Why The Wiz “Broadway” Musical Live is Important.

This dazzling display of musical talent from an all-star black cast was not only entertaining, but it was also important for a variety of reasons that many who are not black won’t be able to understand.

The criticisms were far and wide, both implicitly and explicitly racist – nothing new about this. Gone from the “rich tapestry” of the understanding that comes with “white privilege,” is the importance and timeliness of last night’s event.

We can all safely say that those same people, like the Scarecrow, will be on that familiar journey. Sadly, many of them will die before they’ve reached the end of that yellow brick road.

Too often these days our black children and adults are portrayed on television in a negative light fictionally, with some exceptions of course – however, even these placate to the stereotypes that plague our community.

Otherwise, in the media, it looks like our sole role is that of the hunted.

The Wiz Live on NBC showed audiences all over, particularly small black children, there are people who look just like them and have a Broadway-caliber talent – yes, folks black people can do Broadway too.

There was a reaction amongst the implicitly racist that felt it was “shameful,” and “not PC,” to pursue broadcasting a version of The Wizard of Oz with an all-black cast.

How many musicals, on or off-Broadway, even have black people in them at all? Neither of the last NBC live specials featured a black cast. One in three, and that’s a horrible thing? Wow.

For years, the networks have argued, under the veil of implicit racism, that they create programming for their “primary customer base.” So, does that mean that black people don’t buy ordinary household products? You know, the ones that are advertised during these programs. My grandfather has been drinking Folger’s for years, and I have yet to see anyone who looks like him in one of those ads. Everyone knows only old people are drinking it.

Every little boy and girl on this planet deserves to see a wholesome representation of themselves in every medium of the public media. Sadly, black kids don’t get to escape the oppression. And the one night that they get a special moment to watch and dream of a world that is pretty far from the one they live; where people who look like them are talented, dignified, well-spoken, and not being killed or jailed, seems to be too much to ask for in a television landscape where this is not depicted nearly enough.

Are the other 364 days of the year not enough?