Essay blasting reality shows’ portrayal of black Atlantans goes viral
Metro Atlanta native Kelly Smith Beaty, herself a former reality show personality, has gone viral with a sharply worded essay skewering how reality shows set in Atlanta portray African Americans.
The piece, titled “Will the Real Black People of Atlanta Please Stand Up?,” has claimed prime real estate on the Huffington Post site. It’s been “liked” more than 4,000 times on Facebook and generated hundreds of comments on Twitter and under the post itself.
An excerpt:
“How is it that a city which was once the crowning jewel in the story of black America has allowed itself to be positioned as the melting pot of black affliction? The Atlanta that I knew and grew up in was one of great pride and self-respect. Our achievements were known across the globe, as people from far and wide would often respond, ‘Wow, I hear that black people are really doing their thing down there,’ when I would tell them I’m from Atlanta. Today that assertion is often met with, ‘Yoooo….I hear Atlanta’s got them bangin’ strip clubs.’…Really?!?”
Without naming shows, she makes thinly veiled references to “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” and “Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta.”
“If you’d like to make a reality show about prominent housewives, I’d suggest doing a retrospective on the wife of Alonzo Herndon – a former slave turned businessman who went on to found the Atlanta Life Insurance Company, became the city’s largest black property owner by 1900, and made history as Atlanta’s first black millionaire,” Beaty wrote. “His first wife’s name was Adrienne Herndon and she was a teacher at Atlanta University.”
She also suggested a reality show called “Love and Hard Hats,” noting that “Herman J. Russell successfully built one of the nation’s most profitable minority-owned business empires whose construction and real estate projects include the famed Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, the Georgia Dome, Phillips Arena, and Turner Field.”
Lovette Russell would love to meet Kelly Beaty. Photo credit: Jim Fitts
Beaty noted that “Lovette Twyman Russell, wife of the company’s current CEO, Michael Russell, is stylish, sassy, and savvy. I’ve never met her, but I’d bet she’s brimming with reality-worthy one-liners and sound bites.”
Russell told us that she started getting emails about the piece yesterday and had a chance to read it last night.
“Ms. Beaty sharply articulates the way most black Atlantans feel about how these reality shows portray us,” Russell said. “I was incredibly flattered by her remarks but even more impressed that she swiftly put pen to paper after watching such a degrading show. I would LOVE to meet her!”
In 2010, Beaty landed a spot on “The Apprentice.” (Here’s a link to an article my colleague Rodney Ho wrote about her at the time). Although she didn’t win, she said Donald Trump’s business oriented reality show was a good experience.
“Having been on ‘The Apprentice’ makes me interesting to some people so I get to have conversations that I may not have been able to before,” Beaty told the AJC. “I’m thankful for that. My life’s goal was never to be famous, but to be impactful, and slowly that is beginning to happen.”
A Spelman College alumnae who grew up in Fayetteville, Beaty now lives in New York and is vice president for marketing and communications for Dress for Success Worldwide, which provides professional attire and career help to disadvantaged women. She had no idea the response her piece would generate.
“At first it was mostly Atlantans saying, ‘Thank you for standing up for us.’ Now people who don’t even live in Atlanta are reaching out to me,” Beaty told us. “I’m definitely surprised by the response but I was literally just writing my frustrations. Apparently many people agree. Most people value decency, integrity, and pride and I think those who do, based on the responses, are ready to be heard.”
She wrote the piece after being fed up with how reality television portrays her hometown.
“People believe what they see on TV so to put Atlanta’s name on (such shows) is an affront to our city,” she said. “I don’t know what the laws are about usage of Atlanta’s name, but that should be illegal. It’s defamation.”
Beaty said she is working to relaunch a New York-based organization called Black Women for Black Girls, and keeps in touch with friends from home, including the head of an organization called Living Water for Girls, which serves girls who have been sexually abused or exploited.
“Much in this world that needs to changed so many causes that need to be championed,” Beaty said. “It’s a great privilege to help move what matters to me.”
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445 comments Add your comment
Huh?
June 22nd, 2012
12:42 pm
Sure, these “ladies” don’t represent Atlanta. But we can all sit here and laugh at how terrible the ones from NJ are – “all NJ women are trash!” or Beverly Hills – “what shallow tasteless women!” But the RH of Atlanta? Nooooo, that’s not representative of Atlanta at all!!!!!!!
Jenn
June 22nd, 2012
12:47 pm
Every reality show has stereotypes, so the behavior of the women on these shows doesn’t bother me, but I do wish that they would leave the word Atlanta off the names.
