( the first African American head coach of the football team).

So there I am, sitting there with probably three of the most powerful Black men in the entire state at that instant in time and they are trying to convince me that my people are not a bunch of mean spirited ungrateful wretches. Can you imagine? I’m sitting there with two accomplished attorneys. I should have been asking them for advice about law school. Heck! I should have asked them for a job, but I’m sitting there boo hooing over an Absolute & Sprite at the end of what should have been one of the best nights of my life.

That day I vowed to NEVER. EVER. Take any substantial leadership role in ANY group for the rest of my life. I meant it. I won’t even take a leadership role on our family reunion planning committee. ( Ask my Mama.)

The Origin of What About Our Daughters?

So here comes Diane Weathers on the Oprah show “After Imus: Now What?" She looked so despondent and frustrated while I was sitting there chilling reading my favorite blogs. Watching her in such apparent distress, I said to my self “ All that lady needs to do it X and then do Y, and then Z. Problem solved! They just need a blog.” So despite my vow to not to try to organize ANYTHING of ANYBODY for ANY PURPOSE EVER.EVER.EVER ( Did I say EVER?), I didn’t see any harm at the time in taking five minutes out of my usual hours of evening web surfing to throw up a post or two on my way to my favorite blogs.

Even then, I set very clear limitations on what I would and would not do. I was supposed to be the town crier. Everyone else was supposed to use the information I’d gathered to take action. You saw a textbook example of how all this was supposed to work with Eddie’s protest of DL Hughley in Ft. Worth. That is the model I hope to return to when this madness is over.

The Way All this was SUPPOSED to Go Down

Trinity, I clearly don’t have access to a genie in a bottle because I would wish that this “Hot Ghetto Mess” mess had gone down the way I had planned. The way this was supposed to work was that I was supposed to alert the world about “Hot Ghetto Mess” and these civil rights groups were supposed to ride in to the rescue and carry the plan forward. My plan went awry because I did not anticipate their glacial pace and they didn’t move fast enough. I was supposed to remain semi-anonymous in relative obscurity, instead my blog became one of the public faces of the opposition to BET. So I found myself in the middle of a battle with one of the largest media companies in the world. While I thought that the cavalry was chilin’ at a roadside coffee house.. I resented those groups for not doing things exactly the way I had planned. The Universe apparently had plans of its own.

Who BET is Dealing With

You are dealing with a graduate of Duke University School of Law, a National Achievement Scholar, and a National Merit Commended Student. A person who has planned more events in her short lifetime that I have time to list here. You are dealing with the little Black girl who organized a successful boycott of the Eugene Field Elementary School cafeteria IN THE FIFTH GRADE!( Again, ask my Mama.)

Track down my trial advocacy instructor at Duke, Judge Charles Becton. Ask him about my performance in his class in 2001. When the class ended up with an odd number of people for our final, a mock trial, I volunteered to be the one to work by myself. Ask him what Gina was able to do ALONE. Then ask yourself what she would be able to do with a growing online army and now an alliance with civic groups and organizations. I’m not saying that to be arrogant, but Debra Lee needs to get a clear picture of who she is dealing with. It was my deepest desire to plug away unnoticed until I can retire to my dream cabin in Asheville, NC.

After law school I made a deal with the Universe: Don't ask too much of me and I won't ask too much from it. Then along came “Hot Ghetto Mess” and forced me to return temporarily from my self-imposed exile to beat it back. I’ve sacrificed my anonymity for this. Most IMPORTANT, I have sacrificed all of my ANYTIME minutes for this!( Y’all really need to buy a button or hit that donate icon to offset this beast of a bill headed my way.) So please believe that I am not joking with Viacom and BET.

Know that I can stand toe to toe with any of the strategists, executives, and public relations people who have been giving BET such poor advice on how to handle this “ Hot Ghetto Mess” MESS.

Debra Lee, trust and believe that if the Universe dragged me kicking, screaming and clawing from NINE YEARS of SELF-IMPOSED mediocrity, the universe has equipped me with the knowledge, skills and abilities to finish what IT started.

