Review: The Real Housewives of Atlanta - A Portrayal of Black Success

No matter how you feel about the material wealth that is so very obvious on the new Bravo TV Reality show "The Real Housewives of Atlanta", the more important aspect of the show, to me, is that finally, we have the opportunity to see real African Americans on television, living the American Dream.

I have heard criticism after criticism, from other Black people, about the excessive materialism on the show and about how the women on the show are portrayed, and how we don't need to be portrayed in such a light. And, while I agree on some levels, especially given that at least one of the women is clearly living off of her soon to be ex-husband's wealth and is admittedly awaiting "seven figures" in her settlement, I have to disagree that this is a negative portrayal of Black women.

For so many years, since the days of the Cosby Show on NBC in the 1990s, for some reason, basic network television has failed to be able to create a drama and/or sitcom for that matter, that portrays African Americans living in a positive lifestyle without a bunch of unneccessary over the top drama. And by over the top drama I mean, whenever network television finds it necessary to place Black characters on a show, lately, we are either a token on yet another show where a White person is the lead character, or the topic of the show, where a Black actor may be the lead, is so far-fetched or stereotypical that it becomes a farce or, if it is a serious show, it doesn't get the ratings or audience it deserves. Furthermore, the portrayal of Black characters, as of late, has been of people who exist in a non-familial situation, meaning, ever since the days of Living Single and Girlfriends, we are constantly portrayed as people who are incapable of getting married or creating a family environment. And while I loved Living Single, Martin, and Girlfriends and believe that these shows allowed America a glimpse into the lives of successful single Black people, these shows still never reached the status and/or importance in the mainstream media as say a show like "Sex In The City", which somehow became the mantra for singledom in America, as if Black women or other women of color didn't exist in their quest to pursue love or sex with the many men that exist in a place like New York City.

This to me, is where The Real Housewives of Atlanta comes in. Not only is the Real Housewives of Atlanta a show that focuses primarily on African American people, but it is a reality show, which means that it shows REAL Black people, living REAL successful lives and it's not fictional, it's not made up. Now it may be a little over the top with the excess, however, no one criticizes the other Housewives series (The Real Housewives of Orange County or The Real Housewives of Long Island), and they gained huge ratings, so much so, that Bravo felt the need to create a new set of episodes featuring Black women, for the first time. I commend Bravo TV for creating this third in the "Housewives" series for the simple fact that, given the current state of basic television and its offerings for both sitcoms and dramas, Bravo has shown us that Black people can be portrayed as something other than criminals or drug users, drug sellers, or as single Baby Mamas.

And I know there was a huge following for "The Wire", and there were some great actors who have been given great opportunities after their roles on that show, it was also presented to us by an extended cable network, and many of us, do well to have basic cable, let alone extended cable channels. And yes, I know BET showed the re-runs after it went off the air, however, shows like "The Wire" and "Soul Food" were only able to be viewed in it's unedited version by those fortunate enough to have extended cable, which speaks to elitism, classism, etc; all issues that appeared very heavily during the days of Hurricane Katrina. With the onset of Katrina and shows like "The Wire", the portrayal of Black lives seemed very bleak with no hope for success in the 2000s, if you chose to base your opinions on Black success through media portrayals, which unfortunately, many people in America and around the world do.

Even Girlfriends, which was accessible to the masses on the CW Network, made it appear as if Black women were destined to be single for the rest of their lives, with no hope insight for a future with a man, unlike the portrayal of White women on television and in the movies. The presence of successful Black families is absent on television and fortunately as well as unfortunately, I believe that The Real Housewives of Atlanta has some redeeming qualities that will boost the the image of successful African Americans in America.

The argument I provide for my support for The Real Housewives of Atlanta, is, despite the presence of the one White woman (which is typical of television to always throw a token White person on a Black show as if we can't exist without them as a supporting character), that, in the midst of this most recent election, we have the chance to see a side of Black life that is often ignored or swept under the rug as if it doesn't exist. Let's not forget that in the days of The Cosby Show, people, including many Black people, didn't think the show was a realistic portrayal of Black life. It was as if folks couldn't fathom that Black people could live in a two parent household with kids who were your everyday average kids who got good grades, and had manners, who indulged the viewing audience in the culture of Black life so fluidly each week, through the presence of jazz music, history lessons, Black art, and the display of Blacks in professional careers, as well as diversity. I have never understood the resistance to this notion.

