Why #BAPs matters to me: tl;dr #BecauseToken 1) I have been publicly spouting about media and race and perception and diversity and otherness and effective communication for years. This lands smack dab in the middle of so much of that. 2) It is billed as shining a light on a different type of African American population to that which we are used to seeing portrayed in the media. It is being billing as an opportunity to #ControlTheNarrative and talk about issues facing the community. 3) Regardless of accuracy, I have been called a Cosby kid more than a few times in my life. Ive been the black kid my white friends parents have told them is the exception, because she talks nice and plays an instrument and lives in a nice house. So the perception of that different type of African American, regardless of label accuracy or tastefulness is something I will pay attention to - if only to be aware of what new set of cultural references and assumptions might come my way in the future as a result of the show. _I_ understand what reality TV is, but not everyone I sit around a table with trying to get stuff done with has enough media knowledge to not think they learned something from a TV show. 4) I care about St. Louiss ability to have productive and evolving conversations about the issues that face us. Our special way of handling issues around race is one of those issues. Regardless of whether folks tune in, the show will take up real estate in the bandwidth available for those conversations. So as of right now, I think it matters. Surely that will evolve. 5) Yes, I have much side-eye based on whats been publicly released to date, but for all the reasons I listed above, I do hope that over time, if it continues and gains momentum, that it is helpful momentum. It is not my intent to be a hater and if that is the vibe I can only offer that I so dont have time for that. #trust. For all the reasons above I feel as though its something, given its happening in my city about my city around issues and conversations I have been a part of for years, that it is worth paying attention to as it impacts my personal interactions and my citys ability to be, well, awesome. #STL
Posted on: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 21:53:13 +0000
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