We Take No Joy in This

I once loved BET. Growing up in east Texas, BET introduced me to Black folks, the likes of which I’d never seen. My grandparents were the only ones with cable back then (My Daddy didn’t believe in paying for TV when you could get it for free.) Donnie Simpson was so smooth. Even Sherry Carter grew on me, I liked her style. Bev Smith was so POWERFUL. Ananda was so confident on Teen Summit and who could forget Ed Gordon and his suits of many colors.

So despite all the DIRT that BET has done over the years, I take no pleasure in the nationwide campaign about to be launched against you and your advertisers.

So Ms. Lee and Mr. Hudlin, help US. help YOU..

I’m sure you want to let your employees out of the bunker where they have been hiding from the media and I want to return to my favorite new pastime of throwing virtual rocks at Rev. Al and the students of the Russell Simmons School of Obfuscation and Redirection. Plus the last installment of Harry Potter comes out this weekend and I really wanted to read it before people tell me who dies at the end.

HOWEVER, if BET continues to maintain a glass jaw and moves forward with airing “ Hot Ghetto Mess,” we will relentlessly pound away (figuratively) at that glass jaw until we smash it into tiny little pieces. The Universe demands it!

Now is the time to tell those employees hiding out from reporters in the BET bunker to head to an undisclosed location.

You know how to reach me. ( There Janis. Are you happy now?)


Disclaimer: Dear Mr. Federal Agent: This post may contain similes, metaphors, and analogies, sometimes known as figures of speech. So please don’t’ come knocking on my door. Y’all don’t act like it ain’t necessary to say that in this day and age.

Click here to check out
The What About Our Daughters?!

Thanks to AJ in Austin for setting our MeetUp page up. We are still trying to figure this out, but you can see the countdown to the airing of "Hot Ghetto Mess." Everyday in this fight we learn something new. We are still learning MeetUp. If you have some experience and can help guide us, let us know. By tomorrow afternoon, I should have a list of the locations for the watch parties in Austin, Atlanta, DC, NYC, and Los Angeles. New locations are being added everyday. If you or your organization can host a watch party in your city or town, email our new volunteer-dedicated e-mail address waodvolunteer (at) gmail (dot) com.

What Black Bloggers Are Saying about " Hot Ghetto Mess"

I appreciate the offers of help, keep them coming, I have not had a time to organize them today, but they are a priority. I have decided to just take off Thursday and Friday and all of next week to make sure that “Hot Ghetto Mess” is “ Hot Ghetto Gone!” Even if we do not succeed, I don’t want to look back on this time in my life and think that I didn’t give it everything I had at the time.

I want to thank all of my Black blogging brethren for staying on top of this issue. There is some really good writing out there. Y’all know I like to do my “What Black Bloggers Are Saying” posts. The opposition to the abomination that is BET's "Hot Ghetto Mess" isn't just coming from What About Our Daughters? Here we go:

You have got to read "We Aren't All Ghetto, Reggie" over at Nat Turner's Revenge. "This show isn't a cultural microscope, and no, it won't be about dialog or debate. Negro, please!!! It will be about ratings, showcasing and fostering even worse behavior and fostering voyeurism by our own people. You want to do something meaningful then put the news shows and documentaries back ON. No? I didn't think so."

Afronerd got into a running online skirmish with Reginald Hudlin on an unrelated matter. However, you can see why BET hasn't canceled "Hot Ghetto Mess" yet. He thinks bloggers and other people online are a joke or a vocal minority. I told y'all Harvard didn't hand him out a helping of common sense. All this goodness and light that the Hudlin is getting in the media is a departure from Hudlin's online personality prior to this controversy. He's not a very nice man. In fact he's crude and rude. Who is the one who is "Ghetto"?

Why Black Women Are Angry ( Y'all she's not really angry.) She isn't convinced with Donaldson and BET's excuses either. "All this ridiculous form of reasoning merely sounds like rich Black people trying to feel better about themselves for capitalizing on the worst of us. How would we feel if white people produced this about us? " She points out that no other group of folks would tolerate this. "The sad thing about all this is you can't tell me we, as Black people, don't understand the powerful impact of images. Sometimes it seems the people at BET just don't care."

