(ThyBlackMan.com) Frequently, I see African American authors and readers on this site and others take on the notion that African Americans in the media spotlight are obligated to produce music, tv shows and movies to our satisfaction. For quite some time, those expectations have been relied on superstars such as Lil’ Wayne, Tyler Perry and an assortment of other black entertainers. But of course, they have fallen short and usually their names and activities are ran through the mud consistently. But what is worst is that they have been made out as villains and simple minded people who have practiced and preached self-hate. But, it’s deeper than that. And we as blacks have decided to see past the blatant obvious to tell our own truth. This is where the issue lies.
Entertainers, which have already been established from my previous pieces, have jobs to do. It is that simple. Lil’ Wayne’s modest goal is to sell as many records as humanly possible. For Tyler Perry, he is strictly obligated to promote his television shows while selling tickets for his movies. Even Kerry Washington, unwarranted star of Scandal has an affair with a white president to drive controversy and push ratings and
viewership. It’s that simple, folks. The problem at hand, though, is we criticize what these entertainers are doing as if we don’t know that these are their jobs. As if, we are their liability.
On the surface, they are. But if they haven’t heard the critics cries by now, the essence of their goals are clearly more important. Essentially, it’s easy to become critical because most entertainers’ use their antics as a device for criticism. How so? Their dumbed down raps, shows etc. is to further demote the brain to their captivity. I would roughly estimate that 80/90% of Tyler Perry fans like his works for that reason, and 80\90% dislike him easily because his works are “minstrel show” escapades.
But, he, Lil’ Wayne, Nicki Minaj and whomever will continue to perform and achieve the goals they want because they know the two assemblies of the 80/90% will collide and increase their profits. In other words; stop acting oblivious to the trappings of the entertainment industry. It’s ridiculous and embarrassing to continuously read headlines about why this song/show/movie endorses negative black stereotypes.
Every scathing article attacking Tyler Perry is driving his name into more circles that could potentially reach new customers. Every “Lil’ Wayne is destroying the black youth’s minds with his misogynistic lyrics” article or conversation is adding more intention to keep dumbing down his lyrics to call women bitches and hoes.
I don’t complain nor criticize, because I’m well aware he’s attempting to sell this image to present and future fans, while enraging his naysayers to promote him via Facebook, Twitter, and written articles about his “declining lyrics” and music overall. If you’ve caught on by now, entertainers will do whatever they see fit to gain revenue. No article about rappers or the Basketball Wives cast promoting a fictitious life to African American youth will stop those youth from neither listening to their music nor viewing their shows. It’s what I would like to call, the Miley Cyrus effect.
But on my end, I’d like to consider myself a simple minded man by nature on a majority of things in life. I sleep when I’m tired; I eat when I’m hungry. When it’s raining I carry an umbrella and when it’s hot I drink water when it’s available. And I also don’t listen to Lil’ Wayne nor Nicki Minaj because their music is presently god awful and has no substance. Basketball Wives? Not a chance. When we divert interest in the entertainers who more than likely wouldn’t be deemed fit for our brain, we fall into their marketing trap.
But, to simplify it, here is what we should do. You don’t like Tyler Perry movies? Don’t watch them. Don’t like Basketball Wives? Don’t watch nor discuss it. Hate Scandal? Avoid social media. And don’t watch it. Think rap music is misogynistic and glorifies the thug life? Don’t listen; there are hundreds, conceivably thousands of genres in music. And lastly the bonus; Think Trey Songz isn’t a good example of R&B?
Don’t even listen to him; I stopped after “Bottoms’ Up” in 2010. We sometimes don’t oversimplify things enough. We look for easy objectives to critique because it makes us feel better about the situation. But, it only adds more to the already stressed problem, which is why those entertainers haven’t stopped producing their content. The basis of this article? Look for the positives in entertainment; I’m sure Tyler Perry would want you to do so, too. See the irony in that?