To Whom It May Concern: Board of Directors,
President, and/or CEO of
Black Entertainment Television
My name is Curtis Gordon, and I am writing this letter to your company in an effort to address an issue I'd like to call your attention to. As a representative of the Black Music entertainment industry, it is of my opinion that BET share's equally in the responsibility our black musicians seem to lack. BET programs their music, show their videos, and promote their albums, all under the banner of black empowerment.
BET programming is almost exclusively black oriented, the company black controlled, all visible personalities are representative of the current black mainstream. The history and success of BET is commendable, but it is the future that concerns me. The financial success of BET pales in comparison to visible efforts to mentally empower the black people, and this is the issue I write to address.
From what I gather, not a single one of the shows in your programming is focused exclusively on black upliftment. Not a single one. Some of the videos you play, as well as artists you feature are recognized advocates for black unity and empowerment, but none of your shows are exclusively geared to promote these types of musicians and their messages.
I lay the responsibility for this failure at the feet of BET because 'black entertainment' has been the company's sole focus, and with current trends in music to promote 'pimping' or promiscuous sex, violence, and material wealth, your Black Entertainment philosophy appears to promote the same principles.
I do not wish to use this as an opportunity to verbally attack BET as irresponsible, but to challenge BET to act in the capacity it has coveted for itself: a leadership role. This is not about censure or a judgmental 'moral' perspective. It is about elevating the minds of the black people, and there is no company better able to promote black enlightenment by example than an empire as visible as BET.
For example, I witnessed Alien Ant Farm's red carpet rendition of their song 'These Days' during the BET Awards. I use this example specifically because of the title song AAF sang by way of 'crashing' the event. The chorus of the song is as follows:
These Days aren't great.
There's work to do.
Would you like to work with me?
I'd love to. Would you?
These Days are depraved.
And so are you.
I think it's something positive
and negative too.
My personal opinion concerning the lyrics, the band, or the reason 'why' they chose the BET Awards has no relevance in the issue I address whatsoever. The issue is that we black people should be more aware of the words in this song than the 'whites' who are singing it. But this is not the case, the depravity of the world has to be brought to our attention, and not only this, at the biggest, most prominent, black social event this side of the equator.
It serves to call attention to the failure of BET to address the issues raised by the event, mainly the negative contrast between black decadence in our music and white practicality in theirs.
Our black musicians are singing about material wealth, promoting materialism wherever they go, and representing the lascivious lifestyle money can provide. BET is at the forefront of this immature trend as the musicians who advocate such lifestyles are frequently featured in your programming.
In further contrast, 'white' music videos on the whole are less lewd, less materialistic, and more mentally edifying than black music videos. I'd be willing to wager that no fewer than 90% of all your video content is of this type: scantily clad women, 'musicians' in extravagant cars and clothes, embodying the very worse in us. Because sex sells, because 'blinging' is hot, and pimping is the 'thing' now. And this is what BET is now because this is the music of BET.
As I said, I did not write this as merely an opportunity to bash BET, but to upbraid and offer a suggestion that would show a good faith effort of BET's focus on the future of black people. With the sheer number of music videos and musicians who promote sound moral values, changing the video lineup of one of your shows to promote these ideals, these musicians, and to get their message out and across to the leaders of the future, our kids, would be no significant sacrifice on the behalf of BET.
But it would be a significant investment in the minds of our youth and our people.
Just as BET must take the heat for the moral decay represented in its music programming, BET can fully enjoy the honor such a responsible undertaking would undoubtedly grant. Not only this, it presents opportunity that could increase revenue and cut costs at the same time.
A live show could have members from the audience performing Q&A with featured musicians, or even 'VJ for a day' at no cost to BET, or both. Marketing would have a field day. But this is a business perspective, BET's business perspective, and not my personal one. It shouldn't be about revenue in the first place, as revenue is what is obviously driving the programming structure of BET now, noting the careless disregard for moral implications by way of featured videos.
In closing, I would like to impress upon you my vigilance concerning this effort. I will be posting this letter in its entirety on the Internet under the heading 'Letter to BET', in the hopes that there are those willing to step forward in support of my effort by informing you of their agreement.
I am not demanding BET act on impulse to avoid negative press, but I am beseeching you, and beseeching the black people, to to invest in the future of our children by actively contributing a positive message, by active participation in positive reinforcement. Mentally, spiritually, and hopefully musically.
I fully expect nothing less than careful consideration concerning this letter and its content by the management and leadership of BET. Furthermore, I will not accept anything less than affirmative action on the behalf of BET by way of public endorsement or visible example.
I recognize and comprehend the nature of the business environment of BET, and do not expect such procedure to be disregarded. But neither do I expect this letter or myself to be disregarded because of business procedure. I place the value of people above that of self and wealth, including corporations and shareholders, public or private.
The future of our people and the minds of our youth have long been disregarded by our leadership and our government by way of inaction. 'Ghetto' and 'poverty' go hand in hand with 'black' and our government and leadership have led and governed from the inception of 'black emancipation'. The black people have endured their trifling excuses, and both hands are still held out.
Excuses from those who do not have the best interests of the black American at heart is one thing. But excuses from a company that is Black America at its very heart is no less than a betrayal of the black people themselves. The executives and employees of BET are every day black men and women with the same concerns of the black men and women who watch BET everyday. If they are not watching and waiting for an official opinion on this, I will be.
I will not be ignored, disregarded, or discounted as an insignificant voice. I will bring the full force of my convictions to bear in an effort to motivate your network from complacency if complacent you remain, and not as friend, but foe.
And you can B.E.T. that on everything I Love, and I Love my people.
Your friend,
Curtis J. Gordon.
Isaiah 1;2-3
"Hear, O heavens, and listen, O earth; for the LORD has spoken: I reared up children and brought them up, but they have rebelled agaist me. The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master's crib; but Israel does not know, My people do not understand."
)....Gospel music and political programs deserve more than one day a week!!