LaFemme Americaine Noire points out that it is the height of hypocrisy for BET to now try to position itself as the arbiter of good taste. In her post BET is a " Hot Ghetto Mess," she brings up BET's sordid history. "BET itself is a hot ghetto mess! All one needs to do is think about the shows they've presented over the last 7-10 years as so-called "entertainment". From classics such as Uncut and College Hill, BET has outdone itself with programming that consistently shows the very worst in the African American community. They have no problem with airing music videos and promoting artists with misogynistic messages. They got rid of their news division because it supposedly wasn't profitable enough and replaced those shows with low brow nonsense. Yet they have NERVE to air a program that tries to tell other people to do better?"

Natalie over at What About Us, Mommy? Give us a shout out. "I am sick and tired of seeing the same BS on TV day in and day out and people making money off of it. As Black people, we need to say no." Thanks Natalie!

Toxic Shock "If BET is supposed to be for African Americans, can't they take the high road and support change, rather than perpetuating a cycle that encourages prison culture, pimps and ho's, and is anti-woman and anti-education?"

Karsh over at Black Gay Blogger heard our SOS- "Right now, this blog is campaigning very heavily against BET’s new series "Hot Ghetto Mess" and serves pretty much as a clarion call to action through the Black blogosphere. Surf on over and help out, would ya?" Thanks Karsh!

The American Race was one of our earliest supporters and they still have our back. "Right now I just want to say I "told you so" that Gina would be an "impact player." She started in April, right after the "iMuss" compelled her to "do something."

The Electronic Villiage points our how ridiculous it is that two college educate black people are choosing to exploit the Black people least able to defend themselves. he isn't buying Jamilla Donaldson's story that she is in it to help folks. "She is no better than a street corner pimp in my view."

Reporters you don't just have to talk to me. Here are a number of voices in opposition. Each with their own unique perspective. I'll try to do another one of my "What Black Bloggers Are Saying" posts tomorrow evening as well.

Speaking of Black bloggers.. Read this story and tell me if you notice ANYTHING missing? THIS is why you need to go to Blogging While Brown.

Help Is On the Way

I can't go into it all right now, but a coordinated inter-generational campaign of online and offline activists the likes of which the world has never seen is being amassed to nip this FOOLISHNESS in the bud. (Okay, y'all know I am prone to hyperbole, but I think that might actually be accurate). We haven't been abandoned. They just don't move as fast as we want them to sometimes.

I'll tell y'all the rest this evening. Be encouraged and keep calling and writing.

It is time for Debra Lee to decide if "Hot Ghetto Mess" is worth the onslaught that is about to be unleashed.

FYI. If you would be willing to talk to a reporter about your feelings on Hot Ghetto Mess. E-mail me your full name and telephone number so I can pass it on to them.

We're at DEFCON 2 - Yes, We Have to Attempt to Reach Viacom

Continue to contact your US Senators and Representative. If you need language to put in your e-mail, you can find it here in one of our previous posts.

Even though they may try to foist this off on BET, we also need to contact VIACOM's leadership. I can't believe they haven't intervened in this foolishness and told Reginald Hudlin to go sit down somewhere. Tell them you have a problem with them broadcasting a show that is the derivative of a website that contains rampant nudity, photographs of very young children being abused and neglected, and is being used as a tool for internet bullies to torment teenagers. Tell them that you have a problem with Viacom using a racist cartoon character to promote a TV show.

Here is an internet contact form, ( I selected "Viewer Services and "BET Networks") but I tried to track down info so that you could call and e-mail members of the board as well.

Ask them to please intervene and stop BET from airing the dehumanizing "Hot Ghetto Mess" on July 25th. Tell them that we've contacted advertisers, they've pulled out, but BET is still unrelenting.

Viacom
1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
(212) 258-6000 ( They will try to pass you off to BET. I promise. Ask for the President and CEO's office. At least try to ascertain if they even KNOW about HGM)

Remember, that these folks don't work FOR Viacom. They are high level people in their own right. You can see the text of my e-mail over at The War on Black Women, our overflow site ( I get long winded on occasion)

Blyth J. McGarvie Bmcgarvie@LIFgroup.com, 757-345-3595
William Schwartz - william.schwartz@cwt.com
Sheri Redstone - sredstone@nationalamusements.com - 781-461-1600( the email is a guess, but my e-mail hasn't come back undeliverable)
Robert K. Kraft ( still looking)
Thomas Dooley ( still looking)
George Abrams ( still looking)
Charles E. Phillips ( President of Oracle. Still looking for contact info. He's a Hampton and NYU grad anybody got access to the one of those schools' alumni databases?)

