BET

So when I was thinking about African Americans achieving exposure in the modern media, it took be about .01 seconds to think of the most immediate example: BET. Black Entertainment Television was launched in 1980 by Robert L. Johnson, funded by a businessman named John C. Malone, and it is the only nation-wide television channel dedicated to African American entertainment. However, Black Entertainment Television has often focused very heavily on Rap and R&B music videos and labels, black sports stars, as well as popular African American sitcoms. While these things may be a very, very important part of black entertainment and involvement, is this a proper use of media? Access to television is, after all, what black activists like those in Jackson, Mississippi fought so hard for ... is this what they had in mind? Is BET properly utilizing their access to such an important medium of communication and education: television?

There is a wider variety of programs on BET now, like BET Nightly News, specials on Obama, and historical documentary shows such as American Gangster (although this is an interesting example because it documents African American gangsters throughout history... what are your thoughts on that?). And BET is still very heavily centered on Rap and sports stars... is this just proper marketing to what young African Americans are interested in watching? Does BET have a responsibility to provide other, more politically or academically engaged programming? Or is it the responsibility of the media to provide more channels focused on black issues outside of entertainment?