Faith in Action

Teen Summit is back on BET! Well, not really, but that’s what it looked like last night. Rapper T.I.P., the self proclaimed “King of the South”, was on a real humble tip - introspective deep thinking and all that as he talked to Toure’ about his recent troubles with the law and upcoming 1 year jail time for having unregistered machine guns and being a felon in the possession of firearms. Before he hits the jail cell though he has to spend 1,000 hours talking to youth about the “pitfalls of guns, gangs, and drugs.” T.I. copped a plea deal because he was about to do some MAJOR time. Rappers are going to jail these days. Ya’ll betta clean it up. Those corporations will back you as long as you pimp your people with your lyrical poison, but the minute you slip up - those commercial deals are gone! T.I. rounded out the “public service announcement” by giving a shout out to God and sharing how this whole experience I.E. - hitting rock bottom, doing jail time, and not seeing his wife and 5 children for a year has brought him closer to The Almighty. Let’s pray that his music reflects his revelation upon his release.

Not only did T.I. do some community service with the interview, but I’m sure it was an attempt by BET to get some positive imaging as well. “Black Evil Television” is reeling as people across the nation are saying “Enough is Enough!” [DID YOU CALL Proctor & Gamble YET?] Bloggers are having a field day with CEO of BET, Debra Lee, and President of Entertainment, Reggie Hudlin as a report by the Parents Television Council confirmed what many of us already knew. BET broadcasts instances of sex, violence, profanity, and/or obscenities every 38 seconds! Debbie & Reggie -these two “leading Blacks” are still attempting to justify the objectification of women, glorifying of violence, and debasing of Black Culture by basically saying, “We just play the videos, we don’t make them” which is the equivalent of drug dealers on North Avenue saying, “We just sell crack, we don’t fly it over here.” We ain’t buying it, Debra. You and all the other capitalistic opportunists who work for you are culpable in the destruction of your own people, but at least ya’ll keep us on beat as we dance to the tune of our own demise.

BY THE WAY - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE FOLKS…WATCH THE TWO BANNED EPISODES OF THE BOONDOCKS CARTOON ABOUT BET! Episode 1 and Episode 2 are here. Watch it fast before “they” pull it. Youtube has already banned it. In the words of The Joker, “THEY CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH!” Thanks Common Sense.

Next - and this will be very quick because I’m sure they’re watching me too….

I have a sneaky suspicion that the so-called “DC Madam,” Deborah Palfrey did NOT commit suicide. I do not think it is ironic that early last year, one of the female escorts who worked for Palfrey’s escort service was also found dead by hanging and the official report was that she committed suicide. Now Palfrey commits suicide by hanging as well! When she gave indications to those around her that she was being followed and that there was a contract out on her life! Sorry - in the words of Jay-Z: “I don’t believe you. You need more people!” Palfrey must have had some major dirt on some politicos in Washington. They needed her to enter the bright white light quick.

IN LOCAL NEWS:

I have to speak at a Baltimore City High School today and I don’t feel like giving the white-washed, prepackaged, nicely manufactured speech. I’m tired. They need the truth. The “Sunday School” speech I.E. stay in school, don’t you be no fool, learn the golden rule, just say no and don’t have sex just isn’t working. About 100 students will be packed in a room for about 45 minutes to listen to me. The least I can do is tell them the truth.

THE TRUTH:

I’m sure other things will come out as well. I may get kicked out of the school, but hey - they need an adult to confirm what they already feel and know deep down on the inside. They may not be able to articulate it, but they know it.