It was probably in large part due to the fact that for so long, just as now, mainstream television had not taken the opportunity nor felt the need, until Cosby came along, to portray African American family life in a positive, realistic manner. And it was this non-portrayal of Black life in mainstream media that caused, even Black people, do doubt its existence. It was if somewhere along the line in African American history, we forgot about the writings of Langston Hughes, Dorothy West, and others of Harlem Renaissance fame who made it their duty to not only provide us with positive images of Black culture and Black social life, but to also address the issues of social justice in America, through their writing.

It has been, as if Black folks, even in media life, continue to have to straddle that invisible fence of what W.E.B. Dubois called "The Double Consciousness", where we have to not only strive to show White America that we can be their equals in the workplace and in our purchasing power, while also maintaining that semblance of Black life and culture that we call our own. This is what The Cosby Show did for America in the 1990s. As I watch more of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, I find, that the same is true for this show. It's real, and very difficult for some of us to fathom Black folks living like "The Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous", but many of the "characters" on the show still have to balance what it means to be Black in America, while remaining loyal to their friends and families and not having to feel guilty or apologize for beng so successful and for liking their lives.

The most recent episode of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, to me, gave us an even deeper look into the lives of Black folks who are living well in America, striving to be the best, living it up and socializing in an equivalent fashion to their White counterparts. And no matter how you feel about excess, this show helps us to see what we are capable of achieving and how we are capable of living with hard work. And it shows Black folks doing it legally and realistically, unlike the music videos which portray wealth as if it grows on trees, not revealing, especially to children, that most of what we see in the video, is someone's fantasy life.

Now, I know the focus of the show is on the women and despite the fact that many of the women on the show happened to be married to very well off men who provide a very good life for them, the women have redeeming qualities about them that can allow the viewer to look past their excess of material wealth and see them as real people. I think the show also allows the larger American viewing audience to actually see strong Black women, married to strong, successful Black men, whic unfortunately is an image that is not portrayed on television quite often and is a counter-movement to the often negative portrayals of women and men we, especially children, see in music videos and other sectors of Black life.

There are three married women on the show, one in the midst of a divorce, and the White woman, has this mystery man who allows her to spend lavishly. Again, her purpose on the show is, to me, as the token, to add some drama, and to get Black women to talking (which makes for great television, right?)...but I digress.

One ATL housewife on the show is not just living off her husband, as many would have you believe who have dismissed the show without giving it a chance, but she is in real estate sales and very passionate about it. Another housewife, runs a charity organization, helping young girls with self esteem issues, another housewife owns her own fashion business, while yet another, who's purpose is unclear, is passionate about keeping her family and social life vibrant, getting her son into college, and shows us the vulnerability of women, who on the outside look like they have it all together, but on the inside may be fighting the demons of everyday life just like the rest of us. She shows us that, despite wealth, we all have issues.

I also like the fact that the show portrays many aspects of Black life that have nothing to do with money. They show Black church life, home life, college life and the alternative lifestyles that many know are very prevalent in Atlanta. One portion of an episode was filmed on the campus of Clark Atlanta University a well known HBCU, and one of the houswives was looking and encouraging her son to pursue this school for his education. This is very significant because, again, young people, as well as mainstream American, don't often get the chance to see, not only, Black college campuses, but Black males going off to college. The show also speaks to the significance of a city like Atlanta and it's importance to Black life, Black commerce and the South. And despite what you might believe about Atlanta and whether it's a good or bad place to be, the city is a mecca for culture, music, and business and a place where many Black people, particularly in a Post-Great Migration era, have been able to set up significant lives for themselves and be successful.

Finally, I think one of the most significant purposes for The Real Housewives of Atlanta is the timing and its placement in the mainstream media as we emerge upon the brink of making American history. For the first time in America, we have the opportunity to not only have the first viable African American candidate reach unheard of success and popularity on the campaign trail, but also the fact that Senator Barack Obama may become our very first Black President. No matter how you feel about The Real Housewives of Atlanta, it's presence is relevant because if Obama is elected, Black family and social life will be at the forefront of the American psyche and all of America, even the "Joe Six-Packs" will be forced to view us in a different light. With a Black family in the White House, perhaps the numbers of Black marriages will increase, perhaps, not only Black children, but all children of color will have a higher goal to strive for and have it be a reality, and perhaps, just maybe, the notions of a "Cosby Show like" family life, which was considered to be so unrealistic by many, will now be even more of a reality through the eyes of a show like The Real Housewives of Atlanta.

media.think
Kellea

SNL - It's Not Just About Laughs!

