What you don't see on television - 3.14.2007.3

I have spoken in dozens of posts about the ability of many actors, and entertainers of all races and nationalities. There are those that are good, avereage and the very few that excel. That is not dependant on race, or religion, or any limiting factor beyond the ability they honed and were born with. To say that 70% of the American population is incapable of recognizing this fact, and unwilling, is at once both ignorant and racist. Ms. Andreeva could have stated in her article all the points I have, but did not. Ms. Andreeva could have posed the questions I have, and chose not to. Perhaps there was more and it was edited out. If so I am sorry that better content was not allowed. Perhaps this was the only way that the article could have been published, as a tone more like my own is too harsh for the seemingly fragile nature of some executives in dealing with reality. If so I would have chosen to not have it published. Maybe this is why the growth of my blogs (while exceptional) is less than some of my peers. If that is the case then I am glad for the niche I am building. But I will not sit back and read what sounds like an apology for trying to promote African American, Latino/Hispanic and other minorities on broadcast television.

Nor will I quietly accept the latest trend of including a mandatory single Black American, Latino/Hispanic, and at least one woman (often combining two of these in one person) in a supportive or ensemble role, as some fulfillment of an implied quota proving that television has broken down the unspeakable iron grip on a vision of America that existed at least half a century ago. As I have stated in previous posts, by my calculations there are about 2% of all characters in a co-lead or support role that are a minority in broadcast television. That is abysmal when the reality walking out the door is that of 27% or 1 in 4.

Perhaps in an America that segregated it’s schools, and denied the rights of millions of its citizens such a view was acceptable. Thankfully that time has long passed. In a world where Secretaries of State, Heads of the Joint Chiefs, Congressmen and women, and potentially the President of the United States are African American, Latino/Hispanic and every minority found in America, to say that 70% of the popularion is incapable of accepting a leading actor not exactly the same color as themselves is both unacceptable and in my eyes a blatant lie.

This is what I think, what do you think?