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| Empire Reveals Taboos in the Black Community |
I hate how Fox makes billions off of spreading anemic and ugly views of Black people for ad dollars. I hate how they have this show "Empire" perpetuating negative images of Black culture and Families!
However...
....I admit I've watched all episodes. It is gritty and has good performances by Terrence Howard and the mesmerizing Taraji P. Henson. Empire I hate you but I can't stop watching you! LOL! Lawd gimme strength! We ALL got our issues.
For those of you who have seen it and decided not to support it any longer, I pray for your resolve. Pray for me God isn't finished with me yet. But I'm addicted to the show. I know sad but true.
They've even managed to draw the Nation of Islam (NOI) into the fray.
It is soooo wrong but sooo compelling. Please forgive me readers - but I haven't been able to stop watching it. LOL!
Sorry peeps just put my face next to the words "sell out" and "Uncle Tom" in the African American dictionary for failing to stop watching Empire. The show is so riveting I'm hooked.
They done messed with the NOI and Obama too. These are two sacred cows in the Black community. Nobody is off limits in this series!
This show is like a guilty pleasure. It is sought of like working out all week and on the weekend having ice cream. Yep, I admit I have ice cream on the weekend.I mean life is too short. I don't have a girlfriend so I have ice cream and watch the past episodes of Empire. We all have our contradictions and guilty pleasures. Ha, Ha, Ha!
I know watching four episodes of Empire is not my proudest moment. But I can't promise I won't watch it anymore.
Yeah the Obama angles and NOI angles are pretty ideologically themed by Fox I think. Then there are some other uncomfortable angles in the show as well.
Some say they got the idea for Empire, from Power, which Rapper 50 Cent's production company is behind on Show Time. Nevertheless, I just really hate Fox with a passion. But Empire has captured my attention for now.
Some feel Empire is being used by Fox to push stereotypes and agendas. Some of my friends in social media say the gay agenda is being pushed with the show. I must admit...
I understand how they feel on the gay angle. Actually I find myself covering my eyes too often these day during male kissing scenes.
I don't like to look at two guys kissing. I have an aversion to seeing it and cover my eyes when I see it coming.
Actually that's one of the reasons I don't even enjoy TV anymore. That's a whole other conversation.
Taraji P. Henson is great as cookie. She's acting her behind off in that role you have to admit. I feel like such an Uncle Tom right now. But I can't promise y'all I won't watch it again online Sunday on the Fox website.
I hope my Tommism wears off soon but don't hold your breath! LMBO!
Some of my friends in social media make the point Jews and other ethnic groups wouldn't support such a negative portrayal of themselves. But also remember Italians watch gangster films and shows and usually there are a couple of Jewish guys in the mix.
If you remember the Sopranos ran for many years and Italians and Latinos are also steroetyped quite a bit. Also another of my Facebook friends made a point there are a diverse cross section of roles of Blacks today. She's implying Empire shouldn't have such an impact to solely stereotype blacks because of today's diversity of roles for Black actors.
Anywho the show Fox is putting on is very troubling from a social significance perspective because it does reinforce a lot of Fox's stereotypes of Black people. I agree but also the cast is doing a good job acting and performing. It has nice music too.
Shesseh! Talk about ambivalent feelings on this one.
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| Taraji P. Henson is Riveting on Empire as Cookie |
But even more important is maybe we tune in because it is touching upon deep taboos within the Black community. And in revealing these taboos it is helping us to discuss them more openly and even "heal" according to Daryl Mooney, a Facebook friend, and son of the legendary comedian Paul Mooney.
Despite the obvious political and social agenda of Fox, many Blacks are supporting Empire. But ultimately Empire may be popular with us because it strikes back at classism, homophobia, and the battle between hip hop and organic mainstream Black working class culture. This is a tension that is worth exploring in my opinion.
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