According to CNN, the viewership of NBC's Saturday Night Live is up by 50 percent. I will admit that, I haven't watched SNL this much since I was a pre-teen/teenager in the 1980's, in the heydays of Eddie Murphy (who played a stellar Stevie Wonder, James Brown, and Mr. Rogers) and Joe Piscopo (who played a hilarious Frank Sinatra). Who could forget the duet that Eddie as "Stevie" and Joe as "Frank" performed of the infamous Ebony & Ivory song, originally done in real life by Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney. Saturday Night Live in the 80's and early 90's was a riot and in rare form.

But, to me, SNL fell off, or it was probably just the fact that I graduated from high school, went off to college, and became old enough not to have to sit in the house on Saturday nights. No, but, part of it was that SNL kind of lost it's luster, at least on my age group. I blame part of it on the new cast members they hired in the late 90's and part of the 2000's. Some of them just haven't had the same star power as a Chevy Chase, an Eddie Murphy, a Bill Murray, or a Gilda Radner. I guess it took the antics of the Repuplican Party to give SNL the comeback that is now getting the show ratings they it has never seen before, particularly in the age of online videos. The clips of the Palin sketches have been viewed by millions of people over and over and has the world on the edge of its seat each Saturday Night, once again, waiting to see how the politicians are going to be portrayed each week leading up to the Presidential election. I can't wait to see what they do with Sarah Palin's real life appearance on the show this Saturday night.

And don't get me wrong, SNL is equal in it's parody. It's definitely not just the Republicans who get all the laughs. There are two white guys on SNL who do a mean impression of Jesse Jackson and Barack Obama. The Jesse Jackson impersonator is actually quite good and very convincing in his imitation of Mr. Jackson's rhyme and rhetoric.

So, kudos to SNL for making an LL Cool J like comeback. I hope they can keep it up after the election is over!

media.think
Kellea
(CNN video of interview with SNL cast members about their influence on politics)

Jack & Jill Went Up A Hill - Politics From A Bougie Perspective

There is a new venue for Black political commentary on the scene. It's Jack & Jill Politics. With blog entries dating back to August 2006, The website byline, "A Black Bourgeoisie Perspective On U.S. Politics", is a take on the national social and service organization Jack & Jill of America, Inc. created by African Americans in 1938. This online political commentary blog, provides a venue for serious discussion on the issues that affect the Black community.

http://www.jackandjillpolitics.com/

I find this site fascinating and it provides links to several different blogs created and managed by African American writers and journalists. Once again, blogging is providing the opportunity to report stories about the black community from a black perspective, something that seems to be missing in mainstream media.

media.think
Kellea

Black Planet As A News Source? Check Out News One

After recently creating Magazine One (creator of Giant Magazine) and Interactive One (a move towards creating an African American social network and media presence),the incomparable Cathy Hughes of Radio One and TV One fame, has done it again. She has partnered with Black Planet to create News One, an online, blog and video based news source within the social network, Black Planet. Now despite how you feel about the Black Planet of the past, there have been major changes that I think many of you will be pleased with.


http://www.blackplanet.com/NewsOne/

Why Black Planet as a source for news you say? Well, it seems that even in 2008, news about Black people and Black issues still don't get the serious coverage it deserves, unless it somehow comes from a "white owned" media outlet (see media.think blog entry about Black Media Outlets). Also, News One will allow aspiring Black writers and journalists a place to create clips for their portfolio and the opportunity to gain a following within the Black Planet audience. Hopefully News One, with the help of the newly re-designed Black Planet, will help shape how news is delivered by and about the Black community.

I like it because it gives Black Planet credence as not only a social network site, which in the past has been utilized mostly for dating, but it allows us to now connect on a professional level, with the job search profiles and links, and it allows for serious discussion, conversation, and connection within a major online venue. Black Planet is known by many, not just by Black people, and that's a turning point as we continue to fight to bring the Black community up to par and close the digital divide. So, all I can do is wish Cathy Hughes, Black Planet and Radio One luck in this new venture. News One is a winner in my book.

media.think
Kellea

CNN Exposes The Glutton on Wall Street!

We see images of Paris Hilton and other Hollywood celebrities and Socialites all the time but it's not often that we get to see images of the men and women who are living high on the hog on Wall Street. CNN has put together this special investigation to expose the people who are the powerbrokers and manipulators of OUR money. Tune in to see!

media.think
Kellea

David Alan Grier's Chocolate News - Smart & Funny!

I was listening to the Russ Parr Morning Show this morning and they kept playing clips of the new David Alan Grier sketch comedy, Chocolate News so I looked it up on Comedy Central.

http://www.comedycentral.com/videos/index.jhtml?videoId=186294&title=black-history

David Alan Grier is in rare form. I think he's found a new niche in Black comedy. Smart, edgy, and funny! Remember him on In Living Color back in the day. He's enjoyable in this new format. He really gives us something to think about.

