Case Study: Black Entertainment Television

Debra L. Lee in approximately 1986 was given the break to be groomed as Mr. Robert Louis Johnson's successor. Johnson was the CEO Lee took the knowledge and soared with it. As BET grew into a multinational media firm, Lee's obligations grew as well. In 1991, Lee was provided the assignment for taking BET national. Which made BET the first black-owned company to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Lee has often regarded this as one of her most impressive moments. (www.encyclopedia.com/doc) After proving her abilities to propel BET into the mass media market, Lee was given a grander opportunity. She was offered the opportunity to be President and Chief Operating Officer, in charge of BET's day-to-day operations during a period of major expansion. During this expansion, the conglomerate added event productions, theme restaurants, a men's clothing line, a financial services division, and new cable networks—BET Jazz, BET Gospel, and BET Hip Hop. BET International broadcast jazz to Europe and Africa. Black Entertainment Television was in steady progression with Debra Lee in the driver’s seat. BET was cornering the market in many areas, the website became the top gateway for many African Americans.

There is no limit to black excellence. In this outstanding tasteful book Black Achievers Vol. 2, we give you a glimpse inside the mind of black resourceful business conglomorates, black futuristic thinking inventors, and the outstanding out of this world astronaut whose innovation and ability to face their fears, and think outside the box have overcome numerous hurdles and opened doors for future generations of trailblazers.The book presents icons and entreprenuers such as, Bridget 'Bitty' Mason, plantation slave turned self starting entreprenuer Clara Brown, Maggie Lena Walker a late 19th century black leader who was one of the first women to charter a bank in the united states, Historical black university president Dr. William R. Harvey,

BET Holdings, LLC, founded in 1990, began with a simple mission: to become the preeminent media company serving black consumers, and through the fulfilment of this mission, to create substantial value for its shareholders. Founded by Robert L. Johnson, former press secretary to congressional delegate Walter E. Fauntroy, and vice-president of government relations for the National Cable Television Association (NCTA), the Washington, DC based corporation used the contacts and available source information on the emerging cable television industry, and inspiration gathered on a fortuitous shared taxi ride to set the mission in motion.

Although there has been a lot of progress made over the past years, there are currently many various problematic issues in this world that are contributed to by discriminatory behaviour and belief systems. Back in 2015, MTV’s White People had the goal of bringing notice to that. The writer of the film, Jose Antonio Vargas, wanted to show caucasians that race was not just an issue for those of color; it affects everyone. The idea for the documentary was  excellent, but feel short when delivered. Part of that could come from poor editing, MTV’s documentary history, or even just the lack of variation in those interviewed. This film could’ve been a really good conversation starter, but the entire thing just felt rushed and left me feeling disappointed.

During the 70’s Cosby partnered with other high profile African American entertainers to combat the popular African American style more clean comedy films. Some were success while others were failures. Cosby’s trusted credibility won him jobs such as spokes person for brands like Coca-Cola, Kodak, and Jell-o.

On January 12, 1959, Berry Gordon Jr. founded Motown Records on a loan of just $800. Motown hired black artists to

Since its start, the television industry has been criticized for perpetuating myths and stereotypes about African-Americans through characterizations, story lines, and plots. The situation comedy has been the area that has seemed to draw the most criticism, analysis, and disapproval for stereotyping. From Sanford and Son and The Jefferson’s in the 1970s to The Cosby Show (1984) and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air in the 1990s, sitcoms featuring black casts and characters have always been controversial. However, their significance upon our American culture cannot be disregarded. During the 1950s and 1960s, 97% of the families were Caucasian. In the first five years of the

The stereotypical misrepresentations of African-American women and men in popular culture have influenced societal views of Blacks for centuries. The typical stereotypes about Black women range from the smiling, a sexual and often obese Mammy to the promiscuous Jezebel who lures men with her sexual charms. However, the loud, smart mouthed, neck-rolling Black welfare mother is the popular image on reality television. These images portrayed in media and popular culture create powerful ideology about race and gender, which affects daily experiences of Black women in America. With few healthy relationships portrayed in the media, Black women are left to make decisions based on the options

Once Jim Morrison said that whoever controls the media controls the mind. This shows that he had recognized the immense power and influence that the media has in our day to day lives. The media plays a very important role in the society as the source of information for every person. Hence, it is very hard for the modern society to live without the media. As a result of the media being the major source of information in our society, it is an undeniable fact the media shapes people’s opinions, attitudes and actions on particular issues (Czopp & Monteith, 2006).

Collective African American spending power exceeds $1 trillion dollars annually. Because of this economic reality, a wide variety of companies/corporations having ongoing marketing campaigns to reach this important segment of the U.S. consumer market. It is hard to believe that not long ago; black consumers were practically ignored in the American marketplace. (Griggs 94)

Black Entertainment Television, which was created to empower black people in a predominantly white media, has strayed away from its roots and marketed its programming to mimic and compete with other stations for ratings. As a television station that once had a variety of journalism programs and shows dedicated to a diversity of music genres within the black culture, it has now centered its model on reality television and limited selection of rap music videos. The Encyclopedia of African American History states the ascendancy of rap music from a black, ghetto art form to a

In today’s society mass media has major influences on the beliefs/perceptions one may have on certain ethnicities or controversial topics. Media outlets have the power to shape certain situations and place people in an image that may not always be accurate. As stated in an article by Narissra M. Punyanunt-Carter, Communication research and theory suggest that the mass media is an important source of information about African Americans and media portrayals contribute to public perceptions of African Americans(2008). Further, it was mentioned that media outlets such as television may cause viewers to conceive, alter, or even reinforce their beliefs and opinions about African Americans ( Punyanunt- Carter, 2008). For Instance, in the Netflix documentary called “13th” Media outlets consistently used the word “Super predators” when describing the numerous African American men who were being arrested in the 80’s during the war on drugs era. The constant use of the word super predator can persuade viewers to believe that ALL African American men are super predators when that is not the case! Just because there are a few African Americans who are seen on Media outlets committing heinous crimes does not mean that all African Americans are criminals. As stated in a scholarly article by Tony Weaver, Media outlets create a narrative that portrays African Americans as lazy, violent individuals, who are prone to crime. The Misrepresentation of African Americans in media has

Our young black males gaze at their televisions with eye’s widened full of admiration and awe at the images of professional black athletes living the dream of prosperity and idolism. In surfing the web, pictures, along with interviews and commentaries can be seen and read by the most impressionable minds. With research, I intend to sift through various resources to uncover the effects of the Medias’ portrayal of professional black athletes on the minds of young black athletes. I intend to sift through information to find out if the marketing approach used by the media and sports to portray the success of black athletes hindered young black males from pursuing other facts of economic success.

Over the years television has been known to be one of the major educating and socializing institution in America. Television in today’s society is able to play a powerful key through which individuals can be informed, hold forums, and voice their opinion‘s. Television is also important because it offers us glimpses into minority life and minority figures. When sociologists examine minorities in television they document how minorities are portrayed and how those portrayals have changed over the years. Through time, minorities in television have been able to make moderate gains whether they are in front of or behind cameras. However, they continue to remain significantly underrepresented as leading actors in films, as writers, and as TV show creators. Even though minorities are significantly underrepresented in today’s society the TV industry has been pushing to give an opportunity to many minority groups in succeeding in the media. Several TV shows and commercials have succeeded in the TV industry to try and change how minorities are underrepresented, however, there are also shows that reinforce stereotypes and are prejudice towards minorities.

Film is one of the most influential means of communication and a powerful medium of