Check out this awesome article written by Mo Kelly- " BET: Staying True to Its Ghetto Mess Legacy" Yesterday was a good press day for BET. Aided by members of the Los Angeles press corp, they tried to make it seem as if once again, anyone who dares criticisms is irrational or paranoid. Mo'Kelly explains why BET only has itself to blame for our legitimate distrust.

UPDATE(AM): Reading the BET press release disguised as an AP wire report by LYNN ELBER of the AP BEVERLY HILLS, I thought that reporters had given Hudlin a pass at the TCAs. NOt so fast, my friends, the real deal is beginning to emerge. BET didn't do so awesome afterall. Check out the accompanying photo of Jam Donaldson. This ain't that kind of site. I'll leave this one to my much more talented entertainment blogging brethren.

Call TO Action - All Hands On Deck

We have to seriously consider the possibility that there are actually companies who are willing to associate their brands with something called " Hot Ghetto Mess" based on an internet bully's website and whose logo is a blackface cartoon.

This show is now a very attractive prospect for some morally bankrupt companies. If the plug does not get pulled, this may very well be one of the most highly rated shows in the history of cable television. That may be an irresistible proposition for some advertiser.


We can't wait until the 26th to start organizing public demonstrations and protests. We have to start planning now for a course of action. Feel free to throw in your suggestions. But here are a few of mine:

1. We need someone with some graphic design and video editing experience. The minute "Hot Ghetto Mess" goes off the air there needs to be a YouTube response something to the effect of Company X thinks Black People are a HOT GHETTO MESS" OR "Hot Ghetto Mess was Brought to you by Company X" or " Company X doesn't care about our daughters." Etc. E-mail me at whataboutourdaughters at gmail dot com. We are going to hit them with a multi media onslaught that will make Jib Jab and Hillary 1984 look like a Disney cartoon.

2. We also need to have people in all timezones and regions watch the show and record all advertisers including local and regional ads and the specific product advertised, the time etc.

3. We are going to send out an Action Alert as soon as we have the list complied and target the local branch of any corporation who advertises on "Hot Ghetto Mess" We'll need someone who is adept at drafting press releases to come up with something to send to the local media in all of the cities where protests are planned. So if a certain car insurance company decides to purchase an ad on "Hot Ghetto Mess" the we'll pick a local branch and focus on it. Whether the agent knew about the show or not! If BET ends up using ads from psychic hotlines, internet gambling, liquor companies, or check cashing places, then target the headquarters of the local cable provider perhaps target them anyway.

4. So we need to start setting up Meet-up groups or something similar all over the country. You have to start organizing in your individual cities NOW. Chicago, DC, Dallas, Iowa City, Seattle, Detroit, Atlanta. Everywhere where you can get five concerned citizens together to go hold up a placard. I need someone to volunteer to spearhead this.

5. We might even think about focusing on the local cable provider BEFORE "Hot Ghetto Mess" premieres.

If you see something on this list that you think you can do. Leave a comment in this thread and send me an e-mail.

I STILL can't believe that this is happening to us.

I REALLY didn't want to do anything too structured. This site was only supposed to an information source. One lone individual doing her thing in her free time. Observing the Iron Rule. How on earth did we end up in a battle with one of the most powerful media empires on the planet? LIFE HAPPENS!

In the meantime, you HAVE to call or e-mail ALL THREE of your Congressional Legislators. That means your US Representative and BOTH of your US Senators . EVEN IF YOU DON”T LIKE THEM. EVEN if they belong to a party you are not too pleased with right now.

