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
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