Kids Media and the 1% Represented

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I took a survey today on one of those websites that have a points to cash system for the amount of surveys that you complete and it required me to watch a pilot for a new show that was geared toward the middle to high school student age group. I was supposed to watch the whole episode then answer questions about what I liked about the show, what characters I liked and disliked, if I thought the show fit the channel and what changes would make it better. Basically it was your cookie cutter I want to be a singer and I’m the biggest fan for this star kinda show. When first asked about what I thought about the show I said “It was boring and had horrible dialog, get better lighting.” It wasn’t until I was asked which character I found most interesting that I realized just how sickening this show was.

Picking the interesting characters I realized I picked out the three characters that were the only ones that seemed to be of a different culture or race besides plain out Caucasian American. Firstly, I must clarify I am in no way saying that there is something wrong if you fall under that category. What I find wrong is that out of the three two were African American husband and wife and the third looked more European to me, only the European looking one had a major role. How are there 2 possibly 3 colored people on a show that is to be aired on national television at prime time in the whole cast?America is mixed with so many different races and cultures that you would think that TV producers would want to portray that in the shows that the next generation is growing up on. I actually think there were more shows with minorities and those with major roles when I was growing up than there is now. The media is working backwards with diversity. Not only with race but also with body image. While I commended the show for having the best friend be an actress with a thicker body type, I have to say that show and others on TV today are filled with very thin and lets face it underdeveloped girls. The majority of girls in their pre-teen to teenage years are getting their periods earlier and going through puberty faster. That means CURVES! I’m not saying there are no skinny girls but there sure as hell needs to be more actresses with thicker body types.  On top of all of this they promote stereotypes that in my age we were taught to disprove with their actress that is basically the dumb blonde. Why must the ditsy girl be a skinny blonde? Can she have black hair and wear glasses for once? And please explain to me why the black actress is the only character with curly hair? Most women in the United States have curls and waves regardless of their race but they succumb to straightening their hair because they were brainwashed to believe that is pretty and anything uncontrollable is not. The little versions of you and I have no one to relate in the kid media no one that looks like them. In many easily influenced kids that can jump start issues with low self-esteem and confidence. Giving them unrealistic images of what is better in society. Not only does this hurt the kids that aren’t portrayed, it gives the kids that can relate the idea that they are better than those who aren’t in the media.

I think what hurt me the most about watching this revolting pilot was when it was revealed what station it was proposed to be on. That is when I knew I had to tell the truth and the whole truth so help me God because back in the day this was the only station that had minority kids as the stars. This was the channel with all the funny shows Kenan and Kel, Cousin Skeeter, All That, the Amanda Show, but they also had other stuff like The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo, The Adventures of Pete and Pete, and my favorite that everyone forgets, Taina. These shows had minorities of all types: Asians, Blacks, Hispanics, red heads, and body types. It was purely talent that defined the 90s. I was devastated when I realized how desperate they were to even fathom the idea of airing this shit and that is why I typed in summary almost all that I have shared with you today. While I might be the only one who took that survey seriously and didn’t skim through for the points, maybe my report will be the one they actually read and take to heart. Yeah, they’re probably just gonna mark me as the minority of the population, but soon enough Minority will be the Majority.

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1 Comment

  1. just read blog kids media 1% represented. yes it does seem the pendulumn swung back to the skinny types…

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