SUGGESTED LANGUAGE FOR YOUR EMAILS (Courtesy Of One of My Readers. Thanks!)
To the Honorable (Your Representatives first and last name here),As a young African American woman and mother (or man/ father), I can no longer stand for the ill conceived programming that cable channels such as BET are broadcasting daily. Coming soon is BET's "Hot Ghetto Mess" that they describe as a "car wreck you can't look away from" in its depictions of African Americans circumstances that leave much to be desired. It is this reason that I support ala carte cable (cable choice). I refuse to let my cable subscription pay for programming that continues to create and reinforce damaging stereotypical images of Black men, women and children with far- reaching effects. I ask that you urge your colleagues in the House and Senate to support the The Family and Consumer Choice Act of 2007 introduced by Rep. Lipinski in June. Thank You,(Your Name)

Help a Sister Out!

Folks when I started this site, my intention was to follow “ The Iron Rule.” The Iron Rule is that you never do for others what they won’t do for themselves. Under The Iron Rule, you are not supposed to speak FOR people, but help them speak, act and engage for themselves. At the heart of The Iron Rule is that ordinary people can change their communities.

So maybe I haven’t been clear up to this point. I appreciate all the nice e-mails and comments BUT… I NEED Y’ALL’S HELP! We have been ABANDONED by the institutions of our parent’s generation. Where is the NAACP? I’ve sent them half a dozen e-mails and called the national headquarters . We KNOW Rev. AL can’t speak out because he is now on BET’s payroll. “Suddenly” they extend a two hour forum that he was on to a six-part series. Coincidence? I don’t think so. Where are the fraternities and sororities? The civic organizations? Why are they all MIA while a rag tag group of 20-somethings and 30-somethings are fighting one of the largest and most powerful media companies in the world?

Like I said, I don’t want to speak for anybody. This is easy for me, it is like breathing, but I never intended. Nor do I want to lead anything. The point was to use my talents to let the world know that there was a problem and then “PRESTO” ordinary people would take the lead. SO I appreciate y’all’s comments, but I need you r action right now.

Let’s take it back to the old days on this blog when I highlighted the efforts of grassroots organizations and other bloggers. We’re going to have to do this ourselves, our parent’s generation isn’t going to save us, and maybe that is the way the Universe intended this thing to go down. Maybe "Hot Ghetto Mess" is our moment. This is the World Series and “Hot Ghetto Mess” is a 5 MPH pitch. If we can’t hit this out of the park, what can we hit?

Folks we had our “ A New Hope” now “ The Empire Had Stricken Back” I am calling out for the “Return of the Black Blogging ( and NON BLOGGING) Jedi” ( I know y’all hate my Star Wars analogies OMI, do not send me a comment on how I screwed up another Star Wars analogy. I’m trying here. :)

In the meantime, you HAVE to call or e-mail ALL THREE of your Congressional Legislators. That means your US Representative and BOTH of your US Senators . EVEN IF YOU DON”T LIKE THEM. EVEN if they belong to a party you are not too pleased with right now. It might be the politicians that we don’t like who help us out because clearly the folks who you would think would have our back are on vacation. Even if you didn’t vote for ‘em, they still represent you. All THREE please, we only got nine days! Surely the CEO of Viacom doesn't want to have to go to Capitol Hill to testify in front of the world and try to justify " Hot Ghetto Mess" Can y'all imagine THAT hearing?

Let them know you are African American. You support cable choice or a la carte cable and the reason you support it is because until BET has to deal with cable choice they will arrogantly keep shoving stuff like “Hot Ghetto Mess”and “Uncut” down our throats. It is about the only thing that might put the fear of the living GOD into Viacom and make them smack some sense into Reginald Hudlin and Debbie Lee. One of the arguments against a la carte cable and cable choice is that specialty channels like BET would face extinction thus decreasing programming diversity, but if “Hot Ghetto Mess” is their idea of “diverse programming” then GOOD RIDDANCE!

BET is run by a bunch of arrogant sociopaths. We have to bring the PAIN! UM and like NOW would be a TIME! It is not enough for y'all to keep e-mailing me telling me y'all hate BET. I need you to e-mail me and tell me you just e-mailed or called your Senators and your House Rep.

