I’m writing this as a follow-up to this
post. And as a partial reaction to the discussion in the comments section
to this
excellent blog pot. During that conversation, the first commenter reader asked,
… But even while irritated by this, I started to ask myself if BM are as irritated by the invisibility of BW in mainstream media or the ways that BW are stereotyped in media. Or if WW care at all about BW’s image.
That reader correctly concludes that the answer “is
a big fat NO…” That’s right. Negro males both inside and outside showbiz have
never cared about BW being made invisible or denigrated in the media. I’ll note
that, as far as I’m concerned, WW have no inherent reason to care about other
women’s image. Unlike so many confused African-American (AA) women, WW
understand that women from other groups are rivals for the benefit of quality
males’ attention.
I feel that African-American women need to reframe
their conversations about the plight of African-American women entertainers. Following
the money and resource trail makes many things crystal-clear.
When most AA women talk about: (1) the general lack
of opportunity for AA women in modern day showbiz, and/or (2) the demeaning
portrayals of AA women in modern day showbiz, AA women are urged to direct
those grievances solely toward Whites in the entertainment biz. However, Whites
in showbiz are not the AA woman artist’s greatest enemy: negro male
entertainers are at the root of this persistent problem. Let’s be clear about
this:
Negro male entertainers have had access to
Hollywood-levels of money for at least the past 45-50 years. The door has been
open for BM in showbiz for the past fifty years. But unlike WM in showbiz,
negro male entertainers refuse to lift up women from their own race. Once the
typical negro male entertainer gets access to Hollywood-level resources, he shuts
the door behind himself and “makes it rain” for nonblack women. The typical negro male entertainer does not care - at all - about BW being made invisible or being denigrated in showbiz. Negro male entertainers have never cared about anything that affects BW.
Judging from their collective actions, negro male
entertainers have NO real interest in building an entertainment industry of
their own. The vast majority of negro male entertainers also have no real
interest in asserting control over any particular niche in showbiz. Whatever
AA-created crumbs exist, such as Tyler Perry’s mess, is built from the money spent
by AA women consumers. Meanwhile, none of AA women’s money ever works its way
back into BW’s pockets. To put it mildly, Tyler Perry is not a family man. The
odds are that his Hollywood money won’t be funneled back toward any BW.
Take a look at Greg
Morris. Greg Morris was a negro male actor. FORTY-SEVEN YEARS AGO, "in 1966, he was cast in his most recognizable role as the
electronics expert Barney Collier in the TV series Mission: Impossible. Morris, Peter Lupus
and Bob Johnson were the only actors to remain with the series throughout its
entire run.” (quoted from Wikipedia) Please note that Mission Impossible was on for
SEVEN seasons. That’s SEVEN seasons of Hollywood-level TV money from one show.
Take a look at Greg Morris’ son, Phil Morris.
I don’t know the racial background of Phil Morris’
mother. Nevertheless, you can still see where the benefits of Mission:
Impossible TV money from 1966 ultimately ended up. Take a look at Phil
Morris, his wife, and kids.
Take a look at Michael Warren (bottom left corner of
the photo below). Michael Warren is a negro male actor. THIRTY-TWO YEARS AGO,
in 1981, Michael Warren was cast in a starring role on the TV series Hill Street Blues.
From Wikipedia:
"In addition to his
starring role on Hill Street Blues, he had an earlier role on The
White Shadow, and a co-starring role on the CBS television series City of Angels, and a recurring
role on the Showtime television series Soul Food. Guest Star as Jason on Marcus Welby, M.D.
Before Hill Street Blues, in 1974, he played the
role of park ranger P. J. Lewis on the NBC adventure series Sierra, and in 1979, he starred as police
officer Willie Miller on the CBS crime drama Paris, which was the first effort by
Hill Street Blues executive producer Steven Bochco. He guest starred in
"In the House" opposite LL Cool J as Debbie Allen's ex-husband. He
also guest starred on the Fox sitcom Living
Single as Khadijah's father, and later portrayed Joan's father on the UPN/CW sitcom Girlfriends.
Warren played Darrin Dewitt Henson's boss on the Showtime show, Soul Food, in which he played
hustler-turned-entreprenuer, Baron Marks. Warren had a recurring role on the ABC Family
series, Lincoln Heights, as Spencer Sutton,
Eddie's father."
Please note that Hill
Street Blues was on for SEVEN seasons. That’s SEVEN seasons of Hollywood-level TV money. Michael Warren got paid SEVEN
seasons of Hollywood-level TV money for just that one TV show. As you see from
the above, Michael Warren has gotten paid for many, many TV roles over the
decades.
Here’s a photo
of Michael Warren (insert in the bottom left corner), his son Cash Warren, and
Cash Warren’s wife Jessica Alba.
Here’s a photo of Cash Warren and his daughter (Michael Warren's granddaughter):
I chose Greg Morris, Michael Warren and their
descendants as examples because Morris and Warren have never been A-level stars
during their careers, unlike some other negro male performers such as Lionel
Richie or Michael Jackson. I wanted you to see the GENERATIONAL EFFECTS created
by two small-time negro male entertainers’ money.
I want more AA women to get clarity about how where
the typical negro male entertainer’s money goes. And who ultimately benefits
from the various resources (money, connections, inside info) that negro male
entertainers get their hands on.
Ladies, the money you spend creates GENERATIONAL
EFFECTS. Your money has been creating heaven and hell for different groups of women.
Right now, most AA women are spending their money to create hell for themselves
and heaven for generations of nonblack women. When you support people (including
most negro male entertainers) who never give reciprocity to you, you’re
creating generations of hell for yourself and the BW who come behind you. Meanwhile,
you spend your money to create Heaven On Earth for the nonblack women that negro
male entertainers lift up.
This pattern has been going on for a very long time.
If you still haven’t caught the hint or noticed this pattern, that’s on you.
Choose to support SELF. First and foremost.
