An interesting article. I’ve made some similar observations with respect to hiring practices in certain ‘black industries’. For instance, NBA corporate tends to hire upper middle class blacks. Virtually everyone that I know who works for NBA corporate are a part of the Sag Harbor East Hampton summering crowd. When you look at companies in the music industry, for instance, Elektra or Def Jam, you have people like Sylvia Christmas Rhône, who comes from a prominent Philadelphia family and Jenny Lumet, Lena Horne’s granddaughter. And then you had BET with the likes of Sheila Johnson and Debra Lee. Same for MTV. Although not entertainers, the blacks behind the scenes, making most of the decisions, I have observed, typically come from upscale backgrounds.
Who Actually Gets to Create Black Pop Culture?
- Thread starter xoxodede
- Start date
get these nets
Veteran
@xoxodede
The author isn't concerned about Black poor people.
I've read pieces like this before. There is real life poverty, and then there's the poverty discussed by talking heads/writing heads on white platforms. This article seems to be his audition to become another "Black expert" for white people. Poverty is just the smokescreen and the author's personal gimmick to separate him from the other talking/ blogging heads.
He casually dismisses real life conditions and responsibilites of people living in poverty to make several misguided points.
Because poverty is real, many of those from that segment pursue training/higher education as a way to gain economic footing and stability. Pursue degrees and cert.s in stable professions or businesses. Even those with talent/interest in the arts often sacrifice those dreams. They have school loans to consider, and how their role in the extended family changes once they gain employment. They become the one with the resources that help family members.
Children from families with more resources will not have to consider many of those things when/if they decide to pursue a career in the arts. They have access to family resources that can subsidize their education, and their living expenses as they try to get established.
A third group exists. People who tested into a performing arts public high school started their careers or pursued additional training. And those who received no traditional arts training at all, but who pursued the arts career because their passion was so strong.
This is all basic info. Everybody knows of people from each category. The last group listed includes the earlier mentioned August Wilson, and the mogul/studio owner Tyler Perry. Neither man asked a white person's permission to be "allowed to create Black pop culture". Past 20 years has seen many people emerge from this segment. Self taught self published. The entire urban -lit, street lit genre is made up of people who didn't ask for permission to create Black pop culture. Author makes no mention of the thousands who bypass the traditional gatekeepers and entry barriers..
From the group of children of parents with money and resources who pursued the arts are the beautiful multi talented sisters, Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashard. Author's attempt to "other" accomplished AAs, as not authentically Black is disgusting. Straight circus clown behavior. He'd have to "other" many of the artists from the Harlem Renaissance, The Blacks Arts Movements of NY and Chicago also. Those who respect and genuinely applaud Black achievement would see this as a red flag. Those who feel contempt or resentment for Blacks who have succeeded would have no problem with the author listing the educational/professional achievements of these people like he's outing them for crimes.
The Black artists who do exist in mainstream spaces have worked at their crafts for decades of their lives. They can write about universal themes and stories which they have direct personal connection to and those they don't. Who could survive in mainstream entertainment industry if they could only write or create from the perspective of their upbringing?
Consultants are employed to flesh out and make stories more specific to the characters and setting, but great writing is universal.
*Debbie Allen (Howard U. alumna)got her break doing A Different World. Check her resume to see the dozens of projects she's done since then...
Debbie Allen - IMDb
I think many of us know people who showed early talent in the arts, but perhaps didn't see it as a feasible career. Because poverty is real, they had more pressing responsibilities.
Author is a hack. Trying to get some white platform to chose him as a Black expert, so he can cash out by talking about poverty to whites for the next 30 years.
People actually from the struggle are using their energy and resources to help lift others out of poverty, and to advocate for legislation that promotes that. We can see right through this.
The author isn't concerned about Black poor people.
I've read pieces like this before. There is real life poverty, and then there's the poverty discussed by talking heads/writing heads on white platforms. This article seems to be his audition to become another "Black expert" for white people. Poverty is just the smokescreen and the author's personal gimmick to separate him from the other talking/ blogging heads.
He casually dismisses real life conditions and responsibilites of people living in poverty to make several misguided points.
Because poverty is real, many of those from that segment pursue training/higher education as a way to gain economic footing and stability. Pursue degrees and cert.s in stable professions or businesses. Even those with talent/interest in the arts often sacrifice those dreams. They have school loans to consider, and how their role in the extended family changes once they gain employment. They become the one with the resources that help family members.
Children from families with more resources will not have to consider many of those things when/if they decide to pursue a career in the arts. They have access to family resources that can subsidize their education, and their living expenses as they try to get established.
A third group exists. People who tested into a performing arts public high school started their careers or pursued additional training. And those who received no traditional arts training at all, but who pursued the arts career because their passion was so strong.
This is all basic info. Everybody knows of people from each category. The last group listed includes the earlier mentioned August Wilson, and the mogul/studio owner Tyler Perry. Neither man asked a white person's permission to be "allowed to create Black pop culture". Past 20 years has seen many people emerge from this segment. Self taught self published. The entire urban -lit, street lit genre is made up of people who didn't ask for permission to create Black pop culture. Author makes no mention of the thousands who bypass the traditional gatekeepers and entry barriers..
From the group of children of parents with money and resources who pursued the arts are the beautiful multi talented sisters, Debbie Allen and Phylicia Rashard. Author's attempt to "other" accomplished AAs, as not authentically Black is disgusting. Straight circus clown behavior. He'd have to "other" many of the artists from the Harlem Renaissance, The Blacks Arts Movements of NY and Chicago also. Those who respect and genuinely applaud Black achievement would see this as a red flag. Those who feel contempt or resentment for Blacks who have succeeded would have no problem with the author listing the educational/professional achievements of these people like he's outing them for crimes.
The Black artists who do exist in mainstream spaces have worked at their crafts for decades of their lives. They can write about universal themes and stories which they have direct personal connection to and those they don't. Who could survive in mainstream entertainment industry if they could only write or create from the perspective of their upbringing?
Consultants are employed to flesh out and make stories more specific to the characters and setting, but great writing is universal.
*Debbie Allen (Howard U. alumna)got her break doing A Different World. Check her resume to see the dozens of projects she's done since then...
Debbie Allen - IMDb
I think many of us know people who showed early talent in the arts, but perhaps didn't see it as a feasible career. Because poverty is real, they had more pressing responsibilities.
Author is a hack. Trying to get some white platform to chose him as a Black expert, so he can cash out by talking about poverty to whites for the next 30 years.
People actually from the struggle are using their energy and resources to help lift others out of poverty, and to advocate for legislation that promotes that. We can see right through this.
get these nets
Veteran
The screenwriter for Respect is an AA woman from Newark,NJ.Tracey Scott Wilson. First generation college graduate. This is one of the most high profile films of the year.
IllmaticDelta
Veteran
...this fits the thread: The guy below was 100% hood in all aspects and ended up being somewhat successful as a writer/producer in the film industry
his film had some critical acclaim too...
his film had some critical acclaim too...
