Why do you think that when african-american celebrities die?

Question

That there is not as much news coverage. Not calling people racist or anything, but just curious. We didn't hear much about Gerald Levert, or Lamont Bentley(played hakeem on moesha), Dino from the group H-Town, they sung songs like Knockin Da Boots and A thin line between Love and Hate, Merlin Santana(Romeo from Steve Harvey show, and Stanley on the Cosby Show), Michelle Williams (Myra from Family Matters) we heard a little about Aaliyah. Not saying that they had to do crazy coverage of them, but could they at least mention them? But we have every station covering Anna Nicole Smith and Her son? Why is that do you think? And please no racist comments, thats not what this is about.

The thing I want to add, they were famous enough to the black community, I doubt they would make a big deal about Bill Cosby either, But I did forget I heard about Merlin Santana's death through CNN he was shot by a 15 year old..they think it was part of her initiation

By the way nobody cared about Anna Nicole until her son died, so she wasn't famous either..she had no reason to be famous, how come we heard about when I Think Sean Penns brother died He wasn't anywhere near being famous either

By the way nobody cared about Anna Nicole until her son died, so she wasn't famous either..she had no reason to be famous, how come we heard about when I Think Sean Penns brother died He wasn't anywhere near being famous either

Ok, yall this is a question about celebrities only..not what happened to the girl down the street, but I am so happy you all brought that up...because actually that was going to be my next question.....and just because a certain race haven't heard of these people. I am pretty sure most black folk over the age of 25 know....our celebrities are important too.

Ok, yall this is a question about celebrities only..not what happened to the girl down the street, but I am so happy you all brought that up...because actually that was going to be my next question.....and just because a certain race haven't heard of these people. I am pretty sure most black folk over the age of 25 know....our celebrities are important too.

Gregory Hines, nor Luther Vandross, or Richard Pryor got much attention in their deaths...I wish it was a reply button on here..so my question won't get longer

Gregory Hines, nor Luther Vandross, or Richard Pryor got much attention in their deaths...I wish it was a reply button on here..so my question won't get longer

Answer 1

Your words are right on! I was shocked by the way in which Luther Vandross, one of the greatest singers of all time, was dealt with during his illness and sudden passing. It was barely noted. Barry White was also treated like a footnote. Richard Pryor's death was barely mentioned by the media as well. And with regards to James Brown's death the media didn't honor his legacy but focused on fallout after his death between his kids and his girlfriend. I think because the media is mostly white they tend to ignore the deaths of African American celebrities, unless they are wildly famous like Michael Jackson or Halley Berry. Strangely enough, they are more than willing to drag Janet Jackson through the mud when she had her "wardrobe malfunction" at the Superbowl.

Answer 2

Sammy Davis, Jr., James Brown, Ed Bradley, Bill Bojangles Robinson, Tupac Shakur, Aliyah, Gregory Hines, all very big stories because they were very accomplished and respected people.

Most of the celebrities you mention were not that accomplished. If Steve Harvey or Bernie Mac or Bill Cosby died, it would be big news because they're well-known and have done lots of other things. Usually the secondary characters in sitcoms don't have the popularity or fame of the stars. Think of any of the traditional white sitcoms. Aside from big stars like Caroll O'Connor of All in the Family, you hear very little about the lesser characters when they die.

Answer 3

cause were are never important in the news..When we are doing wrong like Biggie and Tupac or better yet the new fool in the news here lately Snoop Dogg we get news falshes every 60seconds for wrong doing.. Its sad but what about when its a regular person whom gets killed or gets adbucted and are black females or young males ..The news rarely covers a missing black child ..Its always some beautiful white girl whom is soo innocent etc. We had a girl come up missing in Houston ,Tx named Tynesha Stewart a Texas A&M student ..The police drug there heels because she was 20 years old and black ..They said to her mother them she'll turn up since it was springbreak and etc. But when her NFL relatives got involved in the investigation the cops got busy searching..But they still didn't search hard enough .the boyfriend confessed his crimes to local Muslim prophet Quanell X . The ex boyfriend said he dumped her body in the dumpster, but he was lying the ignorant soul Bar-b qued her on his grill on his apartment patio. So there isn't no body or remains.So to put it too you we are not important enough to look for or sadly salute when a famous person dies.The only time they salute us and think they are doing a good thing is during January for Dr. King and February for black history month. They don't care about us they care only about themselves etc. Thats this country and world I don't make the rules I just live in it .They don't want to change causer if they did they wouldn't treat us and other minority's like they do.