Adrianna Dowdell
June 22nd, 2012
12:48 pm
I agree given that I am one Georgia’s refined home grown peaches that exudes class, and intelligence, and distinction. I am proud to see a fellow sister stand up against these negative depictions and portrals of black women from Atlanta being loud, class-less, and unenlightened not having any sense of self-worth or self respect for that matter.
moving
June 22nd, 2012
12:49 pm
The truth hurts some people….Ms Beaty is telling the truth. I’ve lived in Atl for 40yrs; and if I could sell my house I’d move asap. Let these ignorant, wild people have this cesspool
flatty
June 22nd, 2012
1:03 pm
Not to worry. Noone with any sense watches that garbage.
Get Over It...
June 22nd, 2012
1:05 pm
When will Atlanta become a city all walks of people.. why do we have to have a lable, I would rather be more like NYC to have all walks of life and not just African Americans. There is more to life then the what is on the outside people.
raja
June 22nd, 2012
1:06 pm
TRUEATL
Most successful did not come another city.
The successful people she is talking about are from Atlanata. Not athletics and entertainers
Mr. Thomas Anthony Jones, SR
June 22nd, 2012
1:07 pm
Allof these shows that protray us as Fools and Stupid need to be outlawed. We are regresing as a people because of these television programs. The sponsors need to be boycotted into Chapter 11 bankruptcy. And our mnisters need to speak out about the immoral lifestyles protrayed on these shows. It is time that we only be protrayed as smart, intelligent. hardworking, religious, and kind. Anything other that type of protrayal must be stomp of existent without mercy. A Great People demands to be trreated with respect at all time. If someone does not treat you total espect deal with the clown the same way one deals with a copperhead. Exterminate him. This is the Mecca for all Sfrican-Americans throughout the country and really the entrie World. the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is be shown in a great like and anyone who disrepect us or disses us to be stomped on by us with our Hob-nailed Jack-Boots. Lets make Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr. proud to be an Atlantan again. Either Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of our Way. As it says on our leather belts we wear ‘God is indeed on our Side’.
Mandingo
June 22nd, 2012
1:09 pm
You guys do know these reality shows are scripted and staged like professional wrestling ….right ?….right ?…..Allow the actors to make as much money as they can by selling anything the viewers will buy.
Tonia
June 22nd, 2012
1:15 pm
THANK YOU MS BEATY!
Steve
June 22nd, 2012
1:16 pm
Personally I think that what we see protrayed on TV is a totally accurate protrayal of the real black women of the ATL. I guess the truth hurts for some but if people want things changed then start with yourself.
Steve
June 22nd, 2012
1:20 pm
Mr. Thomas Jones Sr. if you want to be protrayed in a different light then tell your brothers to pull their pants up over their underwear, turn their baseball caps around and take off all of that fake bling and act like respectable young men. That would be a good first start. Sometimes we just need to look in the mirror as a starting place.
Shawanda
June 22nd, 2012
1:20 pm
Don’t be a hater.
It’s all good.
Hotlanta be the hip hop capital of the world.
Marie
June 22nd, 2012
1:22 pm
I think that many of you posting comments to the tune of, “It’s not just Black people being negatively portrayed by reality tv” are missing the point. I have seen the growth of reality tv outside of cooking competitions and things such as Amazing Race, drag the portrayal of Americans in general down as a whole, so in that respect I agree. Yes, you have the Jersey Shores and RHO-Orange County, but for every one of those shows there is a show with a majority White cast that will remind you that the “Snooki’s” and “Situations” are outliers, as opposed to the norm. Therein lies the point of Ms. Beaty’s comments. Outside of shows appearing on specifically targeted networks, such as BET or Centric, you will be pressed to find a majority Black cast. Therefore, when you take shows such as RHOA and Love & Hip Hop Atlanta, paste the “Atlanta” label on it, secure a prime-time slot on a major network, and yell “Action”, the rest of America starts to believe, if even just a little, that there is some truth in what they are seeing. There is no counterbalance showing what being a Black woman in Atlanta, or a Black woman period, is truly all about. Of course there are some people who will say they know women like that, but I can tell you these portrayals are a far stretch from what it means to be an Atlantan. The climate of the population has changed in the last 10 years and we’re seeing a surge in more pretentious, wanna-be famous people move to Atlanta, but it is still a place where many educated, successful people live. I grew up in Atlanta, my circle of close friends who have all been raised there as well are all educated, hardworking women. We do not represent by a long shot what I see on television as it pertains to Black women. From prime-time stories about why Black women aren’t getting married, to the trash we’re seeing on RHOA and LHHATL, somebody is painting a bad picture of us and I don’t like it. So to Ms. Beaty, I say THANK YOU! And before someone argues that the “painter” is only painting what he sees, I’ll counter that and say sometimes an artist may manipulate his subjects with an artistic license (in this case, money and notoriety; refer back to my statement about the demographic shift).
