Segregated TV

Nowadays, we have alot of TV shows--and I mean alot. But there is always something that irritates me about them. They usually are distinctly one race. House--white. Tyra Banks--black. The Office--white. Glee--white. Everybody Hates Chirs--black. And so many many more. Now I wouldn't say there are not any integrated shows, because that is not true. But when I watch a show, you can always say that there is always at least 5 people more of one race than any other. Those shows are typically "white" shows. Or a show such as "Meet the Browns" which is dominantly black. And of course that is when my friend will say "Hey....where are the white people?" Why? Because its the norm. That is what people expect. There are also shows that are hosted by a black person and in which ever guest, is going to be most likely black--(same with an SNL show being mostly white).
This is not right.
White supremency on TV is simply the proof of white privilege. However, it seems to me that when a show dominantly black (or indian, asian, etc) that they are trying to prove that they can make a race dominated show too. That they can be just as good. People, we already established that with Bill Cosby decades ago.
What I am proposing is that we need less white or black dominated shows and more INTEGRATION.
The media has spent too much time on segregated programs with one or two people of color (or white person) thrown in the mix to create the illusion that there is cultural/racial mixing. Which, obviously, there is not.
There needs to be a change. Segregated

Please leave questions or comments, I'd love to here your thoughts.

Music Videos

The other day I was at a concert--Jingle Ball. In between artists they would play music videos. Of course, the majority of those videos were love songs, usually sung by guys such as Bruno Mars. When his song "Just the Way You Are" came on, I took notice at the girl. Bruno is mixed and the girl, if not of some latino desent, is promidantly white. Then I came to releaize something. Why does the term 'interracial" mean "black and white." A while back my family and I were watching a movie and in it the black man said to the black girl (who he had an affair with and she was going back to her white boyfriend) about how there isn't really such thing as an interracial couple, that its always "one of us (person of color) hanging on to one of them (white person)". Now of course, there are couples of asain and black or native and latino, but they aren't as "advertised" as white and black (or one person placed with another of the same race). The question is--why? Does this follow to the subconscious thinking that every one wants to be white--and when they can't literally be white, maybe we have to be with someone who is white. It may also appear strange to some people to watch a music video of MIA singing her love song to a man of strong Japenese descent. It would seem "out of place." What I ask you to take into consideration what I have written. To recongized all races and mixtures in our diverse world for yourself. Do not let the modern world limit you.

Please leave any comments/questions you have below. I would love to hear what you think.

Hope For Haiti

I have heard of the recent tragedy of Haiti (I apologize for not posting something sooner). At first I didn't really understand the tarmac effects of a 7.2 earthquake (one of the largest in history). Bur as I heard ore and more, I now understand what this means to the Haitians. No people should have to suffer just a disaster as this. Especially the Haitians, one of the poorest country in the world. And in out past, we have rarely done anything to help our neighbor--but now we can, and we must. Please help donate money to such places as Red Cross or by Hope For Haiti on itunes.

http://www.redcross.org/

http://blog.muchmusic.com/pre-order-hope-for-haiti-performance-album-on-itunes/

Here are some options, otherwise type in 'Haiti' 'Donations' 'Red cross' etc into Google, and helped the Haitians as much as you possibly can.

Thank You

A New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

It is 2010, and well, I can't really think or remember great worldwide accomplishments for '09, but maybe I'm just blanking (but then again I did just right a 3 paragraph report on The Princess and the Frog.) Nor, though, can I think of many mistakes. So, not a bad one, not a great one in my opinion. The cup really is at the half way mark--whether it is half empty or half full is entirely up to you. So, however, is the outcome of this year. Are we going to take a step back from our more conscious and "anti-racism" world, to become afraid of awareness? Or are we going to keep walking foreword, together, and be ready and willing to criticize and question? Or, of course, the easy way out, we could just, not do or change anything at all. I know it sounds cheesy, but every small change starts with a single person, to make something huge.

No pressure.

So Happy New Year, make sure there is actually something new about it.

Cheers,

Kloie

RE: The Princess and the Frog--contains spoliers

I have recently scene the film and I was amazed. Stepping outside of first black princess for a sec, the 2D was amazing. Disney has really pulled through all its years of, well, kind of crappy movies. Now getting back to point, the first black princess was a success. Now there are those of you who say things like "but she was a frog the whole movie" or "she came from the projects" or "she wasn't originally a princess." Well, here is what I have to say on those matters. First of this black princess would by far be the strongest princess (in ways of commitment, dedication, role model, etc) Disney has ever had aside from Bell in Beauty and the Beast. Not only was there are magical sense in the movie, but also a reality side-- you got to work hard. Even if you've wished upon a star, you've got to do your share.

So what if she came from the projects, she had much more character than any other princess (I mean really, Arial from The Little Mermaid was in a word shallow, she couldn't accept who she was. Of course that's debatable but moving on). And that just showed how much more of a role model she is for her never-giving-up attitude. She went from the projects to running her own booming restaurant-- now that's dedication. And Disney was just trying to be historically correct--what do you want them to do? Lie and not be aware that the majority of black people, or people in general I suppose, back then were poor? Not to mention the great family ties she had (aside from the fact that Disney ALWAYS has to kill one parent).

And honestly, who cares if she was a frog practically the whole movie, we take steps to reach a destination, give it time. Hopefully, this is just the beginning of equal, multi-race entertainment. I kind of have a feeling that the only people who noticed that are people who are trying to prove they are aware of racism in the world. But really, if you are a person who just noticed there weren't any black princesses before the movie even was being advertised, give yourself a pat on the back.

This movie was great and I am excited to see more of the likes of it.

The Princess and the Frog

Today I am hitting another note, instead of books I am going to mention a movie. On December 11th, a movie will hit theaters. This movie is the classic story of The Princess an the Frog. There are two exciting things about this movie. Number one, this will be the first PURE DISNEY ANIMATION since movies like Lion King and Hercules dating back to the 90s. Number two, the more important one, is the fact that all the main characters in this film are black (or a mix of french and black). Now not many people understand what the big deal is, but how many animations do you know where the main characters are a race other then white? Aladdin? What else? You can't say Peter Pan because that movie was slightly racist. This is a new step into a new world people. Maybe I am a bit overdramatic, but this movie may open up a new world of princes and princesses for little girls and boys "of color." It does for me. So if you don't understand this, look at this from a different perspective.

Comment on what you think and any questions on the movie (there is a link for the movie in the title somewhere) and I will get back to you.

YA book covers vs. YA BLACK book covers

The other day a friend showed me this article on a racial dispute over the cover of a YA novel. The novel, Liar by Justine Larbalestier, is a story about a black girl-but dispite that, the cover is of a white girl. Justine says she argued with editors and sale reps who say that black covers don't sell well and more then a few accountants won't take books with black covers. The idea that this may be very well a fact is proof of racism in YA books today. Have a look at the article (posted by Cory Doctorow) and please comment on what you think. Here is a link is you are having trouble getting to the website.

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/23/race-and-book-covers.html