Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Empire VS black•ish; Thanks to their networks

As we enter 2015, the faces of Black Americans on TV are faced with another dilemma. Thanks to FOX  and ABC, that air 2 shows. These shows deliver Black Americans in power and delivering 2 different messages of the black culture but we are having to choose seeing that that ar aired at the same time. Why?          
We have on the Fox network, Empire;  which premiered January  2015. The premiere gave you drama at rapid speed. Jail, drug money, and foul language all in one. Once upon a time lovers Lucios and Cookie; played by Terrance Howard and Taraji P. Henson. Entering the room with a fierce attitude, Cookie enters for the   takeover of what she's owed from the record company that was built from the drug money that caused her to serve 17 years in jail.
In only a few words, she can slash you effortlessly with her tongue. The episode continues with showing a divide in their family as Lucios has moved on while Cookie reside in jail after taking the heat for him. Their son's  Andre (dating a white girl) , Jamal (homosexual), and Hakeem (lost).
Then we switch to ABC where the show Blackish is on and originally  premiered September 2014. Blackish is showing you a strong black family, man and wife played by Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross. Their characters Dre and Rainbow are raising a beautiful  family of 4 kids; Zoey, Dre Jr., and twins Jack and Diane. Now for those that have never seen Blackish. Dre and Rainbow have great careers and a solid household in the suburbs that face contentious battles of trying to raise their black family in the burbs.
As you see Empire and Blackish, 2 black families of different  backgrounds, but they compete for our views. Why is that FOX and ABC? Two shows that could change the view of Black Americans on television. We have to compete for good tv, why? Too much power for the African Americans on tv?
I want these shows both to succeed. Afterall it's refreshing to see black women posed as other than Housewives that are BARELY housewives and Love and Hip Hop of BARELY known artist that are never in love and Sorority  Sisters that BARELY do work in their organization. **I'M BLIND  THOUGH**
I truly hate that we have to be put in a position  to chase our faces on television, especially when we haven't seen good television since Martin, Living Single, A Different World, Fresh Prince, and    Hanging  With Mr. Cooper, and The Cosby show (Yes, regardless).

No comments:

Post a Comment