Linda
June 22nd, 2012
1:22 pm
I think the shows accurately reflect the Black community in Atlanta.
jj
June 22nd, 2012
1:22 pm
Reality shows are made for the dumbest viewers. The actors, white, black, purple, are playing a game, and will play to a stereotype. Anything to move the show along. Doo-doo sells. It’s not just blacks, and you can’t expect anything real on a reality show.
And to the person above, blaming their plight on ‘illegal immigrants’, allow an observation – our suburban neighborhood, just outside the NE perimeter, has an apartment complex a quarter mile away. I’d call the residents poor. Definitely lower class. When we moved in, it was all black. Noisy radios, parties – gunfire a couple of times a week (but not shootings. Most likely not fired at people. And my house. It has a bullet hole in the siding. Others have had holes in their roofs, or cars or patio furniture hit. These bullets all come down with deadly force). When the economy got better, these residents moved to better places, or bought houses. The Mexican’s moved in to replace them. The noise level is WAY down. The drunks in the common areas have been replaced by family cookouts. We don’t hear gunfire often, except by idiots on holidays. The thumping music that penetrates walls is heard much less, and I kinda like the Mexican accordion music.
Now that the economy has tanked, it’s a mixed area over there. And that’s not an improvement.
And am I racist? We ALL are. I have no problem with the blacks, Latinos, or gays in our subdivision. We are all middle class, and mostly play by the same rules. I am simply explaining the version of the Atlanta reality show I get to watch, daily.
Richard Braswell
June 22nd, 2012
1:24 pm
In the mid 70’s to mid 80’s era I did five major trade shows in Atlanta. Each show lasted five days and took 4 days to set up and break down. Our group generated millions of dollars in revenue for the hospitality industry and retailers. Things changed in Atlanta and we changed our shows to another hub. Atlanta is not far behind Detroit and Birmingham and they too were great pretenders.
Steve
June 22nd, 2012
1:25 pm
Posted by “Get Real”
Don’t all the reality shows potray the participants in a “not so favorable light” regardless of where they are based? Why is this such a surprise to everyone?
True but it’s obvious from the number of reality shows that our culture loves them which shows where we are as a country. Look at Jersey Shore. Those screw ups are being paid $100,000.00 an episode now due to the money that they are brining to M-TV. It’s a sad day in this country that people will support this type trash.
Steve
June 22nd, 2012
1:26 pm
Don’t be a hater.
It’s all good.
Hotlanta be the hip hop capital of the world.
Well isn’t that something to be proud of? NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steve
June 22nd, 2012
1:31 pm
Posted by Mr. Braswell
In the mid 70’s to mid 80’s era I did five major trade shows in Atlanta. Each show lasted five days and took 4 days to set up and break down. Our group generated millions of dollars in revenue for the hospitality industry and retailers. Things changed in Atlanta and we changed our shows to another hub. Atlanta is not far behind Detroit and Birmingham and they too were great pretenders.
Good for you m moving out of ATL. I live in ATL but when my time to retire hits, I will be gone. I live in the city of Atlanta and the leadership here is a disgrace. Roads and sewers are crumbling while our fearless Mayor sits in his ivory tower and does nothing. He is is worthless as are most of the people who work for this city. I don’t think half of them have over a fifth grade education. Sad but this is the reality of this city.
talk-in out loud
June 22nd, 2012
1:38 pm
my response to those who support negative behavior is typically if it didn’t have an audience it would just go away…problem is the audience that negative behavior capture..most of the time, it’s the young and impressionable, or the people who have no vision…I worked, I have goals that I am trying to achieve my goals in life, and my present situation is not a preview of where I will be in the future…to sit down watch any type of nonsense on t.v. would only be by glancing at it and moving on because it would contradict with my daily thoughts, it would leave me shaking my head, it would leave me asking why would someone want to represent themselves that way…so the audience that these show capture to me are simple minded…as a young person, you can somewhat get off the hook on that…you are young, you are learning…it’s the audience that should know better who irks me by supporting nonsense…it’s a shame to have a brain and the power to dream, but instead you let others put a vision of false reality in your mind..
who cares?!
