It's Not Just Entertainment......

I am amazed at how people come to conclusions based on empirical evidence that is definitely to the contrary. It's akin to 2+2 equaling four and someone insisting that they see five. I have spoken to people of late that insist that certain media outlets(i.e. BET, popular music, gossip blogs, radio shows, etc) are just innocuous fun and not to be taken seriously. "It's just entertainment" is the operative phrase. Perhaps this statement rings true for the majority culture but does it really hold for people of color? When it comes to minorities or better yet, a stigmatized group(in this case, Black folk)entertainment has always been and is currently a form of propaganda. When Sylvester Stallone or Bruce Willis take off their make-up and put down the prop guns, they are never the worse for wear. There is no confusion between fantasy and reality for these gentlemen and there is no "bleed over" to Whites as a race.

What passes for entertainment in the Black world does unfortunately seep into reality for many African-Americans. Case in point, allegedly while attending a Memorial Day barbecue in St. Albans, NY(once known as Black Hollywood in the 40s, more on St. ALbans' history in a later entry)G-Unit member, Lloyd Banks, found himself in the middle of a gun battle. Banks' mere presence at this outing caused over 150 fans(and perhaps enemies, who can tell the difference)to appear at this modest residence. Motorcyclists, bikini clad women, you name it showed up and suddenly gunfire erupted(approx. 35 shots) resulting in a 18-year-old innocent bystander getting shot in the neck and subsequently paralyzed from the chest downward. But hey...it's just entertainment. Oh and I have more. Another Case in point. Media Queen and billionaire, Oprah Winfrey recently told this story while visiting the Ed Lover radio show(Power 105.1, NY). Oprah recounted that upon visiting Nelson Mandela in South Africa she received a greeting she will never forget. Mind you this is in Africa...a world a way. After getting off her plane, someone from Mandela's staff greeted her and her entourage by exclaiming, "what's up my niggas?" I repeat...Oprah was told "what's up my niggas?" Folks, this imagery is killing a generation. But hey I was told I need to lighten up. Get the stick out of my uppity well-educated buttock and so forth. But hey....it's just entertainment. Really.