NPR on BET's Hot Ghetto Mess

BigGuy wrote: I have a problem with the "we can do better" angle. While positive, it seems to be presenting this sort of behavior as a black problem rather than a problem of poverty and disenfranchisement. A half hour of Jerry Springer will convince anyone that 'ghetto' behavior is common to many groups of people.

If by 'we can do better', they meant that America as a whole could do better ensuring that everyone receives an adequate education and feels that they have an equal chance at the American dream, it would strike closer to the truth I think.

I'm sure the show could be funny and entertaining in a Jerry Springer kind of way. But in the end the subjects are being screwed twice: once by growing up in difficult circumstances, and once again by being laughed at for acting stupid because they grew up in difficult circumstances.

I don't have a problem with the we can do better because in America more often than not it is one group of people pulling themselves up. Very rare if at all can you say that one group of people unselfishly helped another. The Jews are a great example of a group of people working amongst and within themselves for various forms of upliftment. You see the same with the Middle Eastern population and to a large extent the Carribean population as well (Before yall get on me yes I know they are black as well.

Looks like the promotion of "Ebonics", specifically, wins out over the promotion of general stereotypes. Whew, I was a little worried for a minute...

http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070725/ENTERTAINMENT/107250027/1007

BET changes provocative name of show

ASSOCIATED PRESS
July 25, 2007


The District's Jam Donaldson is an executive producer of "We Got to Do Better."

LOS ANGELES

BET's provocatively titled "Hot Ghetto Mess," which drew sharp criticism and overshadowed the rest of the cable channel's new schedule, is getting an upbeat new name.

"We Got to Do Better" is the title the series will have when it premieres tonight at 10:30, BET spokeswoman Jeanine Liburd said Monday.

"We've decided to change the name because we want to highlight the show's real intent, which is to offer social commentary in a context that sparks dialogue, debate and, most importantly, change," BET said in a statement.

However, the show's content remains unaltered, Miss Liburd said.

The half-hour video clip show is based on the Web site hotghettomess.com, which shows examples of outrageous fashion and behavior, mostly in the black community. The BET show will combine viewer-submitted and BET-produced content.

BET is characterizing the show as "pure social commentary," but critics have said it risks holding blacks up to ridicule and perpetuating negative stereotypes.

The new title echoes the "we can do better" slogan of the Web site, hotghettomess.com, which was founded by black lawyer and District resident Jam Donaldson, who is an executive producer on the BET show. On her site — which features the quote, "If you are not completely appalled, then you haven't been paying attention" on its opening page — she calls for a "new era of examination" by blacks.