I would like to start by saying that in no way am I a racist, but I am curious about something. Is having BET(Black Entertainment Television) racist? What would happen if there was a WET and why would that be racist? And please don't insult me I am just posing a theoretical question.
2007-01-25 00:45:46 · 22 answers · asked by Richard Cranium 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
i dont think having a BET or WET is racist.
racism = thinking one race is superior to another
a channel devoted to a certain race does not imply that race is superior - having a channel for women isnt sexist is it?
if one race can have something, another race can have it - otherwise racism is occurring. so if we can have a BET, we should be allowed a WET too.
the problem arises with WET because of the racism that occurred towards blacks in the past century, which has made people more sensitive about racial issues with regards to black people. therefore if people see something specifically for white people, they are more likely to take offence than seeing something specifically for black people. also people may argue that BET is necessary for black people to have a voice (as they are a minority), while white people dont need a WET so much.
i dont know what would happen if there was a WET, but i hope it would not cause a problem. however, because of racial sensitivity, some people may complain about it.
also theres nothing racist about your question :D
2007-01-25 00:56:51 · answer #1 · answered by john9999999 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't believe BET can be construed as racist. It is really in response to years of white-dominated television programming. A black man might argue that all media is the equivalent of WET. There are many more programs with black actors and families than there were 20 or 30 years ago, but they still are geared to interest white viewers. A major network would probably not be interested in picking up some of the programs that BET offers because they would not have mass appeal to a predominantly white audience. In this case, it becomes necessary for a station to program specifically for a black audience. The same can be said for LOGO, the gay and lesbian oriented channel, or any of the various spanish speaking networks. If programming like this were available on a wide scale elsewhere, there would be no need for these channels, but it does not. WET could be construed as racist only because there is a wide variety of programming in existence that is of interest to whites.
2007-01-25 08:58:55 · answer #2 · answered by roknrolr63 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
BET was founded back in the early 80's when the majority of "mainstream" television and movies movies were predominantly, if not almost exclusively, white. Even today, "mainstream" programming, or anything else "mainstream", is still considered to be predominantly "white". And there have always been plenty of spanish televison and radio stations out there since back in the 70's and I don't here anyone complaining about those. BET came along when there initially were no other large-scale media opportunities for black people.
The purpose of BET was to provide entertainment that marketed with a focus towards the black audience. This does not mean that BET's programs excluded white or any other audiences. BET, prior to being bought out by Viacom, featured shows and classic movies featuring black actors, and often actors of many other ethnicities, who didn't get "mainstream exposurure. BET marketed black products that were not advertised anywhere else on television. BET also played R&B music videos during a time when MTV and other programs flat out refused to do so because black music still wasn't considered "mainstream".
The problem now is that, since BET was bought out by Viacom, they suck. There is absolutely no quality programming on BET whatsoever. Whoever is running BET now has decided to market their programming to whoever buys into the worst negative stereotypes of what they think black people are supposed to be. The only people who watch BET are white teenagers who watch the horrible rap videos because they think they are "keepin' it real". It is time for BET to come to an end.
2007-01-25 09:05:36 · answer #3 · answered by badkitty1969 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It depends on how militant you want to make BET. OF course, if every other advertisement were an endorsment for the Black Panthers or the Nation of Islam I would see it as a racist network. Fact is, BET caters to a set of population and fills a niche in cable television previously ignored.
Black entertainment is going through growing pains. It portrays everything through sicoms that are a social commentary of the plight of the black individual in an uncaring America. And that is good! Most everyone likes to laugh at their problems when they see them afflicted on someone else. Ever notice that?
BET has provided a forum for African American talent that was simply unavailable before. It's like having a channel dedicated to Nascar, a typically popular sport in the southeast, but not as much in the rest of the US. Or Nickelodeon, catering to children.
As long as there is amarket for it, and it is not being offensive or derogatory of others, let BET just be. I for one don't watch it much, but I like knowing that it is there serving as a resource to the black community.
2007-01-25 08:56:25 · answer #4 · answered by anon 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No! Black Entertainment Television is an American cable network targeted toward African-American audiences in the United States. At the time the company was even born in 1980 there was nothing on TV for black people so that was why the company was born. Something for the black people which at the time they didn't have any channels they can relate to as far as black entertainment, news in their communities, and music such as white people. Yes there are other channels that have a mix variety such as MTV and VH1 today but this was for african americans to relate to as an african American THEN..nothing racism. But now a days you can see Eminem, Justin Timberlake and Robin Thicke on there time to time ...it is changing just as everything else you may consider to be racist! Now they have anything soulful or good R&B or rap no matter what their color is singing or rapping on there so it really isn't just all black entertainment anymore..I have white friends that watch the channel and their reason they watch it because they enjoy black entertainment such as hip hop and R&B ...just as everything time is changing everything over time! All races watch BET...
2007-01-25 09:07:27 · answer #5 · answered by Mia-Mia 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No, you are not wrong at all. I find that sometime it was not just White people are racist. Black, Oriental, Jew and Middle East people are racist also. Yes, while and the other races can't say anything racist to black people. It seems like black people and their program can say a lot of things racist. If you get defend by it, try to avoid them. It's not fare, but you could be happier with your life.
2007-01-25 09:00:02 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
probably because TV has traditionally been white. In the early days there were no black shows. I don't think BET is racist, because almost everything else is already WET.
2007-01-25 08:54:11 · answer #7 · answered by Squirrley Temple 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I know, right? What if there were a United Whites College Fund? I bet it wouldn't last one day.
There are also cable channels for Asians and Hispanics, women, and cable channels with guy-friendly programming, though they don't overtly advertise that they're a men's channel. I think it's part of the specialization of cable. Pretty soon we'll be able to choose the channels we want rather than getting stuck with a big package that is mostly shopping channels...
2007-01-25 08:50:48 · answer #8 · answered by Stimpy 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋
i would also like to start of by saying i am not a racist, and you have a good point by asking that question, but shouldnt you be asking isnt it racist already if they have black television, by having BET they are iscolating them selves , where there are no "whites", having BET does not promote culturle understanding but instead undermines it.
PS i actually do like and watch black Tv
2007-01-25 08:59:48 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
i believe it is racist... IF we had WET then wouldnt it be called racist? of course it would... this is a subject that really gets up my nose to be honest... the racist card is constantly being played by "non whites" YET they are continually racist by having their own things like BET for instance, if whites dared to have a "white entertainment chanel" the crys of racism would be heard far and wide, so WHY is it ok to have black entertainment chanel??????
2007-01-25 08:50:59 · answer #10 · answered by merrpet 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