Comments on: ENT. WEEKLY ASKS “WHY IS TV SO WHITE?” http://blackarazzi.com/wordpress/2008/06/13/ent-weekly-asks-why-is-tv-so-white/ Mon, 01 Dec 2008 17:48:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: cnbc bonus bucks http://blackarazzi.com/wordpress/2008/06/13/ent-weekly-asks-why-is-tv-so-white/#comment-61824 cnbc bonus bucks Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:56:34 +0000 http://blackarazzi.com/?p=1928#comment-61824 [ ONXX   Loading...       ( )   ] might be having a tough time finding a new leader. Well, nearly six months since longtime Chairman and CEO Hollings Renton announced his plans to retire this year, the biotech company has filled the [ ONXX   Loading...       ( )   ] might be having a tough time finding a new leader. Well, nearly six months since longtime Chairman and CEO Hollings Renton announced his plans to retire this year, the biotech company has filled the

]]> By: wolf woman in a cave http://blackarazzi.com/wordpress/2008/06/13/ent-weekly-asks-why-is-tv-so-white/#comment-45631 wolf woman in a cave Fri, 31 Oct 2008 00:27:40 +0000 http://blackarazzi.com/?p=1928#comment-45631 When I FIRST saw the cast of Grey's and noted that only 3 "minority" actors were hired for a show CREATED by a black woman, I left civilization. It is the same with her new show! Only two black, I think. I am now living in a cave. Life is too damn weird. When I FIRST saw the cast of Grey’s and noted that only 3 “minority” actors were hired for a show CREATED by a black woman, I left civilization. It is the same with her new show! Only two black, I think.
I am now living in a cave. Life is too damn weird.

]]> By: Jackie http://blackarazzi.com/wordpress/2008/06/13/ent-weekly-asks-why-is-tv-so-white/#comment-11111 Jackie Fri, 13 Jun 2008 18:43:00 +0000 http://blackarazzi.com/?p=1928#comment-11111 As a transracial adoptee, I'm always interested in how t.v. handles race and adoption. Naturally, you're going to wonder if this new 90210 is what Willis from <i>Diff'rent Strokes</i> was always "talking about." That's a really corny joke. But, the point is, t.v. has not had a great track record with "token" minorities, and adoptees, at that. You could argue that Fresh Prince was also African American and adopted, but he was adopted by relatives so there wasn't that transracial aspect. Anyhow, Tristan Wilds is coming from the HBO series, <i>The Wire</i> which, in my opinion, "got it right." This show was one of the most amazing television shows in history which had a cast of 100s that contained some of the most incredible talent, regardless of racial background. Naturally, I would have been interested to see more Asians on the show, but it was nice to see Sonja Sohn in a major role. The creators of the show mentioned they were considering doing another season that focused more on the Hispanic community in Baltimore, but they didn't have time to put in the research necessary to get it right yet. The quality of this programming, throws discussions like the article above in an anachronistic light. Why are people in such angst about WHETHER to include more people of color on television shows, and instead be concerned about MISSING OUT on the amount of talent that is out there, out of work. Tristan lamented in his dvd commentary on Season 4 of <i>The Wire</i>, "I hate that yo, there is not enough work out there for young striving black men." I agree!! And it's a shame, not just for the injustice of it, but because of what viewers, producers, writers and yes, advertisers are missing out on. It's a goldmine of talent, people!!! Snatch it up! Wilds also just filmed a movie, <i>The Secret Life of Bees</i> in which a Caucasian girl is adopted by an African American "family." It's refreshing when 99.9% of transracial adoptions are by Caucasian parents of minority racial children. "Secret Life" stars Queen Latifah, Alicia Keyes and Jennifer Hudson as well as other amazing actors, just to name a few. For Wilds to be cast in 90210 as what appears to be the "token African American" really feels wrong, but I'm trying to keep an open mind. His body of work has been amazing so far . . . such as "Miracle's Boys" and "Half Nelson" which also deal with characters that you feel that you get to know, rather than simply highlighting a person's racial identity as the main attraction. As a transracial adoptee, I’m always interested in how t.v. handles race and adoption. Naturally, you’re going to wonder if this new 90210 is what Willis from Diff’rent Strokes was always “talking about.” That’s a really corny joke. But, the point is, t.v. has not had a great track record with “token” minorities, and adoptees, at that. You could argue that Fresh Prince was also African American and adopted, but he was adopted by relatives so there wasn’t that transracial aspect.

Anyhow, Tristan Wilds is coming from the HBO series, The Wire which, in my opinion, “got it right.” This show was one of the most amazing television shows in history which had a cast of 100s that contained some of the most incredible talent, regardless of racial background. Naturally, I would have been interested to see more Asians on the show, but it was nice to see Sonja Sohn in a major role. The creators of the show mentioned they were considering doing another season that focused more on the Hispanic community in Baltimore, but they didn’t have time to put in the research necessary to get it right yet.

The quality of this programming, throws discussions like the article above in an anachronistic light. Why are people in such angst about WHETHER to include more people of color on television shows, and instead be concerned about MISSING OUT on the amount of talent that is out there, out of work. Tristan lamented in his dvd commentary on Season 4 of The Wire, “I hate that yo, there is not enough work out there for young striving black men.” I agree!! And it’s a shame, not just for the injustice of it, but because of what viewers, producers, writers and yes, advertisers are missing out on. It’s a goldmine of talent, people!!! Snatch it up!

Wilds also just filmed a movie, The Secret Life of Bees in which a Caucasian girl is adopted by an African American “family.” It’s refreshing when 99.9% of transracial adoptions are by Caucasian parents of minority racial children. “Secret Life” stars Queen Latifah, Alicia Keyes and Jennifer Hudson as well as other amazing actors, just to name a few.

For Wilds to be cast in 90210 as what appears to be the “token African American” really feels wrong, but I’m trying to keep an open mind. His body of work has been amazing so far . . . such as “Miracle’s Boys” and “Half Nelson” which also deal with characters that you feel that you get to know, rather than simply highlighting a person’s racial identity as the main attraction.

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