NABJ President talks about NABJ, and their efforts to help with giving blacks a voice in the media.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNoKvgYIaEI&feature=youtu.be

Sources for Photos

1.Living Single
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=566&tbm=isch&tbnid=cVQQhqlMhdtMRM:&imgrefurl=http://streetd1va.blogspot.com/2009/08/cuz-we-are-living-single.html&docid=b1sgrH8bOcEILM&imgurl=http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b300/street_diva888/LivingSingle.jpg&w=293&h=225&ei=yqHCTsz0CI6DtgeYgfnEDQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=62&sig=114414707791784209484&page=10&tbnh=152&tbnw=198&start=100&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:100&tx=145&ty=69

2.Moesha
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=566&tbm=isch&tbnid=zDn07BhgOzEahM:&imgrefurl=http://www.tigermag.com/2010/02/new-reality-show-asks-whatever-happened-to-brandy/&docid=qDhRP0GmPNGFcM&imgurl=http://www.tigermag.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/moesha.jpg&w=285&h=475&ei=aqLCTryoH8eEtge3goDCDQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=93&sig=114414707791784209484&page=2&tbnh=164&tbnw=99&start=10&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:10&tx=67&ty=95

3. Fresh Prince
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=566&tbm=isch&tbnid=VWf602L4Yj-ucM:&imgrefurl=http://www.mamapop.com/2010/04/flashback-friday-the-fresh-prince-of-bel-air.html&docid=5bbJ1tm7Q0q3kM&imgurl=http://www.mamapop.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/6a00d8341c5d9653ef0133ece29a6d970b.jpg&w=500&h=375&ei=uKLCTs3fK8Katwev1ZTqDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=319&vpy=232&dur=2313&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=147&ty=151&sig=114414707791784209484&page=1&tbnh=149&tbnw=199&start=0&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:0

4. The Cosby show

http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=566&tbm=isch&tbnid=vR2eLuw5SqeErM:&imgrefurl=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cosby_Show&docid=24M5C8lB58zNBM&imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/a/a3/CS-cosby-cast.jpg/250px-CS-cosby-cast.jpg&w=250&h=234&ei=LKPCTu7JE4i6tgeyh8THDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=132&vpy=203&dur=1547&hovh=187&hovw=200&tx=160&ty=102&sig=114414707791784209484&page=1&tbnh=167&tbnw=187&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

5. The Parkers
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1024&bih=566&tbm=isch&tbnid=g2BlXzm4HPvCfM:&imgrefurl=http://brizzly.com/guide/w/photo/a0dfrddd&docid=e6901HoK-5OP4M&imgurl=http://media.brizzly.com/85c1248e75e7746d6527078c44191399/The_Parkers.jpg&w=380&h=201&ei=lqPCTsDxJMeEtge3goDCDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=340&vpy=214&dur=2047&hovh=160&hovw=304&tx=190&ty=87&sig=114414707791784209484&page=1&tbnh=115&tbnw=217&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0

6.Love and Hip Hop
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=566&tbm=isch&tbnid=PVVzRv_9fB3M8M:&imgrefurl=http://stupiddope.com/2011/03/06/vh1s-love-hip-hop-interview-trailer/&docid=A3wcF3ooN4NTwM&imgurl=http://stupiddope.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/VH1s-Love-Hip-Hop-Interviews-Trailer-500x357.png&w=500&h=357&ei=haPCTpqlLNCbtweMmKmwDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=230&vpy=136&dur=5781&hovh=190&hovw=266&tx=157&ty=124&sig=114414707791784209484&page=1&tbnh=108&tbnw=146&start=0&ndsp=19&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0

7. Martin
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=566&tbm=isch&tbnid=Y14VmgpGvv_DfM:&imgrefurl=http://www.suite101.com/view_image_articles.cfm/788003&docid=yVqBnT-xnG_qGM&imgurl=http://images.suite101.com/788000_com_martin1.jpg&w=331&h=448&ei=X6TCTo2nD8W3twfkmrXaDQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=125&sig=114414707791784209484&page=1&tbnh=156&tbnw=110&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=27&ty=102

8. Flavor Flav
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=566&tbm=isch&tbnid=OKNmH4ID8wMuvM:&imgrefurl=http://www.vh1.com/shows/flavor_of_love/season_1/series.jhtml&docid=620TwMh4cXJApM&imgurl=http://www.vh1.com/sitewide/promoimages/logos/az-project/FOL1_281x211.jpg&w=281&h=211&ei=naTCTuvqH4_qtgfvnZjLDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=134&vpy=209&dur=1109&hovh=168&hovw=224&tx=114&ty=94&sig=114414707791784209484&page=1&tbnh=160&tbnw=216&start=0&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0

9. Basketball Wives
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=566&tbm=isch&tbnid=46UU0scw5qnX7M:&imgrefurl=http://necolebitchie.com/2011/07/15/shaunie-oneal-says-basketball-wives-la-cast-sprinkled-with-trash/&docid=fHyH7fCro7GpiM&imgurl=http://necolebitchie.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/shaunie-oneal-and-basketball-wives.jpg&w=630&h=420&ei=2KTCToLiOcqctwe7lNTRDQ&zoom=1&iact=rc&dur=125&sig=114414707791784209484&page=5&tbnh=157&tbnw=213&start=34&ndsp=10&ved=1t:429,r:5,s:34&tx=74&ty=88


