"Keepin' it real!" (what does THAT mean?)

Soror the411,

I have also heard that the show will be cancelled. The radio station gave an e-mail address, but I was driving and couldn't write it down. I know you have to send complaints or requests to someone at CBS. I must also, say that I never watched the show. I always try to watch new shows, but again timing wouldn't let me. I would watch "Who wants to be a Millionaire" (even though we still haven't been represented). You are also correct, in though the casting is great, the show can be bad. I watch ER, but have never watched Chicago Hope. To me, one type of show is enough. Remember when there was a surge of talk shows 5- 10 years ago? Look who is left, only a handful.

I feel you on the "keeping it real". Today we have more and more blacks in Congress, college, and the corporate world. But to be "real" is to be ignorant, use ebonics (which they wanted to teach as a subject, PLEASE!),and be poor. I don't understand it either. I earned my college diploma and even though it may not have been from an "ivy" league school or the college rated best in america, it is still important and real to me and my family. I don't change anything about me or my clothes when I'm with my friends or co-workers. I keep it real for myself!

[the411]

I totally agree, Soror! I graduated from a small, private, LILY WHITE school that was very challenging academically and socially. I was very popular with students, faculty and administrators, as well as active in our black student union and DST. In fact, I founded our Black Greek Council (now becoming an NPHC chapter), so I am a proud BLACK woman. However, because I have some white friends, am well-spoken, and refuse to walk around with with 3 rings on each finger and 5 different hairstyles/colors on my head, I have been accused of NOT "keeping it real". I am very proud of my opportunities and accomplishments because I came from a poor Mississippi family in which my parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents never had the same opportunites. Decades ago, our people would get whipped for knowing how to read, but now I'm criticized for being educated. There was a time when our people were lynched because they showed up on voting day (when they were FINALLY given that right), but now we can't PAY black folks to register to vote! Why is it that education and success seem to be frowned upon by so many blacks? It's like you get more respect for making money as an athlete or rapper than making money as a CEO, government official, doctor, lawyer, teacher or pastor! I am not undermining enterntainers and athletes, but it seems as though we're no longer idolizing and following in the footsteps of the people who paved the way for us. Instead we're glorifying and "raising the roof" to Biggie, Tupac, Cita (BET) and Allen Iverson. NONE of us would be where we are if it weren't for those blacks who went to white schools with National Coast Guard escorts, and lived in white neighborhoods even though they were harrassed and threatened. It made them stronger as blacks back then, so why does being college educated, well-spoken, neatly dressed and sociable with people of other races make me any less black today? If we're following in their footsteps, aren't WE the ones who are really "keeping it real"?!?!?!

------------------
Pi Kappa
#3 SPR97
QUINTESSENCE

[DST897]

The truly ironic thing is that as the public attacks upon us by white society have decreased, it is our self-negating and self-destructive that have increased due to the deliberate destruction of a peoples mind. There is a huge rise in media consumption on our part. We have bought into someone else's definition of reality. We have allowed our "reality" to be shaped by the mass media. We have forgotten how to think for ourselves.

The hopelessness and frustration we see in our communities is the result of our ignorance of self, not understanding who and what we are. We are being taught to loath and denigrate ourselves. We think we are who our adversaries say we are and portray us as being. We have to begin to redefine ourselves as powerful beings that the black person is. We have allowed our greatest assets and gifts to waste away or be used against us by our enemies. We overlook the choice to believe that we are powerful beings as witnessed by our glorious African history. Our enemies don't want us to ever discover the power of independent thought, that we don't need them to define us or shape our reality. So when we do show that we can be intelligent, educated, well-spoken, career-oriented and successful they must find another way to try and knock us back down. Who is it easily done through? The media. They make it part of the norm to be ghetto-fab, and use ebonics in place of Standard English, fight and cuss each other out on National televison. We need more blacks who love themselves and our people enough to do the laborious work to restore their awareness to wholeness, become role models, help us tone ourselves up, transform ourselves morally and physically so we are prepared to do what is necessary to raise ourselves from our current state and predicaments. We need more trailblazers who have the courage to challenge the indignities and injustices that have been woven into the fabric of American life and stimulate people to take action on their own behalf. As we enter this new decade and this new century we need leaders who will stir us from this stupor, and redirect us away from mindless into concrete ideas, values and behaviors that will stimulate improvement in the overall quality of our self-image, self-esteem and lives.

[the411]

Sorors and friends,

I just received an e-mail about the possible cancellation of City of Angels. Most blacks seem to be irate that the show is being cancelled, but I admit that I can really understand why. In my opinion, the show is a victim of bad timing-- ER and Chicago Hope are running thangs and I like them both. Had City of Angels aired first, I doubt I would have even considered watching one of the other 2 (granted they were on at the same time). But, to me, City of Angels lacks originality. Good casting and acting-- YES! Good story lines and uniqueness-- NO! I hate to see a black show go down, but I can't understand why it's a race issue. Why can't it simply be that it's not a good show? Again, we already have 2 hospital dramas on the air (3 if you count those Trapper John MD re-runs).

