Are black awards shows a travesty? This blogger thinks so
The relevance of black awards shows have long been debated. From the BET Awards to the NAACP Image Awards, the spotlight has mostly been placed more on the companies and networks hosting the ceremony than those that are being honored.
In fact, Texas-based cultural critic and writer E. Reed calls the shows a downright travesty.
Let’s be honest! Black award shows are a travesty. They do not help elevate the career of the Black artist, nor are the actual awards viewed as credible and well-respected within the arts and entertainment industry.
I wish we lived in a world where Black awards were perceived as prestigious, but that isn’t the reality we live in. It’s all a fictionalized fantasy that has yet to manifest itself in our physical realm. Unfortunately, ceremonies designed to celebrate the Black artist and Black culture are typically mediocre in nature.
One major problem that plagues such programs is public perception of the organizations that choose to create and sponsor these various award shows. Black Entertainment Television (BET) and The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) are two of the usual culprits who are well-known, but not well-respected within the Black community.
Each of these entities has established its own flagstaff award program to highlight the accomplishments of African-Americans in various fields of entertainment, sports, politics, and philanthropy; but, it really doesn’t mean much to the Black artist who receives such an “honor,” or the Black community at large who does not think highly of either of these institutions.
Read the rest of Reed’s article here.
Is Reed correct in his assertions that black awards ceremonies are useless?
Should black artists stop seeking validation and recognition at predominantly white awards shows?
Sound off below!