10. Baby Lisa
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=566&tbm=isch&tbnid=UNvC5h0E1ldYbM:&imgrefurl=http://www.radaronline.com/exclusives/2011/11/baby-lisa-irwin-brother-blake-possible-custody-battle&docid=bPVWCNK9P9vWmM&imgurl=http://www.radaronline.com/sites/radaronline.com/files/baby-lisa_0.jpg&w=400&h=400&ei=-KTCToqKOJLrtgfun-CqDQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=552&vpy=220&dur=125&hovh=225&hovw=225&tx=111&ty=153&sig=114414707791784209484&page=2&tbnh=157&tbnw=159&start=9&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:9

11. Jahessye Shockley
http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=566&tbm=isch&tbnid=F2S581Y-EMPpaM:&imgrefurl=http://www.clutchmagonline.com/2011/10/why-doesnt-the-media-care-about-jahessye-shockley/&docid=21e6r9DN1ohmvM&imgurl=http://clutchmag.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/101411-national-Jahessye-Shockley-missing.jpeg&w=300&h=429&ei=Y6XCTvGxNcW1tge20eW6DQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=789&vpy=157&dur=1343&hovh=269&hovw=188&tx=159&ty=235&sig=114414707791784209484&page=1&tbnh=118&tbnw=91&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:11,s:0

Diversity Paper

Black reality shows and television sitcoms in the past 5 years have seemingly been on the rise, but African Americans often feel poorly represented. Some would consider one of the best decades of black television was in the 90’s with series like “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “The Jamie Foxx Show,” “Martin,” “The Cosby Show,” and a few more. These shows are seen as classics and can be watched time and times again and still evoke emotions as if the episodes have never seen before. Many of those sitcoms had multiple seasons and with stood the test of times.

Our parents could boast shows like “Good Times,” and “The Jefferson’s”, these shows are beginning to fade as more reality TV begins to flood the market.

Television has seemingly made it policy to portray blacks as uneducated, ghetto, comics, sport stars, or criminals. Some sitcoms did try to promote the celebration of family and life despite all of the negative or stereotypical roles African Americans where being cast for.

African Americans in Reality television today is a two edge sword. Reality TV can high light the good and the bad but mostly it shines a light in a negative manner. Reality TV sometimes can sell a false vision or stretch the truth. Most selling points of African American reality television to date are drama. The cast, the behavior, even relationships with friends, family, and significant others are scripted around drama. For example VH1’s “Basketball Wives”, has tapings in Miami and Los Angeles . The cast of women are meticulously chosen based solely off of the men they have dated or been connected to. Most of the women don’t hold the title which the reality show claims. Three of the 12 women actually were a “basketball wife” meaning they actually married basketball players.

These reality shows are portraying the wrong image not only of Black America but also to African Americans. Reality shows such as “Basketball Wives,” and “Real House Wives of Atlanta” give people the false sense of how and what it means to reach success in America. The little girl who watches “Basketball Wives” is learning that in order to have the luxurious life style like these women they must be connected to an athlete or a rich man; whereas, television before then often portrayed women who are educated and independent in their own sense such as Claire Huxtable who was an attorney on “The Cosby Show”, Gina had a successful marketing career on “Martin” and Aunt Ella owned and operated the Kings Tower on “The Jamie Foxx Show”.

“From Hattie to Halle” written and directed by Obba Babatunde depicts the struggle of African Americans in film and the honors they barely received. In comparison to the film and where we are now and there seems to be a digression. No longer is it about the advancement of a race and culture its more selfish driven and one’s desire to ink million dollar deals and gain notoriety. In “From Hattie to Halle” it really showed how blacks in the cinema and television progressed. During Hattie McDaniel’s time she was a brilliant actor and was the first African American woman to win an Oscar for best supporting actor in 1939 for Gone with the Wind.

News and broadcast is another poorly diverse and represented area especially with African American males. Black Broadcast News Directors also showed a decline in 2003 and made up less than 1% of overall Broadcast News Directors. Minority General Managers for all television stations with news departments came in at a miniscule 3.6%.

"Black male anchors are in danger of being extinct," says Pluria Marshall of the National Black Media Coalition. "And a big reason is too many white men in control are intimidated by the black male. They think [he] is more difficult to control than a white male or female of any color."

According to Prato, Research confirms a dearth of black males in the anchor pool. University of Missouri professor Vernon Stone, perhaps the only person who has studied this issue thoroughly over the past two decades, says, "The number of black males anchoring TV news is roughly proportionate to their representation in the TV news workforce, and that's about 5 percent.

Sources

National Black Media Coalition. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.namac.org/

Prato, L. (1992, November). Where are the black male anchors? [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.ajr.org/article.asp?id=172

Diversity Project