And, while I agree that the Neilson Ratings System is racially biased, I have to wonder: If every black household with a TV had a ratings box, how many would be tuned in to City of Angels? I feel strongly that the show would still be cancelled for low ratings because, for some reason we (as a people) seem more interested in trash like Ricki Lake, Jerry, Real World/Road Rules, court shows, Lyricist Lounge and music videos (particulary that d*@!, Cita, on BET). We are simply NOT supporting good quality black TV shows! Many of us criticized The Cosby Show because we felt the family members were "sell-outs", but we break our necks watching re-runs of Good Times in which poverty and low/no education are inevitable, because shows like that are "keeping it real". What does that ("keeping it real") mean, exactly?!?!?! Am I not keeping it real because I am intelligent, educated, well-spoken, career-oriented and successful? Weren't these the same attributes of the Huxtables????? Our ancestors and forefathers faught for us to be able to live like the Huxtables, but it seems we're only "keeping it real" when we are just the opposite. What are your thoughts? Help me out here!

PS: PLEASE don't take anything I've said personally because I'm not pointing fingers at anyone. I am speaking very generally here.

------------------
Pi Kappa
#3 SPR97
QUINTESSENCE

[CrimsonTide4]

I was browsing and found this and was impressed with a lot of the comments made.

I agree that our Black society has a problem with keeping it real. To me keeping it real, should have nothing to do with "bling blinging" and the like.

As many of you know, I am a teacher. I teach high school and some days they cause me to shake my head and want to do my **THANK GOD I AM OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL DANCE**. The priorities are aaaaaalllllll mixed up. For instance, the beginning of this month I told them they had to have a copy of To Kill A Mockingbird in class by today. They had darn near 3 weeks to buy a $6.00 book or get it from the free bookstore. Today in my one class 7 kids had their own copy out of 23. Then some of my hood rat/chicken headed students started complaining that there lives are too busy to go get a book, they don't like to read, etc. Then some kids were like they were out of the book. Yet these are the same kids that if they are out the newest Jordans or the latest Platinum Fubu will do a cross country search to get the outfit or the shoes that they THINK will make them all that.

Okay enough of my teaching tirade/vent. My ultimate conclusion for now is this "Keeping It Real" mentality is going to be the death of some of our kids. Some of these parents need to reprioritize and teach their kids values. But at the same time some of these parents need to do the same.

I am tripping that some of my students' parents with a number of kids barely making minimum wage are driving Explorers, Expeditions, Navigators, etc. Then I have students with cell phones and pagers yet talking about they cannot pay their library fine or buy a $6 book that will be 50% of their grade

[MaMaBuddha]

this is a good post...

what exactly is keeping it real???

some people think it is a street ideology. just cause i grew in the streets, in the projects and and i am hanging out on the corner...rhyming, robbing and thuggin....that is keeping it real. no it isn't

or

whether you grew up in a lily white culture (411 i was laffin at the use of your word lily white ) or you lived like dr cliff huxtable in a brownstone and you mom was a lawyer and pops was a docter. you had the top education from the best schools. that's keeping it real??? no it is not.

keeping it real is not good times either although i can relate to that show. DAMN! DAMN! DAMN!

what keep it real means being true to yourself. whether you grew up in the PJ's or the suburbs. keeping it real is staying true you yourself and not selling out because someone wants you too. no matter what kinda environment you live in.

keeping it real is being a leader and not a follower.


i had to keep it laymen.

keep in real of the 2001!!!!




------------------
MaMaBuddha

Devastating
Stimulating
Tantalizing
_________________________

Imaginer un métro rempli avec les anges tombés...

[Kimmie1913]

what keep it real means being true to yourself. whether you grew up in the PJ's or the suburbs. keeping it real is staying true you yourself and not selling out because someone wants you too. no matter what kinda environment you live in.

keeping it real is being a leader and not a follower.

Amen to that Soror!
The whole who is "real" and who is not thing burns me up. I have had many a discussion (interestingly enough primarily with the 20-30 something Black men in my life when we were in college) about this term. Although they are all college educated men themselves they are quick to accuse a brother who came from a family who did not struggle financially of not being "real". "WTF?" I would respond. If he is doing his own thing and being himself and true to himself, what could be more real about that. Ofen their explanations reflected a belief that if you did not come from the 'hood/PJ's/ the struggle you were somehow deficient as a Black perosn but particularly as a Black man. I saw many a young brother get caught up in that definition and succomb to foolish challenges to show he was hard even though he came from the suburbs at my lily white ivy university (couldn't resist using THAT term! .) I used to cringe and think why are you letting them try to define who you should be.?

I grew up in a fairly multi racial suburb of Baltimore, I went to private school my whole life (Pre-K to 12)and was one of 8 Black children graduating from my class of 82. I went to an ivy laugue school. And I am as real as you could get. I was a Cosby kid. Bt I had parents who always kept their hearts and minds centered where they should be, were not obsessed with material gians and did not fall into the trap of thinking they were somehow better than anyone they had succeeded in outearning. What a difference that made for me and my brohter. I am true to myself, my family, my community and my people. It was by no accident these characteristics brought me to DST. And I do see the impact on the younger kids getting worse ans worse as they are indoctrinated with this foolishness. It just encourages me to work that much harder in the community to hope and show them trusting in their own minds and hearts and learning to lead is what they should be about.

[dst3800]

When someone tells me they are "keeping it real," my reply is, "real what? Real Dumb?"


Crimson Triumphant
38-Delta Pi-00