The show airs Wednesday nights at 10:30pm. I know that's late, but you can also always view the episodes online at www.comedycentral.com!


media.think
Kellea

Black Radio Shows Lead The Way Bringing Attention To Issues In The Black Community

“Oh, Oh, Oh, It’s The Tom Joyner Morning Show!” How many of you hear this jingle introduction to one of the most popular syndicated black radio shows in America on your way to work every morning?

When clips from Senator Barack Obama’s interview on the Tom Joyner Morning Show, with journalist Roland Martin, aired on CNN’s evening news on Monday evening, it became clear that what African American journalists have to say is becoming increasingly important to the American public as a whole. Journalism veterans, like Roland Martin, whose popularity and fame is steadily rising through media outlets like CNN and Radio One, play an important role in how the news is delivered, not only news about the Black community, but how news is delivered by a Black journalist, through mainstream media.

And we can’t forget Senator Obama’s biggest cheerleader (other than his wife Michelle), Oprah Winfrey. Aside from the fact that Oprah is a very influential and inspiring African American journalist in her own right, her star power and global influence helped to catapult Barack Obama into the Rock Star that, his image and what he represents, has become today.

(Oprah’s interview with Senator Obama: http://abcnews.go.com/politics/vote2008/Story?id=3965092&page=1)

And despite the controversy that recently surrounded veteran journalist, Gwen Ifill about her book, The Breakthrough: Politics in the Age of Obama, she remains a staple on the Public Broadcasting System, as a host for The Washington Week, now in its 40th year, and The McNeal Lehrer News Hour, and one of the few African-American journalists to have the opportunity to host a National Presidential Debate. Having an African American face as the moderator of such an important event, speaks volumes about how important it is to include African Americans in the middle of the conversations, writing and giving commentary on important issues in politics that affect the Black community, instead of on the outside looking in.

In 2007, syndicated African American radio and television personality, Michael Baisden, also gained national fame when he increased awareness of the Jena 6 case, in which six young black men in Jena, Louisiana were charged with attempted murder and conspiracy, for their participation in a fight with white teens who allegedly hung a ‘Noose’ from a tree after a confrontation with the young men. The white teens were left to go on with their young high school lives, while the six young Black men were left to fend for themselves against the criminal justice system. This case would have been left on the fringes if not for the attention brought to it. Michael Baisden is, one of many, who is credited with bringing national attention to the Jena 6 case by encouraging, not only African Americans, but all Americans to converge upon the tiny town of Jena, Louisiana along with other civil rights leaders like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson. Baisden was cited for spearheading this “movement” by many majority white mainstream media outlets, which in turn, brought attention to Jena by the mainstream media, which might not otherwise have happened, had an outlet like CNN not paid attention to Baisden.

Now, this is not to say that African American journalists have not played a part in bringing national attention to issues that are important to the black community in the past, because indeed, they have been doing this for years. Journalists like Ida B. Wells first brought national attention to the string of lynchings that plagued the South in the early 1900’s and John H. Johnson who first brought attention to Black lifestyle, pop culture, and Black Leadership through Jet Magazine and Ebony Magazine. Johnson also brought us the haunting images of Coretta Scott King as she prepared to bury her husband, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., providing not just African Americans, but the entire world with yet another image of the results of the effects of hate in America, when one of our national leaders is slain.

However, in recent years, when ratings and sweeps weeks are what becomes important to the major networks, it’s important for African American journalists to continue to use their influence with the still mostly white owned and controlled mainstream media to get these outlets to focus on stories that not only affect the Black community but, in turn, can affect the world on a whole. When black women and children go missing, it’s still a struggle to get the “BIG” networks to give the stories of these grieving families coverage. It has been the work of Black journalists, radio show hosts, and community leaders who have insisted that shows like “Nancy Grace” on CNN, who often talks about missing children, increase their awareness and coverage of missing children cases in the Black community.

It will continue to be up to Black journalists to draw attention to these missing Americans and to the issues in the Black community so that these stories become as common to report as the latest antics of the likes of Paris Hilton. I realize that was probably not the best comparison, however, I got your attention, and you get my point. People like Paris Hilton make other people pay attention, despite how frivolous her antics might be. As long as the mainstream media continues to be just that, mainstream, and continues to be where most Americans get their news, then it will be up to Black journalists to continue to create partnerships with the mainstream media so that attention is brought to the issues that affect the Black community. These issues need a voice.

We need Black journalists to be that voice.

media.think
Kellea