June 22nd, 2012
1:40 pm
Well, you can all thank Al, Jesse and Louis and the NAACP/SCLC/King Family for your “profiling. the average person sees all day protesting by blacks where as whites leave it up to the courts. You are videoed on tv acting like muslims at an election, threatening people and causing riots when a pre dom black communty wins a basketball championship or reacts to a bad verdict. you did not see white people rioting after the OJ trial? Dallas fans did not riot after the Mavs won.
Helen Crump
June 22nd, 2012
1:40 pm
Why is it that when blacks take over local governments, crime goes up, shopping areas and housing become horrible, trashy looking, and just plain nasty? Schools go down hill. Look at Fulton County, look at DeKalb, look at Clayton County. Blacks are trying to take over Rockdale, too. Thugs use profanity in front of adults, they are very disrespectful and nobody wants to be around that mess. They’re snatching purses, hitting you over the head, shooting you all in broad daylight and it is like the public safety personnel of Fulton, DeKalb and Clayton don’t know what to do. These 3 counties are awful places to live…no decent schools and crime is rampant!!! Why do cities go down hill when blacks take over? Can anybody intelligently answer that question?
Native ATL
June 22nd, 2012
1:45 pm
Thank You, What an awesome write up. Lets stand up and be heard.
AtlJack
June 22nd, 2012
1:58 pm
Look, the moment ANYONE goes on a “reality” show, which is really PretendTV you have to know it has nothing to do with reality but hyped drama so foolish people will watch the show.
And PLEASE don’t make this a racist thing. Snooky and the Jersey morons are made to look like fools as are the white “housewives” of Orange County or wherever they’re from.
Reality TV= where ego driven people hope to get their 15 minutes of fame.
Bein reel
June 22nd, 2012
2:00 pm
A typical ATL rant. Richard Herrnstien’s “THE BELL CURVE” is dead on!
Jeff
June 22nd, 2012
2:04 pm
My favorite thing about the African-American culture in Atlanta is the control a lot of the black “ministers” have on this community. I particularly love how they all refer to themselves as “Doctor”, “Bishop”, etc., even though they have no formal education. Between “Bishop” Eddie Long and “Doctor” Creflo Dollar, this city is so bamboozled by their lies, their pleas for “tithes”, and their promise of a life in heaven if only they pledge their money to their organizations. If there is a God, a heaven, and a hell, my guess is that Miss Long and Creflo Dollars will end up in the latter.
Bubba
June 22nd, 2012
2:05 pm
Ok, someone make a show about professional educated black women who get together and party, discuss their 401K performance, politics, the stock market, current events, etc… Who will watch this? These shows are on TV because people like to watch trashy black (Italian, white, whatever) women act stupid. If you all stop watching this stuff it will go away.
Rufus Dexter Maalik Mohammed
June 22nd, 2012
2:06 pm
I love it when they get all riled up and quit the King’s English talking and speak da trufe- EBONICS!
MR ATL/ DEC
June 22nd, 2012
2:06 pm
Natasha I aGRee With you Totally IM from Decatur And before the Atlanta Was Called The A it was Golden glide on the east side Jelly beans and ?Cascade In the Briar When peidmopnt park was this ish and Maddox Park and Perkinson park And when Feak nik was here GOOD and Bad of it SMH I think there are 2 people on the show that are from Atlanta IF you Grew up in atlanta in the 70s and 80s you no what atlanta used to be like it was fun ATLANTA WAS THE ISH WAY BEFORE it was cool to move down here from another state SMH!!!!
TRUEATL
June 22nd, 2012
2:10 pm
name them then came from the ground up starting from 1979 home grown
BeinReel
June 22nd, 2012
2:11 pm
Jellybeans? Stolen cars and fugitive hangout! So cool why did they have cops there all of the time hauling away the criminals and their cars? Wand you in as well? Lmao on that one! Cascade? Buglar capital of the south! Again… Wow now there is your reality!
Shane
June 22nd, 2012
2:14 pm
Not that anyone’s gonna read this far, but:
First of all, no one with half a brain and any sense of self-decency would go on a reality tv show – so nobody should be surprised or insulted – any of the good folks mentioned in the article wouldn’t DARE do a reality tv show – so what you’re left with is the dregs, always.
Second, Atlanta DOES actually have a disproportionately high population of classless people – black, white, whatever – we’ve got some really terrible people in this city and they outnumber the good people by about 4 to 1 I’d say (and that’s being generous).
