Why is it ok to have a BET channel but not a WET channel?

Question

We are all supposed to be equal now right, it is 2007. Doesn't this type of seperatism cause racism? If there was a Mrs. White America that would be racist, but Mrs. Black America or USA is ok. If I established a white version of the NAACP, that would be looked at as racist.

Don't get me wrong I am not a racist, I hate everyone equally, just curious about why one is allowed in the modern times and the other would be condemned.

Wow, I am definately not comparing the NAACP to the KKK. The NAACP is a good organization, the KKK is a hateful one.

To respond, BET, and the other organizations mentioned do not bother me at all, they do good things for the cultures they represent. I was just curious about everyone else's thoughts on this debatable issue, and appreciate that no one here is taking my question as hateful, because it is not.

Answer 1

WET Channel? First thing that comes to mind is a porno channel.
(LOL) j/k

AS a black man, I don't think you are racist. I actually agree with you. In todays world, if we really want to achieve equallity, we have to get rid of these double standards. That means no BET, no NAACP, no congressional black caucus, etc.

Once we as blacks stop segregating ourselves from non-blacks, then we as a contry can achieve equallity.

Answer 2

When black people are no longer seen as an ethnic minority, entertainment networks highlighting contributions and achievments of black individuals will no longer need to have a seperate status. What needs to be understood is, that because you are not white does not mean you are a minority. People of colour world over are a majority.

The reason perhaps maybe because of the dominance of so called white mainstream television that would not place black programmes on a regular primetime frame. That isnt to say there arent many wonderful black mainstream entertainers.

Just consider BET to be a network where a culture can express there life and want to share it with anyone who wants to watch. Be grateful you have it in America, we don't get it in the UK.

As for it causing racism, ignorance is the cause of that. BET could be said to introduce a deeper understanding of black culture. As a person of colour (i am half black) I think it a contribution of any ethnic/ racial/ cultural group is a good thing it gives me insight into a wider type of peoples.

And just because there arent networks that explicitly claim to be white doesnt mean that there programming isnt specifically targeted at a white audience

Answer 3

We are supposed to be equal, but look around you, do you really think we are? Its one thing to be prejudiced, I'm not saying that you are, but it another thing to think that we are all equal. That is just not the case.

The assumption is that every channel not BET company running mostly black oriented programming is a WET.

I think most black people would be fine doing without a BET of Ms. Black whatever, or even a NAACP. Of course, that would be when we are actually all equal.

I have a question too. Why are you bothered by it? You can still watch.

Answer 4

There is a WET channel, its called ABC.
besides WET just sounds too funny to take seriously.

White people in general have enjoyed a better starting off point in life because most of our ancestors had more advancement opportunities.


ps there already is an organization called the naawp that promotes segregation.
The NAACP promotes social equality, and is trying to make sure that black is not synonymous with poor

I thinkan organization NAAPP would be better though...national association for the advancement ot poor people!

Answer 5

I think it all lies in the mind of the person who looks at how it is seperated than what the groups are established for. Okay first the NAACP given what it stands for helps out everyone in need. I have caucassian freinds who needed help for college have asked the NAACP foundation for money and have recieved it. I think the deal with BET is that the prodominant viewers of that show happen to be african american not that it is taliored to appeal more to one group its just that a certain group took more interests in the show than others. I as a person no longer see the seperation in people or groups anymore, I only see their causes and what they stand for.

Answer 6

I know what you mean to a certain extent. But I see it like this....every channel is a white entertainment channel (obviously excluding BET). Chances are higher for seeing a white person than you would a black person if you flipped through allot of different channels. BET is just the African American race owning something although allot of the things on there are negative (rap music about guns, drugs, degrading women, etc). We can't blame them for that although they do complain most about racism but continue to segregate themselves and bring racism up more than everyone else. I know I’m probably not making sense but I’m trying to view this as realistically and as fairly as I can because I’m biracial. Im speaking on both behalfs as well as I can :(

Answer 7

Ok Rob, some things you just have to accept, and these are some of them. What you say here is true, unfortunately nothing you think or do is going to change that. I'm an educated and I believe non-racist black male, but I must admit, I would be on the first ban wagon to sue you if you tried to form a WET channel.

Answer 8

You do, it somewhat is referred to as MTV, VH1,NBC, ABC, CBS and another community station. yet once you want to initiate a channel that exhibits female gyrating an degrading themselves all day on rap movies, or undesirable take-offs on the real international and TRL - bypass genuine forward pal, no ones scuffling with you! Is their some variety of void in television programming which you're feeling desires to be crammed through a moist channel? Do you experience as in case you're no longer already represented sufficient on all of the different channels? What variety of programming could be on the moist channel which you should no longer locate on the different channel? And why is it that human beings continuously fuss approximately wager, yet in no way point out telemundo? what's up with that?

Answer 9

You're right. Separatism of any kind causes and reinforces racism. But because of a murky past, the white community now has to walk on eggshells around things like this one. Recently at BU, a student group organized a "White-only" scholarship, ONLY to point out and raise awareness in light those groups who had formed "Black only" and "other minority only" scholarships.

Quite simply, racism will never end.

Answer 10

It's because we weren't getting alot of airplay (tv,radio) at the time BET began so we decided to start our own channel so our talent can be exposed as well. You can't say we are racist for this, we play videos by every artist regardless of race. Ask Justin Timberlake, Gwen Stefani, Fergie...and so on.

Like American Bandstand we werent being exposed as artist as much as other races so we created SOOOOOOOOOUUUUUL Train.

Or like the United ***** College Fund was designed because at the time we were not allowed to attend your schools.

Alot of things were designed at the time for us because during that era we were limited to alot of things.

But since things have somewhat lightened up we no longer have to create organizations for just us...All are welcome.

Hope this helps you understand