In case “they” read this too and their worry prompts them to make plans for me, let me give my DC Madam Disclaimer:

I HAVE NO SUICIDAL THOUGHTS - NO REASON TO COMMIT SUICIDE - I AM LOVING MY JOURNEY THROUGH LIFE WITH MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS - PASTOR SANDERS TOLD ME WHEN I WAS LITTLE THAT IF PEOPLE COMMIT SUICIDE THEY GO STRAIGHT TO HELL AND I DON’T WANT TO GO TO HELL - I HAVE PLANS FOR TOMORROW AND THE NEXT DAY AND THE NEXT - I GET PAID NEXT WEEK - TOO MANY OF MY PEOPLE WERE HANGED I WOULD NEVER END MY LIFE WITH A NOOSE, A BULLET, A KNIFE, AN OVERDOSE, OR A JUMP OFF OF A BRIDGE!

Now if something happens and I’m not around anymore and the official report says I committed suicide - ya’ll betta raise all kinds of trouble to find the truth. Don’t let me go out like that. Make ‘em pay or they’ll come for you next!

SOURCE: Washington Post

Channel Changer
Three Years Ago, Reggie Hudlin Came To Save a Troubled BET. But Has He?

By Teresa Wiltz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, May 4, 2008; M01

NEW YORK — To understand the irony, skip back four years: Reginald Hudlin, Hollywood director and comic book nerd, is ensconced with his close friend, firebrand cartoonist Aaron McGruder, gleefully penning a graphic novel, “Birth of a Nation.” The book features as its villain the network mogul “John Roberts” — a black billionaire with a complete willingness to sell African Americans down the river to make a buck. Not coincidentally, “John Roberts” looks a lot like billionaire Bob Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television.

Skip forward to the present: Now Hudlin’s dividing his time between Los Angeles and New York as BET’s president of entertainment, the man in charge of the images tumbling from the cable network’s airwaves. His critics blame him for serving up a steady diet of the same old same old: poisonous, stereotypical images of blacks, specifically rap videos featuring scantily clad vixens and blinged-out gangstas.

On the Internet, Hudlin is the target of a savage cartoon sendup, portrayed as the morally challenged programming head for “Black Evil Television” — a parody created by none other than McGruder, his former friend. And in Washington, protesters camped for months outside the home of Hudlin’s boss — network CEO Debra Lee — each and every weekend, chanting “Enough is enough.”

“Right now, Reginald Hudlin and Debra Lee preside over a media empire that perpetuates every negative stereotype about black men and black women that we fought against,” says the Rev. Delman Coates, the Prince George’s County pastor behind the campaign against BET. “And they have to be held accountable.

“The reality is, if Reginald Hudlin were white, more black leaders and more black organizations would be raising an outcry. But for some reason we give black people a pass for participating in our own exploitation.”

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ACTION ALERT!
Proctor & Gamble wants to hear from you!
April 2008

Great News!

As a result of the Parent Television Council’s “Rap on Rap” study, (in collaboration with the Enough is Enough Campaign) Proctor & Gamble would like to know whether you as a consumer would like them to change their advertising during music video programs on BET and MTV that glorify violence, drug use, drug dealing, contains sexually explicit theme, and portray men of color as pimps, gangsters, and thugs. P&G has set up a toll-free number to record your input.

Proctor & Gamble Contact Information

Please call (800) 331-3774.

Then, press 1 for “English”. You will then be prompted as follows:

“Thank you for calling P&G. If you are calling about our advertising on BET & MTV, please press 1.”

(press “1″ here)

The message will then say,

“We appreciate your taking the time out of your day to share your thoughts with us. For your convenience, we’ve set up this quick and easy way for you to register your opinion. If you would like us to change our advertising on BET & MTV, please press 1. If you would like us to continue our current advertising on BET, please press 2.”

(Press “1″ here)

You will then hear - “Your opinion has been counted and is being shared with the appropriate people in our company. For more information on our company, please visit us at www.pg.com. Thank you.”

END OF RECORDING!

If you are concerned about the issue of corporations sponsoring and marketing adult-themed content to children and youth, and content that glorifies drug use, degrades women, and glorifies a criminal lifestyle, call this the toll-free number above.

