Published January 22, 2008
As you likely have heard, the founder of BET (Black Entertainment Television), Bob Johnson, decided to take Barack Obama to task on behalf of Hillary Clinton. While introducing Clinton to a crowd at Columbia College in Columbia, S.C., Johnson made several interesting comments in regard to Obama.
"To me, as an African-American, I am frankly insulted the Obama campaign would imply that we are so stupid that we would think Hillary and Bill Clinton, who have been deeply and emotionally involved in black issues — when Barack Obama was doing something in the neighborhood; I won't say what he was doing, but he said it in his book — when they have been involved," said Johnson.
Well, to me, as an African American, I am frankly insulted Robert L. "Bob" Johnson would imply we are so stupid that we would think he has a leg to stand on to even provide commentary when it comes to being involved with "black issues."
Bob Johnson has been the brains, heart and soul — I use all three terms very loosely — behind the downfall of black media in the past 20 years. I suppose Johnson thinks drug use is bad for recreational purposes but if you can make a profit from it, it's fair game, as BET has profoundly aired videos for songs that promote drug use, misogyny, the degradation of women, violence and other ills that affect our communities.
There is something seriously incompetent about a channel that is supposed to be geared towards and represent the black community when it offers mostly monolithic negative and harmful stereotypes in misleading images to our youth. It's deplorable that one of few BET shows that could have offered positive commentary — "College Hill," a reality show about black college students — ended up being just a visual tally board of who could have the most careless sex, drink the most and have the most fights. Wait, I think they showed them studying in one episode.
Great job.
Johnson's statements are as ironic as they come. While he is defending what the Clintons have done in regard to "black issues," he should be trying to rectify all of the damage he has done through the years. If he's so convinced the Clintons have been "deeply and emotionally involved in black issues" maybe he should ask them for advice on how to become involved when it doesn't have anything to do with exploitation and financial gains.
In addition, I question Hillary Clinton's public involvement with such a character. It's slightly contradictory to sell the notion of a female president being revolutionary while having a person speak on your behalf when that person has made a fortune in the business of violence against women and the African-American community.
Maybe Clinton didn't pick up on this, but Bob Johnson is far from a leader in the black community.
There's a reason why Johnson is never mentioned with the same regard as Oprah Winfrey, fellow black billionaire. Johnson isn't especially associated with respectability and integrity; he's associated with BET and no two words could be more opposite of the cable channel.
Obama has been forthright with his past or at least components of it. Bob Johnson, however, lacks the capacity to belittle someone's character based on morals.
Obama was a teenager who decided to change the course of his life and become a productive citizen. Maybe Johnson can ask Obama for advice after the Clintons school him on being involved with black issues.
Katrina L. Rogers, of Shreveport, is a member of The Times Community Board.
