This is a subject that has been on my mind for a long, long time. I talk about it regularly, and do what I can to fight against it. Coonery, what I feel is a disease not only to black people but to folks worldwide.
Coonery can be defined as "buffoonery", "showing negative stereotypes" and simply "foolery". Exploiting stereotypes in black folks can be entertaining but also degrading. Is that how black folks want to be viewed, or any person? We have come waaay too far as a society and a world for us to be taking steps backwards. Times changes, and we have to change with those times. There must be progress.
Then there's BET. Ugggghh, BET was once a good network to watch, featuring Teen Summit, Rap City, and various other programs that enhance and displayed black folks in a positive light and addressed relevant issues. Present-day 2010, BET shows little to any substance in their programming. They do have Sunday's Best, reruns of the prematurely-canceled program The Game to boast of. However, you cannot tell me with a straight face that 106 and Park, Tiny and Toya, and the rest of this lineup is how black folks want to be seen and represent. BET partners with a declining, music industry to form one huge joke on television. BET was created by Bob and Sheila Johnson for positive reasons and to be the beacon and voice for Black people. Over the years, that has not happened. Check out this link to see what Sheila Johnson thinks of her creation now http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-04-29/sheila-johnsons-fight-against-hiv-in-dc/1/. Many of the programming on BET looks bootlegged, cheap, and second-rate. The commercials and sponsors are fast-food franchises such as McDonalds and KFC. Many blacks suffer from high-blood pressure and diabetes due to fast food, and this does not help the cause at all. BET supporters will say things such as "it's the only network that represents me, who I am" and "It's just showing them living their lives and progressing as Black folks in America" and my personal fave "We need to support BET. If we do not, who will. It is us on the screen". Now, wait just a minute! First of all, TV One exists. Although TV One still in 2010 isn't available on many cable networks, is still a quality, positive network. They address the relevant issues and show positive programming. Second, I have no obligation as a person of color to support ANYTHING negative or of poor quality. Granted, BET is owned by Viacom, the same folks that produce MTV and VH-1. It is also true that MTV and VH-1 feature a large amount of coonery as well, which is true. It seems like the programs along the three networks mirror each other in many ways (reality-TV programs with black celebrities acting a fool, degrading females, etc). However, BET is supposed to be the voice, image, and beacon for Black folks. It must do better. TV One has gotten this memo loud and clear.
We have Tyler Perry in our society now. Billionaire actor, movie director, and playwright. He started off well with his stage plays and movies. Now the quality of his movies (even his most recent release "Why Did I Get Married Too) have slipped. Tyler has given Black folks plenty of opportunities to be seen and jobs they wouldn't normally be able to land in other studios, movies, etc. However, his movies, plays and TV shows all have the common, foolish, stereotypical themes. Two of these main characters are the Madea and Leroy Brown characters. These characters will have you thinking (although we all know folks like them exist) that it is ok to break the law continuously, use violence and guns to get your point across, and to act stupid 24/7. Black folks have to be portrayed better in entertainment overall. They should be portrayed in more diverse roles as teachers, lawyers, doctors, rather than pimps, whores, hustlers, and crooked ministers. While TP does cover this pretty well, he still shows the same storyline and stereotypes for pretty much every production he does. Here's a sample format: Male/female is down on their luck, in an abusive relationship. Enter Madea. This person finds refuge from the church, people break out into praise and spirituals. More Madea. Person meets a good mate. More Madea. More spirituals and praising. Person and mate get married. The End. Terence Howard was once quoted as saying "The only thing missing from a TP production is Blackface" Interesting.
Now I'm not hating on TP's success and what he has done in helping Blacks land roles they couldn't normally be able to land or gain exposure that would have been more difficult otherwise. However, these actors have to show diversity once their foot is in the door. If they continue to play the same tired roles from TP's films, they will always be typecast in that particular role and their careers may not flourish in the way that a Denzel, Will or Halle has. I'm sure they also don't want to continue landing roles in films such as Booty Call, Soul Plane, and Next Day Air.
The deal is we want to have entertainment where we are not a joke, aren't being laughed at. We want to be laughed with. That's at least what Dave Chappelle thought when he left at the height of his success. Comedy Central was trying to change up his show and have him go against his creativity and principles. Chappelle saw how comedians before himself such as Richard Pryor, Eddie Murphy and Chris Rock had taken major roles in blockbuster busts and ended up looking foolish. Dave wasn't going out like that. He wasn't gonna star in another movie such as The Toy, Pluto Nash, or Down To Earth. Many, many folks thought Chappelle had flipped his lid and flew over the cuckoo's nest. Did he, or was he the only sane person at Comedy Central?
The state of music (particularly hip-hop) has become a joke as well. Now artists such as Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, and Wocka Flocka Flames are being taken seriously as hip-hop musicians. Their music may be fine to dance and party to. However, their lyrics and songs suggest ignornace, hustling, flossing, and overall irresponsibility. Rappers such as Lupe Fiasco, Black Thought, and 9th Wonder have proven you can be rap and have intelligence at the same time. However, many radio stations do not view this as entertainment, bringing in money and entertainment.
That's right, now coonery is entertainment. Do we REALLY want Gucci Mane, BET, etc to REALLY be considered top-notch entertainment.
Tonight the cartoon The Boondocks returned to Adult Swim after a two year hiatus. The Boondocks is considered quality TV and anti-coonery for numerous reasons. One is they show the problems and stereotypes often represented in society. They show why they're bad, however, and how and why black folks should be represented positively. Some consequences and scenarios (unemployment, ignorance, poverty, etc) are also showed as result of foolish and coonish behavior. Characters such as Uncle Ruckus also show that there are Blacks who hate the skin they are in and do everything they can to denounce their race. In short, The Boondocks is trying to be part of the solution and not the problem. They show intelligence, real-life relevant issues, while playing mostly quality music and hip-hop. It's enlightening material. They also regularly rip on many of the things aforementioned in this blog, such as BET, Tyler Perry, and Soul Plane.
Coonery is NOT entertainment in any form people, it's degrading, dangerous, and sickening. One has to think when they look at coonery and think is that how they really want to be represented and portrayed. I certainly hope not. We have come to far as a human race and a world. Everyone needs to do better and start becoming part of the solution instead of the problem. We need to do what's right, rather than what's popular, trendy, and makes you the most money.
