African-American Community Calls For New Black Nerd Archetype

[Blue_Tires]

http://www.theonion.com/articles/africanamerican-community-calls-for-new-black-nerd,18389/?utm_source=recentnews

[Number23]

1. Ha! But as usual, there's some truth to the Onion

One of my biggest (and I mean BIGGEST) quibbles with "The Big Bang Theory" is that they have never even had a black person walk through that show. They don't even have anybody black in the background pretending to be a scientist/professor at the cafeteria where they eat. The closest they've ever come is that black nurse at the hospital where Howard went after he ate the peanuts trying to get Leonard out of the apartment so that they could set up for his surprise birthday party.

I mean, come on. There is no way anyone can convince me that a show based on nerdy academics would not have ONE black person and only one dang Indian!

Don't even get me started on "Glee." I have watched several episodes of that show and no matter how much I desperately try to, I simply cannot understand its appeal. The lack of black characters is only one thing in my list of grievances.

[Blue_Tires]

2. I don't watch those shows, but I do get your point...

[Brewman_Jax]

3. There have been plenty of black nerds

present company included. History and the HBCU system are testimony to that, but they aren't included on TV. Here are Chris Rock's network definitions--

ABC-Anything But Colored
CBS-Caucasian Broadcasting Network
NBC-Nothing But Caucasians
WB-Where're the Brothers?

My additions--
FOX-Forget Others, they're just X
CW-Caucasians and Whites

BET and TVOne are the only networks where black people have prominent roles.

[Number23]

4. Please forgive me because it has been a month of Sundays since I've been in a position

to watch CW but didn't they used to be known as the Colored Folks network?? Didn't one of the Mowry girls and Holley Robinson have shows on that network??

And you would think that with the massive success that NBC had with The Cosby Show that they would be throwing black folks on left and right. I live in Australia and you can STILL watch Cosby five days a week, 20 years later. You know it's bad when racism (including racial exclusion) takes precedence over making money.

[Brewman_Jax]

5. The CW is new

and the merger of UPN and the WB. UPN had the mainly black-themed and black cast shows. That changed after they became CW.

[bliss_eternal]

6. I agree Brewman...

..lots of black nerds. But I don't understand why there's a call for media representation, when so many nerds in reality aren't treated well among peers, in communities, are accused of "acting white", called weird, bullied, shunned, etc. :shrug:

Why not call for more acceptance on the peer level for things like intelligence, interest in learning, enjoying one's studies, math and science interest, love of computers and computer science, interest and love for music other than r&b, rap and hip hop such as that of alternate genres(i.e. rock, alternative, metal, etc.), gaming, renaissance fairs, ufo's, science fiction, comic books, or whatever is the special interest of the individual...so many ways to be a geek/nerd. :P

I grew up w/lots of geek friends. Many were shunned by family members (and more popular kids) just for being interested in things that the family didn't get, or understand. Can't tell you all the fathers who were disappointed that their sons were so into stuff like comic books instead of sports. (sigh)

Thanks to Seth McFarland and Aaron McGruder for giving the world some of our first animated, black geeks. ;)

[Brewman_Jax]

7. Don't forget that we're talking about "The Onion"

and their "article" here. I was referencing the lack of black people on broadcast and cable TV. Even in the 21st Century and with the nation's first non-white President, there's still a long way to go in media representation.

[bliss_eternal]

8. definitely.

:)

you're accurate, in that i did forget it was the onion. :blush: but your comments were totally accurate.

quote:
I was referencing the lack of black people on broadcast and cable TV. Even in the 21st Century and with the nation's first non-white President, there's still a long way to go in media representation.