Yesterday I asked if it’s wrong for Christians to watch ‘Empire’ and ‘Scandal’ and I knew it would create some heated discussion. I expected that. I was prepared for that. But I see a greater underlying problem with people and their views about religion (and believe me, much of that IS problematic). What I see as a problem is a lack of love and support for blacks toward blacks. And that makes me sad…and mad!
We have campaigns to support black businesses. We have associations, guilds, Greek-letter organizations, and the NAACP for heaven’s sake, but we (meaning black folks) can’t show our support to shows like ‘Scandal’ and ‘Empire’ because they are “the devil?”
Wow!
Not only are there people who can’t support the “shuck and jive” of the utter foolishness these shows portray–it’s also a matter of life and death, or simply put, heaven and hell. Yep. To them, Kerry Washington, and Taraji P. Henson, and others like them, are all going to hell for the parts they play on these shows. That is even more incredulous to me.
In the words of Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway: WHERE IS THE LOVE?
The issue of religion is too complex (and people’s ideology too convoluted) for me to grapple today. I’m too busy working on creating my own empire for me and my six daughters. So I just wanna make it one simple thing, as if simple is a word to even use in this context.
Let’s discuss: RACE and GENDER.
- I don’t recall any Christians standing up and speaking out against 80s hit shows ‘Dynasty’ or ‘Dallas’. The first ladies’ of churches, and their husbands who were pastors, and their kids, and entire families watched in full support. As Arsenio used to say, that makes me go “Hmmmm…..”
- What’s the difference between laughing at Richard Pryor jokes, which were crude, racy, sexist, and pornographic, and laughing at a TV show? Many blacks grew up on the humor of Flip Wilson, Fred Sanford, Sammy Davis, Jr., and yes, even Bill Cosby, which led him to become the mogul he was. (I’m not touching the other issue with a 10-ft. pole)… I don’t get it.
- Everybody’s mama or grandmother watched soap operas which had more adultery and infidelity than any ‘Scandal’ or ‘Empire’ script. So did your grandmama go to hell?
Lord have mercy on us all!
What are we thinking?
Wait, I get it. As blacks, we have become more enlightened. We are more intellectual now. We have far greater critical thinking skills now.
Yep, I see it as clear as day.
We are too smart to support our own. We don’t know when or how to separate the wheat from the chaff. We (think we) know better now, so this is our attempt at doing better.
Well kudos to you.
Your intellectualism proves one thing: we are a people that will forever be divided, no matter how much we accomplish, no matter how many awards we receive, and no matter how many accolades we earn. There will always be the mentality of house and field negroes.
Have we overcome?
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Filed under: TV & Film
Tags: Black love, Black support, Empire, heaven, hell, Scandal
