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A young, black, professional, Spelman College and UNC Law grad, and new mommy who practices law in the Chicago suburbs.

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A ‘Better’ Title

July 24th, 2007 • Related • Filed Under

What’s in a name? Well, a lot actually. In the media titles are pretty much everything because of the necessity to grab people’s attention and get them to read, watch, or listen.

You may have heard about BET’s newest show originally titled “Hot Ghetto Mess.” When I first heard about this show I pretty much rolled my eyes at the deep hole of cooning and buffoonery that BET continues to dig. I shook my head at the stereotypical scenes to come, despite the good intentions that the writers may have. Nevertheless, my interest was slightly peaked when I came across the article announcing that BET decided to change the name of the show to “We Got to Do Better.”

“We’ve decided to change the name because we want to highlight the show’s real intent, which is to offer social commentary in a context that sparks dialogue, debate, and most importantly, change,” BET said in a statement.

Do you see what they did? I am actually proud of them for getting a good PR agent. They flipped the title from one of a negative stance- calling black people who act certain ways “ghetto”- to one that is more positive. “We Got to Do Better” is a statement we can all relate to. Now the show doesn’t seem merely as something to laugh at, but more so something to think about. WE, as in a community, a race, and a culture, just simply need to do better at times. No exclusions, no exceptions.

Young Black Professional Guide to Hot Ghetto MessThe show is based on the website hotghettomess.com, which shows examples of outrageous fashion and behavior, mostly in the black community. The BET show will combine viewer-submitted and BET-produced content. The intent of the website has been not just to get a good laugh (and btw, the ish on that site can definitely give you a good laugh), but to also point out that sometimes people can be just plain ignorant.

“My mission with this site is to usher in a new era of self-examination. And because I am proud member of the black community, they are my priority. However, those of other races take note and if the shoe fits wear it. I think it is time that the black community or (insert your race here) needs to take a good look at itself in the mirror and each of us ask ourselves why are our communities are going to hell.” - Jam Donaldson, creator of hotghettomess.com

That’s deep. Your thoughts?

In sum, glad BET changed the name to portray more of its purpose behind the show but I still refuse to watch. Just can’t give in to the exploitation.

There Are 13 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by Martin Lindsey on 25 July 2007:

    The show title do-over was a good first step. I don’t think I’ll be watching either. The web site is hard enough on the eyes. Man, even after Bob Johnson sells the ship the BET crew just can’t get over their usual methods huh?

  2. Comment by GIB on 25 July 2007:

    I’m glad about the change, too. Won’t be watching, but glad for the shift. The term “we” I think connotes an inclusion that I hope encourages us to be a part of doing better and helping others do better. We are all a reflection of each other, to some extent. Remember MLK, Jr.: “Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Strangely enough, I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. You can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be.”

  3. Comment by Fredric on 25 July 2007:

    …and yet, the title is still grammatically incorrect.

  4. Comment by GIB on 25 July 2007:

    Touche . . .

  5. Comment by ETS on 25 July 2007:

    Fred, I was thinking the SAME THING! LOL.

    Plus, don’t be fooled. I’ll believe BET is serious about a healthy communitywide evaluating discussion when they change at least half their programming.

  6. Comment by ETS on 26 July 2007:

    From a recent AP article

    “Given BET’s track record, those critics had reason to worry. After all, the Black Entertainment Network has provided a seemingly endless platform for hip-hop thuggery, booty-shaking video girls, lowbrow comedy shows, and Toccara.”

    Why they have to do Toccara like that?! LOL!

  7. Comment by Kimberly Michelle on 26 July 2007:

    Because Toccara is a corny train wreck of wanna be stardom. Liked her on Top Model, can’t stand her on BET!

  8. Comment by yobachi on 26 July 2007:

    So if you put lipstick on a pig, it stops being a pig?

    If a guy is a murderous rapist and his name is John; then he changes his name to Mike the content of his character is all of a sudden not murderous?

    Changing the name while not changing the content only servers to hoodwink and try to appease the critics, and cover their own ass, in so far as the title being a targeted; but the content is still trash – not to mention the title now bieng grammatically incorrect.

    http://www.blackperspective.net.

  9. Comment by Yobachi on 26 July 2007:

    ETS, can you give me the link, or at least the name of that article?

    http://www.blackperspective.net

  10. Comment by ETS on 27 July 2007:

    Yobachi -
    Here’s a link: http://www.charlotte.com/200/story/211558.html
    If that doesn’t work, google ‘Hot Ghetto Mess’ tepid, tired by NEKESA MUMBI MOODY

    KM -
    I wonder if Tocarra is just being herself or if she feels like she has to coon on that level just for BET. Topic for discussion: when is being yourself wrong? if ever?

  11. Comment by Kimberly Michelle on 27 July 2007:

    I don’t think being yourself is EVER wrong, which is actually another factor about hotghettomess.com since (despite our opinions) the people ridiculed on the site are just “being themselves.” But as for Toccara, if that’s just her personality (which I don’t think it is, because like I said, I watched her on Top Model) then I’m just not a fan. But as for TV, I don’t think being yourself is the goal- getting viewers to watch the show is the goal. If every host at BET just happens to be a true coon, then that’s pretty convenient for BET.

  12. Comment by Cube on 30 July 2007:

    Hilarious review of BET Summer Programming here: http://averagebro.blogspot.com/2007/07/better-programming-dont-bet-on-it.html

  13. Comment by Teke on 1 August 2007:

    I think half the people out here THINK they being themselves, but really aren’t. YOU are better than that. That nonsense you call “keeping it real” or “just being me” needs to change. PRONTO!