From 'Julia' to 'NeNe': The impact of reality TV on black women

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Very few will challenge the fact that centuries of propaganda extolling the superiority of the white race has been extremely damaging to the self-perception and identity of black people.

To this day, many still hold the Western definition of beauty as the ideal. (Just look at the billions of dollars that black people spend to make their hair straight through weaves and perms.) This phenomenon is what the legendary adman Tom Burrell calls the “Black Inferiority Complex.” For, the only reason black people would think that lighter skin and straight hair is more desirable is because that’s what we’ve been programmed to believe our entire lives, not only verbally, but also visually.

Visual cues are inherently different than mental ones. When we watch an episode of Bad Girls Club, we might be reminding ourselves mentally that the women’s actions aren’t representative of our community. But a repeated diet of these images eventually has an effect on our subconscious. Whether people are willing to admit it or not, many of us have internalized the message that black women really are “Sapphires,” “Jezebels,” and “Crazy Black Reality Show Chicks” — without ever questioning how these ideas have entered our minds.

The problem with the constant onslaught of dysfunctional cast members on negative reality shows is that there are very few alternatives in the media, which feeds our already negative inner messages. If you’re a black woman on a reality show, you have to be a neck rolling, finger waving, weave wearing, table throwing self-proclaimed b***h. Healthy ambition and conflict resolution are completely absent from this form of an entertainment that seems inextricably tied to the way society as a whole views the black community. Think about it. Outside of Olivia Pope on ABC’s Scandal and the stereotypical cast members on the highest rated reality shows, who comes to mind when you think “black woman”?

When the only representation we have on television is unilaterally stereotypical, how does this affect society’s view of black women and — even more importantly — our perception of ourselves?

A few tweet chat participants shared that women like NeNe Leakes of Real Housewives of Atlanta fame consent to be taped and “at least they’re getting paid.” Let me make sure I get this right. Exploitation is ethical as long as the exploited are willing? If we follow this train of thought, homeless youth who sell their bodies are NOT being exploited because they “choose” to prostitute themselves out of economic necessity.

And even when a reality show star is content with her representation (which is a risky bet given that many have admitted to being unhappy with their portrayal in the final, selectively-edited versions) the larger problem is that the handful of dramatic and violent women on reality television has invariably lead to the characterization of all black women as dramatic and violent.

One of the central questions that emerged from the Tweet chat was the question of responsibility. Does the blame for the teeming downpour of “ratchet” reality shows on cable television fall on the shoulders of the television producers? The reality “stars”? Or even the audience?

Exactly whose responsibility is it to change the way black women are being represented in media?

While there was no consensus, one thing is crystal clear. Change will not happen until society begins to understand how certain types of reality shows are indeed harmful to our health, and viewers make a conscious decision to change their media consumption habits. This is why I believe that media literacy, or the ability to analyze and dissect media messaging, is the first step towards creating change in the way that black women are being portrayed on cable television.

I don’t know about you, but I think it’s high time that we to stop pointing a finger at each other for the existing reality TV programming fiasco. Instead of playing the blame game, why don’t we unite in a true movement of social change in which individuals accept personal responsibility for doing their part to take a stand against all damaging forms of media?

Sil Lai Abrams is a writer, inspirational speaker, anti-domestic violence activist, 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.