SUGGESTED LANGUAGE FOR YOUR EMAILS (Courtesy Of One of My Readers. Thanks!)
To the Honorable (Your Representatives first and last name here),As a young African American woman and mother (or man/ father), I can no longer stand for the ill conceived programming that cable channels such as BET are broadcasting daily. Coming soon is BET's "Hot Ghetto Mess" that they describe as a "car wreck you can't look away from" in its depictions of African Americans circumstances that leave much to be desired. It is this reason that I support ala carte cable (cable choice). I refuse to let my cable subscription pay for programming that continues to create and reinforce damaging stereotypical images of Black men, women and children with far- reaching effects. I ask that you urge your colleagues in the House and Senate to support the The Family and Consumer Choice Act of 2007 introduced by Rep. Lipinski in June. Thank You,(Your Name)

What about HER Daughter?

Recent News
BET EXECS DEFEND "Hot Ghetto Mess"

BET wants to profit and exploit the website HotGhettoMess.com, but they don't want the derivative show to be associated with the website? Well, they ARE in Hollywood so they can create whatever fantasy they want to justify their behavior. The truth is BET cannot divorce itself from the website. They are married for as long as the show seeks ratings and media by calling it by the same name. The truth is that Jamilla Donaldson is a grown Black woman who has nothing better to do than humiliate children:

"I am the mother of the teenager who was exposed on your website. She was at her senior prom and someone snapped a photo while she was dancing and submitted it to your website. Her breast had come out of her dress and she was bending over while looking back during a dance position. She had no idea this had happened and is very humiliated by this." Comment From HotGhettoMess.com

Zero information? I don't think so. Reginald Hudlin clearly thinks that working class Black people are trash or pawns for whatever bizarre social experiment BET wants to conduct on us (THIS TIME). Jamilla Donaldson has a law school education and is using her training and experience to torment poor people, children, and victims of internet bullying. These are two Black people who have been given every privilege society has to offer and they are using that to exploit working class Black people who don't have the defenses to protect themselves. Hudlin and Donaldson can use their privilege to buffer themselves from their decisions.

Who is going to protect the teenage girl whose mother had to beg Jamilla Donaldson in front of the word to end the humiliation of her daughter on her PROM NIGHT? What About THIS Woman's Daughter? Is she just collateral damage so Donaldson and Hudlin can make a point and make a buck?

Please stop quoting Charles Hamilton Houston Jamilla. You spit on his legacy by tormenting the poor and uneducated on a daily basis.

Notice AGAIN that the AP news article only includes quotes from Jamilla and Reginald Hudlin. For some reason Los Angeles-based reporters don't want to talk to critics of the show the appear to want to only provide Jamilla and Reggie Hudlin an unfettered ability to spin this their way.

I'm Not Giving Up But I AM Going to Sleep -We'll Live to Fight Another Day

Tomorrow is another day. It has been reported that BET is continuing with "Hot Ghetto Mess" There is nothing else I can do about it tonight so I am going to catch up some much needed rest.

It is clear that we are dealing with some supernatural evil over at Beelzebub Entertainment Television. SO those of you who have a higher power on speed dial, do your thing.

Right now. Don't wait ANOTHER minute. You need to e-mail your United States Representative and indicate that you support Cable Choice. Then you need to e-mail your United States Senator and tell them that you support cable choice. In your contact message you need to put the URL for HotGhettoMess.com and indicate that Viacom's BET is going to broadcast a show of the same name that the network has described as a "car wreck you can't look away from". The original site features toddlers in a abusive and neglectful conditions, teenaged girls victimized by their high school enemies, and rampant nudity. If this is programming diversity, we don't need it.

Power speaks to Power. We've exercised the power of the capital markets, but because BET pulls in 80% of its revenue from compulsory cable fees, they apparently don't have to listen to advertisers either. So the next target has to be its nonadvertising revenue and THAT would be wiped out significantly if BET had to rely on people choosing to pay for as opposed to being forced to pay for it.

BET Going Ahead With "Hot Ghetto Mess"

Are we really surprised? Well folks get girded for battle. If we can't kill something called "Hot Ghetto Mess" then we can't kill anything. What utter and complete disrespect does a corporation have to have for Black people to purchase air time on something like this. (Source) Funny if it is such a GREAT SHOW. Why didn't they present it at the Television Critics Association Meeting? They keep saying critics haven't seen the show. Well preview the show to someone else other than your paid spokesperson who moonlights as an LA Times reporter. The reason they can't preview the show is because they are sanitizing the show to remove all of the rumpshaking contests that they licensed.