Answer 4

Because most of the celebrities you just named not many other people of other races even have a clue as to who they were or haven't even heard of them, and they weren't really what you called famous or they just didn't have scandal behind their names to make people interested in their story, but I must agree with you though because when James Brown died there wasn't really any news coverage about his story either and he was what I would call famous and alot of people knew him and their was a bit of a scandal about his "wife" and child and his estate so maybe it is because of the race issue.

Answer 5

some people have already said it - they were simply not famous enough! you can't compare steve urkel's girlfriend from family matters with anna nicole smith!

there was tons of coverage when aaliyah died, when the TLC member died, tupac, biggie...

and i can certainly imagine that if oprah died tomorrow it would be the only thing we would hear about for months (not to mention i may lock myself in my room and become depressed!)

it's all status, and how well known you are - not about your race!

Answer 6

YOU THINK THAT'S BAD..LISTEN AT THIS CRAP!..I LIVE IN DETROIT AND SORRY TO HEAR THE NEWS THAT THIS WHITE LADY WAS KILLED AND CHOPPED TO PIECES BY HER ANGRY HUSBAND AND HE THEN SCATTERED THE BODY PARTS ALL OVER AND GOT CAUGHT AND THEN CONFESSED,WELL THAT'S ALL THAT'S BEEN ON DETROIT T.V.FOR OVER A WEEK NOW AND THE MEDIA EVEN DROVE 7 HOURS TO HER HOME TOWN TO COVER THE FUNERAL SERV. NOW WHAT'S WRONG WITH THIS DUMB A** WORLD? PEOPLE DIE EVERY DAY AND SOME WORST THEN THE WAY SHE DIED,SHE WAS NO CELEBRITY OR NOTHIN, BUT JUST ABOUT 8 MONTHS AGO A 8 YEAR OLD BLACK GIRL WAS KIDNAPED AND FOUND BURNED TO A CHRISP IN AN ABANDONED CAR,THEY TALKED ABOUT IT FOR MAYBE 3 DAYS UNTILL THE FUNERAL WAS DONE AND THEN,,PRESTO-CHANGO...NOTHING! AND STILL NOTHING! THIS OTHER LADY IS STILL BE TALKED ABOUT LIKE SHE WAS RELATED TO THE PRESIDENT!
ALL I CAN SAY IS IT'S JUST WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 7

i dont know i dont think its right to not say anything i didnt know about stanley from the cosby show and its one of my all time favorite shows. thats too bad and i didnt realize about michelle williams myra from family matters either. it was a good show and i remember her also, it is sad to hear.i dont think it was done based on race but by how well known or popular the persons were.i mean we heard about james brown enough for sure, i really think its just a ratings game. its all about the numbers thats all.

Answer 8

The reason why the Anna nichole smith thing is running on and on. Is because there is so many different cases involving her and her son. For instance Danny lynn her daughter. Who is the father? Was Anna's death suicide? So many things they have to figure out. I personally am sick of hearing about it. But that's just hollywood trying to make there point and make their money.

Answer 9

That's why I subscribe to Jet Magazine. A black person has to be very high profile to be mentioned when the die. There will be a blurb in E! Magazine about them sometimes.

Answer 10

Well, for first they weren't popular as the dead whore Anna Nicole Smith. But, for example, they were much smarter.But for 2pac's death you can hear even 12 years after his death, and Anna Nicole Smith will be forgotten in a matter of few months, but I think that she has been forgotten.