Reality TV and the changing image of the African-American ‘leading lady’
OPINION - As black women and girls are influenced by opposing poles representing our femininity, how we consume negative and positive television images might determine our success or demise...
Today we have black women in overtly sexual music videos such as Nelly’s for “Tip Drill,” the superficial fabulousness of the cast of Girlfriends without their depth, the aggressive “Omarosa” archetype, and the buffoonery of Tiffany Pollard of I Love New York swirling into a cringe-worthy blend. Forget about forging a path to success through education — or being the next Oprah. If the prevalent media image of black women is to be used as a social barometer, professional “baby’s mama” is presented as the preferred path for young black women today.
Some viewers don’t see a problem with this devolution. Instead, they applaud reality stars for having some sort of presence at all on television. If we use ratings as a measure of social acceptance, it appears that for the most part, viewers aren’t all that interested in seeing empowered black female role models.
In 2010, Jada Pinkett-Smith was cast as the lead on the cable series Hawthorne; however, after three seasons the show was cancelled. Kerry Washington in Scandal is one of the most popular shows on a major broadcast network. But both of these examples of competent, professional black womanhood are routinely drowned out by the cultural response to the wildly popular and quickly growing genre of reality television.
The predominantly negative story lines and antics of cast members on reality shows is changing the current definition of black womanhood through the routine depiction of black women as raunchy, profane, materialistic and abusive. And while there have always been negative depictions of minorities in popular culture, the “ Sapphire” stereotype of the “mad black woman” is exploding on cable television.
You may wonder “what can we do?” But there are women out there thinking, planning, and working to make sure that the image of black women in media continues changing — for the good.
Valeisha Butterfield-Jones, co-founder and CEO of the Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network (WEEN), established WEEN in 2007 as a response to the overtly misogynistic and hypersexual imagery of black women in music videos. She saw how the image of black women was under assault by the media and wanted to do something about it, as an experienced television executive.
Yet, “The negative portrayal of black women has shifted away from music to reality TV,” she recently told me in an interview. “Young people are watching music videos less and less, and they are more tuned in to reality show programming. I’m a viewer of some of these [reality] shows, but I’m also on the other side and see the complete disproportion in how black women are being portrayed on reality TV, especially compared to their white counterparts.”
To reverse the retread of old stereotypes, I believe audiences need to turn off guilty pleasure programming and vocally demand more Olivias and Julias to represent a positive, progressive image of black womanhood.
Still, not everyone agrees that fighting the power in this way is the answer. Some believe we must become more empowered as image creators.
“Black women are not one collective entity; individual definitions of self are what’s missing from our dialogue,” Denalerie Johnson-Faniel, PhD, an African-American History professor and CEO of 3D Management Consulting, LLC, told theGrio. “If we used our own stories and voices to define us then they would see diversity born from a struggle. The worst thing black women can do is start to refute negative images [during] Women’s History month, because that draws attention to it; instead we should offer the on-going alternative focused on the greatness of who we are despite the oppression.”
Butterfield-Jones has a different perspective on how change can occur. “Responsibility lies with the advertisers and producers,” she said. “There needs to be more diversity from a talent standpoint. Talent has to say to themselves, ‘At this moment, I’m not going to act a fool, because I have a greater responsibility than to just myself.’”
It remains to be seen if the leading ladies of reality television will willingly forgo the personal rewards that come at the price of their sisters’ well-being.
At this moment in our culture, as black women and girls are influenced by two opposing poles representing black femininity, how black women intervene on our own behalf might be the factor that determines whether there are images that help us rise.
If we don’t create or demand them, current images will contribute to our demise.
Sil Lai Abrams is a writer, inspirational speaker, anti-domestic violence activist, Ebony.com’s relationship expert, and author of ‘No More Drama.‘ She is also the founder of Truth in Reality, a grassroots organization committed to changing the way Black women and interpersonal violence are portrayed on reality television. Follow her on Twitter at @Sil_Lai.
