Allen to homegirl: Help!
CBS's "60 minutes" rebroadcast a piece last Sunday on the tendency of some African American communities to frown on snitching to police.
It noted a perverse (my word) code of honor that says you don't tell, even on known violent criminals -- especially on known violent criminals -- a code reinforced by rappers in real life and in their music.
The piece also mentioned a reality series by Black Entertainment Television that focuses on the days leading to the incarceration of the rapper, Lil' Kim, who did time behind bars on perjury charges related to a shooting.
The tag line for the show, "Lil' Kim: Countdown to Lockdown": "She's going to prison with her mouth shut and her head held high."
BET is run by a former Greensboro resident, Debra L. Lee, a super-successful and intelligent Harvard Law grad who was handed the reins of the network by Charlotte Bobcats owner Robert Johnson, BET's founder.
She can do better than this and in a column I wrote last year that I hoped she would.
Fat chance.
The National Association of Black Journalists last week awarded BET "Thumbs-Down" recognition for its "its depiction of black images in the media, lack of news and public affairs and the network’s neglect to broadcast the funeral of civil rights icon Coretta Scott King in 2006."
A more recent concoction of bad taste, "Hot Ghetto Mess," did not exist when the dubious BET award was determined. Too bad. The network might have gotten two thumbs down, eight additional fingers and a pair of toes.
In the wake of blistering criticism (ya think?) BET has changed the name of "Hot Ghetto Mess," to "We' Got To Do Better."
Lipstick and a touch of mascara on a pig.
The new series, says the Hollywood Reporter, is a compilation of viewer-submitted home videos and BET-produced man-on-the-street segments that show African Americans "in unflattering situations that typically illustrate the excesses of so-called hip-hop culture."
BET contends it's a way of pointing out through comedy how destructive and foolish these excesses can be. Yeah right.
BET doesn't stop there.
Not content merely to offend, the network has chosen to shock and awe our sensibilities with an alleged PSA that encourages viewers to read a book -- as in "read a mother-blankin' book, nigga."
Lee, a Dudley High graduate and a mother, is not putting her considerable talent and intelligence to good use.
I bet she wouldn't show this stuff to her own kids.
She's got to do better.
Comments (2)
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CBS's "60 minutes" rebroadcast a piece last Sunday on the tendency of some African American communities to frown on snitching to police. Now why would any communities frown on Whistleblower? Just one small example of what happens to a truck driver when he rats on the big dogs who have a license to kill and laws are ignored. Congress Strengthens Whistleblower Protections for Truck Drivers.
In 1982, Congress enacted the STAA to combat the
“increasing number of deaths, injuries and property
damage” resulting from commercial trucking accidents.
A truck driver or other complainant under the STAA must litigate his case solely within the structure of the Department of Labor. Complainants start with OSHA which rules in favor of the truck drivers less than 10 percent of the time.
Even refusing to drive on public highways when impaired due to illness is legally protected under the STAA. Yet the office of government that has authority to decrease the number of deaths, injuries and property damage denies over 90% of drivers who file this Congress enacted STAA act. The act covers everything from falsifying logs, to mechanical failures; to illness and injury. But, the Department of Labor treats these complaints as if it was unemployment insurance or Workman's comp. Both which are Department of Labor authority and both have about the same denial rate. There is a small difference in 80,000 pounds of steel running at a high rate of speed at the citizens at large; and the drivers all stating I was forced to drive or lose my job. Those who are wrongfully terminated before me tried to file the STAA act for protections; but were all denied as an example to me that laws made to protect the people of the United States are only for show. My family and I will be punished with charges of abandonment of job duties if I do not break the laws of the FMCSR and the STAA act of Congress.
In the past, a truck driver or other complainant under the STAA was only able to recover compensatory damages such as back wage, along with reinstatement to his job, attorney fees and court costs. The new legislation just signed by President Bush allows party who successfully prevails in a wrongful discipline or discharge claim to seek and recover up to $250,000 in appropriate cases. This may deter some carriers from retaliating against a driver who refuse to drive in violation of hours of service regulations or refuse to operate unsafe trucks and trailers. But, new laws and legislation have no effect on society if the laws are ignored by the Department of Labor already.
As a citizen of the United States I do not care if the driver has diarrhea and feels his illness at the time is a safety issue because he may fart. I do not care if this tractor trailer driver needs to shut down and wipe his backside for 36 hours. He should be covered under the STAA act if his terminal manager discipline or discharge him or has a problem with his illness.
In my opinion the Department of Labor should be fired and denied unemployment because they failed to do their jobs.
Posted on August 18, 2007 4:42 PM
So, Now why would any communities frown on a Whistleblower? To think there is protection from this government if he or she does blow the whistle. HUH right.
Posted on August 18, 2007 5:12 PM