Racism and reality TV

So I’m watching ‘Idol’ last night and a friend and I were talking about one of the contestants who — week after week — has continuously showcased an amazing set of pipes. What I don’t get is why no one seems to vote for this contestant. My friend, in all his wisdom and intelligence, said it’s because she’s black. Now I know I can be hard on my own people when I write my columns, but come on now. Is it really that simple? I take ‘Idol’ just as seriously as every able-bodied American should, but does racism play a role on reality TV?

Twenty minutes ago I would have answered in the negative, but ironically, as soon as I typed that question I flashed back to some of the more dramatic black “stars” on reality TV, like Omarosa on ‘Apprentice’. She was a piece of work and shortly after that show, America’s Next Top Model cast another young female as the “bitchy black girl.” In retrospect, on some of those shows where the contestants are of different races, it is a cast of stereotypes. You will usually find the bitchy black girl, the skanky white girl, the crying-every-two-seconds white girl, and the Asian chick who is either a know-it-all or really, really shy.

OK, I really, really digress.

When I wrote down my thoughts before I began typing, I intended to point out that every perceived injustice is not necessarily a need to play your trump “race” card. If you happen to be of the non-Caucasian persuasion and cops pull your Benz over on many, many occasions, you are well within rights to throw down your card. But you if are a wanted killer who has been cornered by the cops and you reach into your jacket and are subsequently shot, you leave that race card in your jacket if that’s what you were reaching for.

Racism can be confused with paranoia, as often seen with lazy or delusional folks because sometimes the race card is the most convenient excuse for someone not to realize or live up to his or her potential. Lazy folks think the man created education to be a stumbling block to their success, when in reality there are some things you need to learn in order to move on to the next level. Some folks want to blame someone, anyone, for their lack of progress in life and very rarely does it actually have anything to do with their complexion.

The card is a tough call. Many whites feel as though they can’t say “boo” without someone attaching “jigga” to it and taking them to court. White people probably feel like the card is overused and abused and to a certain extent they are right. When blacks throw the race card around willy nilly, it’s probably hard for whites not to throw their hands up and quit. But on the flip side, my wonder bread friends, blacks feel as though they’re long overdue. When serious and grave atrocities were committed against blacks, there was no card and there was no justice. So, admittedly, now that we can get some manner of a sympathetic ear, we holler every chance we get.

Is the race card overplayed? Yes and no, depends on who you’re asking.

The bottom line is of course you can’t cry foul for everything, but if you never say ouch, no one knows that they’ve hurt you.

T.D. Brown is VCU graduate and a member of the U.S. Army Reserves, where she is a public affairs NCO in the communications office.