Comments on: BET, TJ Holmes, Debra Lee – Explains Why She Doesn’t Offer More Positive Programming.

By: WILLIAM SANTORO MD

WILLIAM SANTORO MD — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 02:55:36 +0000

Has anyone asked executive Debra Lee of BET if she has watched the televangelists on her network late at night? I am concerned about them. Most of them are white, and a preponderance of their audience is black, often sad, needy, and rather gullible-sounding people. These “preachers” and “doctors” do not ask for “gifts” or “donations”. They ask the listener to plant a “seed” (sometimes as much as $1000) and to put it on their credit card. And they absolutely guarantee God will reward the seed-giver with riches, good health , tax exemptions, a free house, etc.. I am concerned that some of these people who send them money may have to forego food, rent, or needed medical care because they have given their little money away. Is Debra Lee aware of this situation? And does she condone it?

By: Is BET Answering The Call? | BrightGirl Media

Is BET Answering The Call? | BrightGirl Media — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 17:47:39 +0000

[…] new original programming with stronger premises and backed by industry heavy hitters. After Debra Lee’s comments on the lackluster success of “Don’t Sleep with T.J Holmes,” I wonder is BET answering the […]

By: Are Black People Losing Their Voice? | BrightGirl Media

Are Black People Losing Their Voice? | BrightGirl Media — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 05:39:20 +0000

[…] as saying the reason the network has failed to produce and air more positive programming is that its audience doesn’t have an appetite for it. Over the 28 years I’ve been at BET, we’ve tried different shows, series and nightly news, and […]

By: Ras The Exhorter

Ras The Exhorter — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:24:41 +0000

I don’t understand what changes that BET can make will please you. I for one am happy that BET has taken the time script and produce a show that actually educates and entertains in the same fashion as Daily Show and Colbert Report. As a community we have never been offered programming of this style, not by VH1, MTV, Comedy Central. Despite what many “black bourgeoisie” claim BET has come a very long way from it’s hot ghetto mess days. We should support rather than complain and say it’s too late for you to put on this programming and wait for some black billionaire to create another viable option for programming. WE should watch the show offer critiques and support this “highly intelligent” black man who puts on a great show. When is the last time you have watched BET, you constantly critique it but don’t hesitate to appear on their news docs. How about you sit down watch the show for a week, even go down there and use your power to encourage readers to support a program that can possibly be the pancea for black programming and steer the ship in the right direction. I like you haven’t watched BET in a long while but I do believe like many that everyone deserves a second chance, and this is BET’s attempt at righting the programming wrongs that they have made in the past years since it’s sale to Viacom. I say give it a chance, I hear people complaining and crying about it being owned by white people, but so is 100% of your other programming choices are. Let’s not forget the heritage of BET, and how they employ the most black executives in the world. Let’s give this show a chance before condeming BET for taking a step forward.

By: Mack

Mack — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 10:01:32 +0000

The fault doesn’t lay behind the audience, which is primarily teens and young adults. Can’t blame them for having a ‘sweet tooth’ and for choosing fluff over filler. The issue really lies behind the fact that for the past 25 years single moms in the black community have allowed TV to raise their kids instead of doing it themselves.

No one told these ladies that when you choose single parenthood you have to work twice as hard at raising your kids. That may also include twice the amount of time spent. What we’ve seen are women raising kids alone working twice as hard to get money, and trying hard to recapture an elusive youth that they squandered chasing the wrong type of men. But who was home tending the children while mom was out doing her thing?

The article also mentioned Sheila Johnson, ex-wife of BET founder Bob Johnson. Funny you should bring her up. This is the same woman who valued family so much that she not only divorced her husband after years of marriage, taking a huge chunk of his fortune with her and knocking our first and only ever African American man from the billionaire’s club in the process; she turned around and married the same judge who presided over her divorce proceedings!

Sheila certainly didn’t hesitate to squander her chance to give black America a voice when it comes to honoring your vows and sustaining family; but instead chose to go the route of capitalism like the company her husband founded.

And this is the problem! We have people like this in positions to do much good for the collective, who instead run behind dollar signs seeking an elusive power they can never seem to obtain. No one seems willing to sacrifice personal comfort and luxury for the benefit of future generations.

When Bob Johnson sold BET to Viacom, I knew it was the end of an era. And its been all downhill since.

By: Are Black People Losing Their Voice? - Bright Girl Media

Are Black People Losing Their Voice? - Bright Girl Media — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 16:19:49 +0000

By: feliciq

feliciq — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 21:49:56 +0000

I dont watch BET because of the lack of postive programs , don’t sleep is postive, but because she but bet news and entertainint into one show it looks ghetto s hell. When you have two subjects in a hour that you have to do you have to rush the audience even the guests. Last year they a a topic that discussed police pulling over men of color, with big r&b star like Anthony Hamilton and more TJ ws rushing the guest that came they didnt even get to finish what. These are celebritys were talking about here, you dont do that. Its not even a full hour. What is debra to cheap tp put night entertainment and bet on different hours. Common sense will tell you it wont be enough time in a hour to focus on more than one thing. The show is too late. Plus tj is mixed can we get a black man to hoat the show. Bet complains so much abouy outside being racist when they do it. So many times through years they have constantly put biracial as main characters. Biracial girls as pretty soft, can keep a men, while black girls evil loud rude cant keep married like this new show they have on bet.

Also stop the game show what only black know how to play football, and get happy there, the stereotype us right in the face then wonder why we dont watch bet. Can u get a love story with real black people, can see a soap oprah its 2012 latina tv and Africa has one why can we. Can Can bet stop twofaced, they have a dont sleep show, while still making blar thug movies. Can i see a black as a lawyer or a black women as a fashion designer in a movie. Can you take off lilwayne and kevin hart off bet, because thiet racist against dark skin women, but debra cares about black women rights right ? She cares about these so called black mix girls because that all she represents,and you wondet why little blar girls are bleaching thier skin and killing there selfs.Bet dose not represent black in a good way its time for bet to go or debra to step down from her job. Protest we had enough!

By: Kamilah

Kamilah — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 14:44:31 +0000

Couldn’t have said it any better. Excellent!

By: Jose Sanchez

Jose Sanchez — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:47:34 +0000

I completely agree. To be honest, I wasn’t even aware that BET was attempting to elevate the morale… I’m in my midtwenties and I stopped watching television in general. It was simply a waste of time. Too much open information in the world to waste my hours on a bunch of nonsense… There’s a dichotomy between Morality and Raw Capitalism. Increase Morality and you might short change yourself. Once you teach someone to be better they might no longer need you. Our materialistic greed has mastered the art of diminishing the soul of individuals and turning it into dollar bills. Sounds like Alchemy to me…

By: Aqeel

Aqeel — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 01:23:05 +0000

This is an excellent article. I stopped watching BET exactly because of the reasons mentioned in the article. BET appeals to the least common denominator of intellect among its viewers. Before BET was auctioned off to the highest bidder at the altar of sacrifice of the deep interests of its African-American viewers, I eagerly looked forward to such programs as Beverly Smith’s Sunday morning discussions of relevant topics, BET News and a bevy of positive and informative programs. I agree that the feeding of negativity is a self-prepetuating circle. I still remember experiencing the joy of seeing the first T.V. Network targeting and addressing the concerns of African-Americans specifically; now I feel nothing but shame and disappointment whenever I am reminded that such a thing as BET still exists.