Bob Johnson Strikes Again?
Bob Johnson, founder and original CEO of Black Entertainment Television(BET), said he expects to close soon on a $125 million private-equity buyout fund he started with the infamous Carlyle Group.
As a casual observer and concerned citizen, this troubles me.
I have been a longtime critic of BET for its misogyny, materialistic and general morally damaging messages, and negative stereotypes it perpetuates, but still acknowledged the significance of black ownership of a station. I had always assumed that the negative caricatures seen on most stations and in most movies would disappear if the network was black owned since a black person would frown upon the poor representation his people received, but that proved false with BET. The same violent, "angry black man" character seen every night on the evening news had become a glorified role model for black youth, and although not bearing the entire blame, BET played the catalyst for this to happen, being the only "black station". Some blamed Capitalism; others, the people. No matter the cause, all that was proven was that the bottom line carries far more weight the petty scruples of the minority of a minority. Bob Johnson further emphasized this by selling BET to Viacom in 2001, once again turning control of a major influence to black people back into the hands of white men. Nice going, Bob.
It is the above series of events that worries me about recent actions. The Carlyle Group, who own around four percent of America's wealth, and are famous for such high profile associates as George Bush Sr and the Bin Laden Family, are becoming equally infamous for questionable practices and conflicts of interest. The thought of this seemingly invincible mega corporation and Bob Johnson is unsettling, especially since their stated interest is acquiring small to medium sized businesses. I don't mean to insult Mr. Johnson since I have no insight to his intentions, but teaming up with the Carlyle Group for this buyout fund sounds like bad news for black people.
To the average man, Johnson's expertise is in business, but to the businessman, his expertise is in black people. His network, like his banks and other business, target minorities- something his financial success shows him to be good at. Now he is partaking in his biggest venture yet, combining with the Carlyle Group to buyout smaller businesses. To many small business owners,the idea of a larger corporation buying them out sounds great, but I see only negative side effects from this. I assume Johnson will follow his previous patterns and target minorities, who are in this particular case, minority owned businesses. I see this investment being as successful as his others, which means steadily, black owned businesses will become white owned businesses. Its said in business that he only color that matters is green. But in America, business ownership translates into circulated income, or lack thereof, for a poverty stricken people. Black people are earning lots in wages, but almost none of it is spent on black businesses, and the cycle of poverty continues. Less black business means less black wealth. Johnson sees the potential profit, but I only see a great disservice to Black America. Support your community first, and all the neighborhood benefits. Its a principle America has preached for years, regarding American made products and outsourcing. Yes, in business green is the only color that matters, but Life is more than business transactions, so green isn't all I see.
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You know what I learned in my speech class, that all of these stations are owned by viacom.
ReplyDeleteMEDIA NETWORKS
BET NETWORKS
BET
BET J
MTV NETWORKS
ATOMFILMS
ADDICTINGGAMES
CMT
COMEDY CENTRAL
GAMETRAILERS
HARMONIX
LOGO
MTV
MTV2
MTVN INTERNATIONAL
MTVU
MTV TR3S
NEOPETS
NICKELODEON - NICK JR.
NICK AT NITE
NOGGIN
PARENTSCONNECT
QUIZILLA
RHAPSODY
SHOCKWAVE
SPIKE TV
THE N
TV LAND
VH1
VH1 CLASSIC
VH1 SOUL
VIRTUAL WORLDS
XFIRE
FILMED ENTERTAINMENT
PARAMOUNT PICTURES CORP
PARAMOUNT PICTURES
DREAMWORKS STUDIOS
PARAMOUNT VANTAGE
MTV FILMS
NICKELODEON MOVIES
HOME ENTERTAINMENT
GLOBAL REACH
BRAND INDEX
DANCELIFE ON MTV SHREK THE THIRD
BRAND INDEX
A list of the unique and varied brands in the Viacom family
MEDIA NETWORKS
Atom Entertainment
AddictingGames
Shockwave
AtomFilms
BET Networks
BET
BET J
BET Gospel
BET Hip Hop
BET Event Productions
BET Pictures
BET On Blast
BET Mobile
BET International
CMT
CMT Pure Country
CMT Loaded
CMT Mobile
CMT Radio
CMT On Demand
COMEDY CENTRAL
GameTrailers
GT Marketplace
GoCityKids
Harmonix
Logo
AfterEllen.com
AfterElton.com
365gay.com
MTV Networks
MTV
MTV Jams
MTV Hits
MTV Books
MTV Tr3s
MTV2
MTVN International
TMF (The Music Factory)
Game One
Flux
VIVA
QOOB
MTV OVERDRIVE
Lazona.com
MTV Boombox
MTV Revolution
mtvU
mtvU.com
College Media Networks
RateMyProfessors.com
Neopets
Nick at Nite
Nick Jr.
Noggin
Nickelodeon
Nick GAS
Nicktoons Network
Nickelodeon Consumer Products
Nick Arcade
ParentsConnect
Quizilla
Rhapsody
Spike TV
Spike Filmed Entertainment
The N
The Click
TV Land
VH1
VH1 Classic
VH1 Soul
VHUno
Vspot
Virtual Worlds
Virtual Hills
Virtual Laguna Beach
Virtual Pimp My Ride
LogoWorld
Xfire
FILMED ENTERTAINMENT
Paramount Pictures Corporation
DreamWorks Studios
MTV Films
Nickelodeon Movies
Paramount Home Entertainment
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Vantage
(found at http://www.viacom.com/ourbrands/brandindex/Pages/default.aspx)
and I would think that the station would share the same opinios on things as the CEO. well if every station that any person man, woman, child, teenager, white black, or mexican watches is owned by 1 company, that would make the man in charge pretty damn powerful. and noone knows who he is. Well his name is Sumner M. Redstone. and if you don't like how good old Sumner is running things then go to the next in charge and get them to overrule him and run him out who is that, none other then his daughter Shari Redstone Vice chair of the board. I know this doesnt have much to do with the topic, I just thought it was interesting but give Bob johnson a break, he is an american. We live and breath capitalism in this country. and if this man is trying to retire with his 40 acres and a mule then I don't blame him, he was never making the real decisions anyway he (and we) just thought he was.
that was posted by Farren!
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