The Hutchinson Report
The Hutchinson Report: "Dear Mr. Hutchinson, Dec. 5, 2001
I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment as discussed in your article on BET. Black Americans, particularly those who have the resources, have to come together to acquire media outlets that are more positive. As an educator in higher education, I too have been disgusted and appalled by the ridiculous and endless display of trash that is aired on BET.
As I observed the steady decline in the number of African-American males at the university where I work, the low SAT and reading scores of African American and Latino children and youth nationwide, and the lack of involvement of some parents, it is truly a sad scenario.
We need to boycott any network that only presents a ghetto-fied, slang- talking version of African American life. It is up to us to change the image with our votes, our dollars and the support of political leaders that represent us nationwide.
Money talks,............ walks. As you pointed out, a vast majority of African American are doing better financially but, our national median income is still about $12,000 - 15,000 lower than white households( not upper middle class but, working class households).
We need to review our priorities. There are class issues in our community. Those who have more resources available to them want the same things: clean surroundings, good schools, opportunities to thrive, great recreation, security, and access to information that will keep them aware and at an advantage.
If this is considered trying to be white, then so be it. When I visit the south and I meet simple homegrown African American people who own their own homes with acres of land, I marvel at their hard work, intuition, intellect and perseverance. They may not have degrees but, they have lots of talent, common sense and spirituality! They keep clean homes, raise their children and good friendships and share with others. Are they trying to be white?
If nothing else the 9-11 incident should force to recognize what is really going on. Our president is calling for solidarity and patriotism yet, we continue to have racist incidents on our campuses, black people who drive nice vehicles are still being profiled (as if we are not entitled to nice things too if we work hard for them). Our children are subjected to sub-standard education throughout this country while the young adults are lulled into a false sense of success because they star in a few booty shakin' videos.
One possibility is that a segment of Black American adults are stuck in an adolescent stage of development themselves. They have not grown up, so how can they lead the youth to do better? In order to grow and develop into maturity you have to be fed with that which will may you grow healthy. What will it take to move to a higher level both morally and intellectually?
If the truth be told this is a spiritual issue for us as a people. Have we forgotten our greatness, pride, and self dignity? What would Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Martin Luther King, W.E.DuBois, Malcolm X, Sojourner Truth, Medgar Evers, Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington think of our current state of affairs?
We must take responsibility for our own contribution to the ills that exist in our community. While racism, racist acts, prejudice, institutionalized racism and all unfair practices against us as a people need to be destroyed, it will take God himself to burn it out of us as human beings. As a people we forget too easily! The architects of the entertainment industry know all to well what it takes to lull us and our children into a false sense of success and security. They give many crumbs to people like Micheal, Puff Daddy and Master P while they take the larger part of the loaf for themselves.
We continue to allow others including BET to define us as only motivated by our genitals and partying then we deny the sacrifice and the death off our great fallen leaders!
It is up the adults to turn off the T.V. and take control of their children and youth. Find other options for your kids. Get the youth off the corner. Where are the vast majority of the strong black men who are still in the community? What hapopened to millions of men who attended the march? If the men by themselves got together to discuss this issue and come up with money to support alternative media, BET would have to shut down.
We can do it!
I await your response.
Sincerely yours,
Cynthia Swift, M.A., M.F.T.
Coordinator Academic Advantage Program
"
I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment as discussed in your article on BET. Black Americans, particularly those who have the resources, have to come together to acquire media outlets that are more positive. As an educator in higher education, I too have been disgusted and appalled by the ridiculous and endless display of trash that is aired on BET.
As I observed the steady decline in the number of African-American males at the university where I work, the low SAT and reading scores of African American and Latino children and youth nationwide, and the lack of involvement of some parents, it is truly a sad scenario.
We need to boycott any network that only presents a ghetto-fied, slang- talking version of African American life. It is up to us to change the image with our votes, our dollars and the support of political leaders that represent us nationwide.
Money talks,............ walks. As you pointed out, a vast majority of African American are doing better financially but, our national median income is still about $12,000 - 15,000 lower than white households( not upper middle class but, working class households).
We need to review our priorities. There are class issues in our community. Those who have more resources available to them want the same things: clean surroundings, good schools, opportunities to thrive, great recreation, security, and access to information that will keep them aware and at an advantage.
If this is considered trying to be white, then so be it. When I visit the south and I meet simple homegrown African American people who own their own homes with acres of land, I marvel at their hard work, intuition, intellect and perseverance. They may not have degrees but, they have lots of talent, common sense and spirituality! They keep clean homes, raise their children and good friendships and share with others. Are they trying to be white?
If nothing else the 9-11 incident should force to recognize what is really going on. Our president is calling for solidarity and patriotism yet, we continue to have racist incidents on our campuses, black people who drive nice vehicles are still being profiled (as if we are not entitled to nice things too if we work hard for them). Our children are subjected to sub-standard education throughout this country while the young adults are lulled into a false sense of success because they star in a few booty shakin' videos.
One possibility is that a segment of Black American adults are stuck in an adolescent stage of development themselves. They have not grown up, so how can they lead the youth to do better? In order to grow and develop into maturity you have to be fed with that which will may you grow healthy. What will it take to move to a higher level both morally and intellectually?
If the truth be told this is a spiritual issue for us as a people. Have we forgotten our greatness, pride, and self dignity? What would Harriet Tubman, George Washington Carver, Martin Luther King, W.E.DuBois, Malcolm X, Sojourner Truth, Medgar Evers, Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington think of our current state of affairs?
We must take responsibility for our own contribution to the ills that exist in our community. While racism, racist acts, prejudice, institutionalized racism and all unfair practices against us as a people need to be destroyed, it will take God himself to burn it out of us as human beings. As a people we forget too easily! The architects of the entertainment industry know all to well what it takes to lull us and our children into a false sense of success and security. They give many crumbs to people like Micheal, Puff Daddy and Master P while they take the larger part of the loaf for themselves.
We continue to allow others including BET to define us as only motivated by our genitals and partying then we deny the sacrifice and the death off our great fallen leaders!
It is up the adults to turn off the T.V. and take control of their children and youth. Find other options for your kids. Get the youth off the corner. Where are the vast majority of the strong black men who are still in the community? What hapopened to millions of men who attended the march? If the men by themselves got together to discuss this issue and come up with money to support alternative media, BET would have to shut down.
We can do it!
I await your response.
Sincerely yours,
Cynthia Swift, M.A., M.F.T.
Coordinator Academic Advantage Program
"
posted by Robert at 10:08 AM
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