Black people, don't you think it's time to turn off the stupid TV and pick up a book?

Totally agree, I don't even have a tv.

>_<

Yes. I'm in college and I don't even have a t.v because I'm on a college budget and cannot afford to pay a cable bill (lol) so I just use Hulu and Netflix on my computer WHEN I have free time (not often). I wish there were more Black people in college too, so I definitely agree with you. My University is about 1-2% Black.

People are so addicted to t.v that it's weird. When you don't have one then it's actually better I think. My room is so quiet, but I like it because I do spend a lot of time reading for class and stuff. It makes you realize how much noise most people have in their life when a t.v is always on and music is always playing when they're outside (headphones). I like the quiet life. I'm allowed to think and relax much easier.

There is a reason why whites make up for the majority you see in t.v., in modeling and everywhere else. It's because whites are the majority here in the U.S. While yes, unlike other countries the U.S. is a "mix" of many cultures, there is still a white majority. Thus a majority of entertainment, advertisement, etc with white people or targeting white people.

If you go to Japan, you find everything has Japanese people. You don't see a lot of "black" stuff on their t.v. or their advertisements. Even though they do have black people (though on a largely smaller scale then the U.S.)

Besides, blacks are in a lot of media in positive ways today. You see big name movies with black actors, you see t.v. shows with black actors, you see them everywhere now. Sure, not on the scale as whites.....But again, that's because whites are a majority in this country. You even see more shows/actors/whatever with Hispanics in them. Another minority in this country. As more and more blacks get into various careers you will see them produce more "black" geared stuff within that career.

The only thing I can agree with you on in this is not many black models are seen with "black" hair. It's all weaves/wigs that typically model after white women. But that is something within the black community it's self.

The TV has undermined its credibility. I don't think the media can't go lower than it have, I just don't think its possible. TV will probably phase itself out. I bet it will become interactive with the internet that will delay its eventual fall. Blaming media is too easy, you see society promotes Eurocentrism and whites as standard of beauty and whites being superior. Whites and sell outs get off putting down blacks. To answer your question, absolutely yes, books wakes up the mind. But I have one bad thing to say about books, the quality of authors and book context has also went down.

bp

yes black people should read more

yes tv should be more diverse

yes white people should go out and have discourse with people not get their info from TV stereotypes

so should black people

turning your back on history being self hating and selling out is the american way

and if black people were not to do this there would be another revolution

if black people did to white people what has been done to them we ( this country) would implode

however i like tv i don't like to read i like my Nike's and my Eggo's. i don't walk to walk in a parade because my ac works really good and its really hot outside. besides white people don't influence me and neither do black people i decide my actions based on what i value i think for myself so no i'm not gonna turn off my tv

tv has bo filter and I agree with a lot of your points. but parents need themselves to do a better job in telling their kids that stuff isn't real. I was forced to read black history books and I even went to the museum in memphis. I don't watch reality shows or stereotypical ones. I watch forensic files ncis snapped and other shows like that. I do not watch the first 48. Jersey sore or family guy or any of that crap.

Great question...studies are showing that the focus it takes to read a book is disappearing within our younger groups...they are gathering all their role models and behaviors from videos and movies...how often do you see someone reading a book in either one of those scenarios...in fact, book reading is ridiculed as being nerdish while the movies celebrate cheating, infidelity, and lying as the way to make it in the world...then let's go to the school system...you need to motivated and caring teachers to inspire kids to find reading and adventure that is enlightening and as fun as a video game or listening to a music video...even Bradbury resisted until the last allowing his books becoming E-book as he felt the decline of the book as we have traditionally known is well on its way...this includes kids of all groups..smdh.

You deserve a medal for this lol..PREACH

Black People need to pick up books from

specifically Black Authors. Just type up "Ivan Van Sertima"

I recommend any race of people to buy his books. He will truly

lead you to the doors of illumination

I am not black but I shall answer anyway!

My opinion is that yes, I do agree with you that there is a particular black culture that is presented in the media that has a profound affect other black people. An example of this are black stereotypes such as all black guys aiming to be a rapper or something and nothing else (how many times have you EVER heard a young black teenager in a film/programme say he wants to go to University and study law? If so, very few) as well as this stereotype of having to be a particular type of 'cool'. The worst, though, is the presentation of black women as being full of attitude and ending up pregnant at 16 years old. This is so very wrong and influences opinions and lives so much.

However, as already pointed out, black people are also presented brilliantly. I can name a number of films where black men and women have top jobs, plenty of morals and respect, though unfortunately this is a very small number. There are also other great people that I don't even need to name.

To move onto your point about the 'white standard of beauty' I do agree, though the States and other similar western culture ARE white dominated. Of course, this is no excuse for everything and it does result in many feeling out of place. I actually know one BEAUTIFUL black female who bleaches her skin. It's horrible. Though to say that black people should ditch the media and move on to books WOULD mean that you are allowing this to continue. If you want to change the media, you have to be a part of it. I'm not saying that we don't watch too much TV as it is, but seeing as the media will have a massive effect on future children we need to work to change this, and not just because of the whole white/black thing. It needs to be changed ALTOGETHER because the media affects many, many people, particularly female, so badly (e.g making everything think that we should be size -2) Even if we tried to ditch it we wouldn't be able to. Think, the average person sees hundreds, even thousands of adverts every day.

so overall yes, I think it would be a great idea to remind black people that there is far more to the world than the expectations and future that the media throws at them and that there ARE positive role models out there to follow. I am in fact friends with a large group of black girls (8/9 of them) who are very close and not a single one of them adhere to the stereotypes of the media. They studied hard in school all went off to University with plans to be many things from graphic designers to psychiatrists. And yes, they watched TV as much as everybody else so I actually think it's more to do with knowing the difference between reality and the media. At the end of the day, if you are given an education and you take advantage of it you have just as much opportunity to be big as the next person. I do agree that more people in general should more and that, for black peop,e, enthusing black history would help but if I'm honest (though I'm not black) it does seem as though it is already enthused enough. People know their roots and are proud but they fall prey to stereotypes of who they are meant to be or they feel as though it wouldn't work out if they tried becoming a lawyer or something. We need to work on teaching pretty much everyone that the media DOES NOT PRESENT REALITY CORRECTLY and with this knowledge many stereotypes about black people and other walks of life shall be more overlooked and our perception of reality can become more realistic as opposed to deceived all of the time.

Apologies for the MASSIVE tangent and the large block of writing.

woooow way to put down black people, not all black people are falling behind in education. I'm black and i'm in the advanced program at school and there are a lot of other black people in the program. so get ur facts straight and try focusing on the other races that have people falling behind in education,

Sellout? You mean a black person who isnt stupid,fat,loud, listens to rap? I thought i was just a black person still... I didnt know not

Istening to little wayne was self hating