Also, share with ALL of your friends, co-workers, and family members who are concerned about this issue as well by clicking “Email This” at the top and send this email to those in your address book. Let’s make a change. Let your voice be heard.

You may also fax the Consumer Relations department at Proctor & Gamble at (513) 983-2881.

Once you do it, post a quick comment below sharing your experience calling the number and why you decided to support. Thank you!

Sponsored by Citizens for Change, Inc.
www.EnoughisEnoughCampaign.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 7, 2008 Contact: Julia Pollard - 301 238-4826

Joint Study On BET & MTV Video Content Complete

Washington, DC - The Enough Is Enough Campaign and the Parents Television Council will hold a Press Conference this Thursday, April 10, 2008 to release the results of a joint study analyzing the music video content on select BET & MTV music video programs. The Press Conference will be held at the National Press Club - 529 14th Street NW, Washington, DC at 12:30 p.m. EDT.

For the past eight months, the Enough is Enough campaign has been protesting the corporate sponsorship of lyrics and images that degrade women, glorify violence and criminal activity, and negatively stereotype black and Latino men as “pimps”, “gangsters”, and “thugs” in the entertainment industry. Since September 2007, the campaign has been holding weekly rallies outside the DC residence of Debra Lee, CEO Black Entertainment Television (BET) and the New York residence of Philippe Dauman, CEO of Viacom. After receiving national attention, the campaign is now expanding to engage advertisers whose commercials sponsor offensive and adult-themed programs that are marketed to youth.

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This from Pastor Delman Coates from the Enough is Enough Campaign:

I have received reliable assurances that the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference has not and will not receive any financial contributions or sponsorships for its annual conference. I would like to thank all those who have worked to bring about a resolution to this matter, particularly those who have expressed concerns about the appearance that black clergy are divided in this campaign against offensive and misogynistic lyrical content in the entertainment industry. I am confident that at this year’s Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference this issue will be further addressed…..

While those of us who are passionate about the exploitation of black people in the popular culture are combating this issue on a variety of fronts, it is my sincere hope that we will remain focused on the real issue, and this is, the corporations that produce, sponsor, and distribute lyrical and visual content that degrades black women, glorifies violence and criminal activity, and negatively stereotypes black men as pimps, gangsters, and thugs.

Peace and Blessings,

Rev. Delman Coates, Ph.D., Organizer
Enough Is Enough Campaign for Corporate Responsibility in Entertainment
www.enoughisenoughcampaign.com

SDPC Integrity Not For Sale!

January 29, 2008

The Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Inc. is committed to strengthening the internal capacity of African American congregations to enable them to engage in fruitful and strategic social justice ministries. The SDPC’s mission is to bring about effective and long-term change through education, advocacy and direct action. We have forthrightly addressed a number of issues including, Katrina, HIV/AIDS, healthcare access, end of life care, voter protection education, children’s rights, the prison industrial complex, media concerns and matters of faith.

It is unfortunate that both a misrepresentation of the facts and a zealous rush to judgment without benefit of any dialogue or informed research has resulted in a potential “divide and conquer” situation. Yes, we share the concerns about misogyny and the degrading and disempowering media images and messaging—both blatant and subtle—not just by BET, but in all American media. So yes, I signed the letter and I was not at all deceived.

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Ok - so things have gone completely haywire with this supposed “Pro-BET” clergy letter.

While there’s still some confusion in the air, here is what I know so far:

First, BET is one of the sponsors of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Pastor’s Conference this year. (February 2008)

Second, There was some kind of letter about BET that was signed by a group of clergy. Now - I’m not sure what that letter said and I’m not even sure if the letter that was posted on this site in a previous post was the actual letter. (I did copy/paste that letter, however, from the Clergy Strategic Alliances website. Perhaps that was an earlier draft.)

