"American Gangsters"

Show me someone that doesn't believe there are mind-control conspiracies at work everyday in America, and I will show you a fool. Generally, the media in itself must keep you under control to stay in business. But more specifically, TV programming like news (fear), sports (diversion), and MTV (commercial sex) all perform important roles in keeping you in your place. I recently discovered a show on BET called "American Gangster" that focuses on infamous black criminals.

"An aggressive programming strategy...produced more top BET original series than in any other year. Topping the list of a string of hit series was AMERICAN GANGSTER, cable's #1 Weekday original series among Black Households and Blacks ages 18-34 for 2006. The docu-drama premiered with a 1.6 rating (1.3 million households and 1.6 million total viewers), according to Nielsen Media Research, and the numbers have consistently held strong week to week." (Yahoo finance)

The show is apparently pretty big in the BET line-up. If you listen to today's commercial rap music, much of it pushed by the same media conglomerate that owns BET, maybe you understand why. (Then again, if you listen to Young Jeezy, you probably don't care.) I simply find it appalling that such blatant, irresponsible programming can go on without various community leaders/public figures speaking up. Doesn't this so-called black network (see below) have a responsiblity to it's community? They know damn well that the at-risk black youth aren't going to see these shows as cautionary tales. Isn't that at least "5%" of the point of having a black network? Shouldn't you be telling people what the other networks are not? It is sad that it becomes the same materialistic bullshit like the other channels.

You can find "crime-docs" on many channels like A&E and MSNBC. What is the difference between how these are presented compared to BET's? Ahhhh, more proof for my pudding. The predominantly white criminals on A&E and MSNBC are presented as a bunch of psychopaths, as they should. They are NOT presented as anti-authority heroes. However, the criminals on BET are presented as, well, american gangsters. You know, the Scarface model. Getting back at the economy that left them behind by illegally getting rich. (I don't like that economy either.) I can't find a reason to need a black-focused crime-doc show like "American Gangster". Isn't the title itself selling the 'cool'? To add to the 'coolness', it is hosted by Ving Rhames. (Why, Ving? Why?)

It must be said that BET is owned by Viacom (recently renamed CBS Corp.). Viacom owns at least half of the TV that you watch. This includes CBS, MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, CMT, Nick, and SpikeTV. So regardless of the skin-color of the programming director, BET is a corporate tool of 'entertainment'.

There is a veil that is put over society these days that says there is no more racism or economic profiling. They imply that if everyone watches Oprah, then things must be fine. If hip-hop is the #1-selling genre, everything must be fine. Right? Wrong. The reason for this is because the powers that be don't need to be directly racist anymore (aside from your local neighborhood skinhead). Everyone is already duped. They have the controls in place to pull your strings as they see fit. They know that as long as you are pre-occupied, you won't think for yourself or stir up any trouble. In relation to this TV show...If it doesn't make kids commit crime, it makes the other kids spend their money as if they had. Crime or no crime, it is all about materialism and 'want'.

The website also illustrates how this is being sold to the impressionable. You can check it out here. Don't forget to take the "How Gangster Are You?" quiz. You know, to see if you would make the cut. You f*@&# gangster! "Congratulations! You passed the test! You can be a gangster, too!"
Also, there is a message board that probably rehashes some stuff I said. BET welcomes any debate this creates because it only makes the show more popular.
Cha-ching! BET/Viacom = American Gangster

*Postscript :
I forgot to include this part of the website. They have a poll asking if you would "snitch on your crew?". The adolescent nature of this poll also helps my point.