We’re not doing escapism,” Mr. Hudlin said, adding that with a broad programming slate, BET is trying to be the “responsible broadcaster people want us to be.”

What an arrogant elitist sociopath. Viacom, seriously just gut the executive ranks at BET and start over. You are pulling a publicity stunt by using a sensational title for a show.

Mr. Hudlin, who took the reins at BET two years ago, said the show was part of the network’s effort to address those problems in a way that would be appealing to 18- to 34-year-old viewers

I'm 31 so I am so unintelligent that the only way I will find something appealing is if it is couched in the form of comedic entertainment? BET created MANY of the problems they are now trying to address. This is like a crack dealer opening up a rehab. You can't dole out tough love if there was no love in the first place. BET clearly does not LOVE Black people! They are going to shove this down our throats just like they did with BET Uncut because they think that we are powerless to do otherwise.

You forgot about Uncut? Let me remind you. FOR SIX YEARS BET aired "Uncut", which contained highly sexualized and drug use imagery. Uncut featured such cultural gems as “No Panties (On the Dance Floor)” by Wax-a-million, “Shake That S**t” by Preacha, “P****y Poppin'“ by Ludacris feat. Shawnna and Lil Fate, Lil' Flip , “You'ze A Trick - I Don't Give A F*ck” by Lil' Jon & The Eastside Boyz, “Smoke With Me” by The Firemen(unlike other videos, this one focused on smoking marijuana), “I Got That Drank” (this one focused on the rising trend of the drug codeine cough syrup ) by Frayser Boy feat. Mike Jones and Paul Wall, and perhaps most famous of all “Tip Drill” by Nelly.


WHERE IN THE WORLD IS REV AL?? HE's cashing his check from BET. No wonder he's been absolutely SILENT about "Hot Ghetto Mess." He's carrying water for Viacom.

Right now. Don't wait ANOTHER minute. You need to write your United States Representative and indicate that you support Cable Choice. Then you need to write your United States Senator and tell them that you support cable choice. In your contact message you need to put the URL for HotGhettoMess.com and indicate that Viacom's BET is going to broadcast a show of the same name that the network has described as a "car wreck you can't look away from". The original site features toddlers in a abusive and neglectful conditions, teenaged girls victimized by their high school enemies, and rampant nudity. If this is programming diversity, we don't need it.

Just for Kicks.. Which Companies Were Willing to Advertise on "Hot Ghetto Mess"?

BET has gone into DEFCON 2 . Debra Lee, Reginald Hudlin, and Jamilla Donaldson have been taken to an undisclosed location. This all happened after they got the LA Times to print a "love fest" of an article where they were given free reign to defend themselves without a single quote from a critic of the show. The reporter claims he didn't have time to speak with dissenters or he couldn't find any ( No really. He did. I have his e-mail to prove it.)

Now everybody at BET is in a "conference" and they ain't returning telephone calls. Multiple reporters have been telling me that

My friend threw out the interesting and not-too-far-fetched theory that BET is treading water hoping that the increased publicity will make the show soo appealing to some advertiser that they can replace any of the sponsors that they have lost. Interesting. We speculated for a couple of minutes on which companies would be so amoral as to want to have their products or services associated with something called " Hot Ghetto Mess". Hilarity ensued.

BET isn't releasing the names of corporations who purchased advertising on " Hot Ghetto Mess" So just for kicks ( Lord knows we need some humor around here.).... Which corporations would be willing to have their corporate brands associated with something called "Hot Ghetto Mess"?

UPDATE: SUSPENSION OF THE PODCAST. I hope you had an opportunity to hear yesterday's podcast of the Black Women's Round Table. I received a lot of "suggestions" for improvement from lots of folks, even family members who I know love me. I know they didn't intend to, but each new suggestion sucks more and more fun out of doing it. One of the prices of increased attention is that people start to place additional expectations and burdens on you. I knew that was a price I was going to have to pay in order to Defund Hot Ghetto Mess and it was a relative low price to pay. So to all my regulars, once things die down again ( Hopefully) I'll think about doing the show again because it was fun, but right now, all the joy has been sucked out of it for me.