Third, while other websites sent Romal Tune (CEO of Clergy Strategic Alliances) to hell; I warned people on that site and on this one from rushing to judgement on Tune. I even said here that we had served together in a previous initiative and that I had always known him to be a stand up guy. In addition, Tune was instrumental in helping Young Clergy for Social Change meet Dr. Freddy Haynes, III - a gesture for which I am still extremely appreciative.

Let me take a moment to remind everyone about what I’ve said in relation to this - particularly in the area of cautioning revved up bloggers from castigating those involved.

Here’s what I said on an earlier post:

“Most notably, the What About Our Daughters blog has published an expose’ tying Rev. Romal Tune - CEO of Clergy Strategic Alliances, LLC - to the creation of the letter based on his supposed relationship with a PR firm doing business with BET. I can’t independently validate this information, but I certainly pray that this is not the case.

I know Rev. Tune and have served with him. In my personal dealings with him - Tune was a stand up guy with a heart for positive social change.

Rev. - you are more than welcome to utilize this space to refute this accusation. You have my numbers.”

My warnings on the What About Our Daughters Blog was well received as well:

“So as Heber said. Let’s not immediately rush to judgement and send the church secretary’s blood pressure up. That conference [SDP Pastor's Conference], however, needs to be called and called often about letting BET change money in the temple.”

Noted theologian, author, and professor, Dr. Renita Weems agreed with my caution:

“I agree with H. Brown that it might be wise to investigate before you incriminate and launch a campaign against these clergy.”

So you do what you wish with the information.

I must admit that it does disturb me that BET is one of the sponsors of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Pastor’s Conference. This conference has been like a breath of fresh air to me and I believe that its accepting sponsorship dollars from BET at a time when a prominent, reputable clergyman is leading an effort to challenge the images of Black people aired across its station is problematic. It sends the wrong message…a divisive message. (divide and conquer anyone?) I have no problem with BET being invited to the SDP Conference to discuss the issues, but if they’re one of the sponsors of the conference, then naturally you’re not going to get too loud or dig too deep when engaging them.

Now what in the world am I supposed to do with this? I just received a copy of a letter of support for Black Entertainment Television signed by an impressive “who’s who” list of social justice preachers in America. Many of these preachers I have followed from afar and some of them I have sat under or broken bread with! Now…of course, just because I admire the example of ministry that they have set doesn’t mean that we’ll agree on everything, BUT - I thought that many of the preachers named on this list would be in agreement with Pastor Delman Coates and the Enough is Enough campaign - not give a vote of confidence to BET and by default politely voice their displeasure with protesting in front of her home or outside of her network’s award shows.

I thought Sista Debra Lee shot her biggest bullets when she allegedly sent BET undercover operatives to Coates’ church on Sunday morning to intimidate him and when she allegedly posed as a member of his church and crafted a letter of disapproval with him and put it on one of the few places that church folks read - internet message boards (of course hoping it would spread like news of saints in scandal) But ooohhh no. Sista Lee is showing she has some Hilary Clinton tendencies too. She’s pulled out the BIG GUNS by having Coates’ contemporaries and co-laborers sign their John and Jane Hancocks under this BET-generated letter of support. The conventions of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Rev. Dr. Samuel DeWitt Proctor is represented on this letter! THIS I’ll have to ponder about. What am I to do with this letter and this list?

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(I lowered my weapons aimed at BET for 1 minute and 25 seconds for this.)

(For my Feedburner Family click here to view the video)

Video done? Good. Truce over.

I was so excited when I got my IMac because I knew that I could begin taping interesting programs on TV with my VCR/DVD recorder and then upload them for public consumption. I have so many DVDs lined up and ready to be uploaded to my youtube page. One of the programs that I was excited about getting online was the BET Interview with presidential hopeful - Barack Obama. The show was entitled “What’s in it for us?”

I burned it, uploaded it, and in a matter of 2 days I had hundreds of viewers to the show and one request that I upload part two of the program. I did and then it happened.

YouTube got a tap on the shoulder from Viacom and sent me the following email:

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