My family has lived here for generations – they’ve seen it first-hand. There was a time when Atlanta was rapidly expanding in the 80’s and 90’s that at once saw an enormous influx of transients AND an enormous boom in babies being born to poor uneducated people. Before this time, the mix was pretty good concerning class vs. classless. The scales are now tipped very strongly in favor of terrible people – and these people are everywhere in the city – not just muggers and derelicts – these people are the ones running everything as well.
Again, black, white, whatever. Let’s be honest about the problem here – Atlanta’s full of remorseless, undignified jerks and crooks. We shouldn’t pretend it is otherwise and convince some poor fool that this is a good destination or a place to live. Personally, I feel like it should be considered child abuse to raise a child anywhere inside the perimeter.
Lived here all my life, and I do love my family and my city, but nothing’s gonna get better if we all keep pretending that it’s not getting worse.
TRUEATL
June 22nd, 2012
2:15 pm
sorry for the grammatical error RAJA
I meant to say Name an ATL native that came from the ground up and has an economic presence in the ATL starting from 1979.
Hosea Williams said not one blackman owns one brick on peachtree st not one brick.
MIkeinATL
June 22nd, 2012
2:17 pm
Really? News flash, it’s not the job of the media to make black people or Atlanta look good. The entire genre of reality television is based on capturing people in their worst moments. Sounds like more of the same whining and victim mentality to me. Look at the recent success of Tyler Perry, who most people celebrate. Is his entire empire not built on exploiting those same negative stereotypes?
Self_Made
June 22nd, 2012
2:21 pm
The comments section of this write-up is worse than any reality show could portray this town. The level of ignorance on all sides is astounding. No wonder “reality” television has taken over America…taking advantage of all that untapped stupidity.
RLM
June 22nd, 2012
2:22 pm
I am white. I have known may genteel, educated, lovely black women. I don’t watch this show as it was a disappointment. It ranks at the bottom of the barrel with Jersey Shore. These women are not socialites, achievers, or interesting. They are brawlers and low class. This is like watching wrestling. They are in no way representative or Atlanta or the wonderful Atlanta women or either color. The thing is the real Atlanta women are too classy to put up with any of these classless shows.
Palmer
June 22nd, 2012
2:27 pm
How about talking to the local rappers and entertainers who “make it rain” in strip clubs and whose photos land in trash magazines and on TMZ. That’s not a show, it is reality.
G
June 22nd, 2012
2:29 pm
Atlanta reality television may not be classy, but it’s popular. If people would stop watching it, then the show gets cancelled. Talk all you want about more positive shows, but they will not happen unless it’s supported by the masses.
#truth
LawDawg
June 22nd, 2012
2:38 pm
One question: The article this references states that Atlanta is a well-known hub for child sex trafficking. Is that actually well-known, because I have never heard it before and I pay attention to the news?
LawDawg
June 22nd, 2012
2:43 pm
With all due respect to the author of the essay, this is stupid. Reality TV is, at its base, about finding the worst people willing to appear on TV so that fat housewives can feel better about themselves.
Just like not all black people are Nene Leakes, not every white person in LA is a plastic, blonde drug addict. Expecting reality on “reality TV” is like expecting news from the cable news networks.
Embarrassed by shows filmed in Atlanta
June 22nd, 2012
2:44 pm
Another show filmed alot in Atlanta is “Bait Car”. This is filmed in conjunction with the APD. The APD sets up a “bait car” that they can shut down once stolen. It’s amazing the number of stupid people that have seen the show AND still go and steal the car! Sometimes they ride down the road with the door open in case it is the bait car so they won’t get locked in.
Heather Tarnowski
June 22nd, 2012
2:49 pm
I’ll tell you why Atlanta has become the melting pot of black affliction. Government handouts.
BigBlackRod
June 22nd, 2012
3:01 pm
We can complain all we want to, but as long as folks watch this dreck, they will continue to put it out there. End of story. PEACE.
k
June 22nd, 2012
3:11 pm
LawDawg , Self_Made MikeinATL
IMO you have been the most reasonable voices on this entire piece. The people on these “reality”shows do not represent anyone but themselves. While we are sitting here reading and writing these vile comments, these women and men are laughing all the way to the bank and enjoying themselves(I’m sure) while doing so.
Ignorance is as ignorants think...
June 22nd, 2012
3:15 pm
To the poster who said that everything black-related goes “down hill”, you need to get out more!
MIkeinATL
June 22nd, 2012
3:45 pm
Thanks K.
Common sense dictates that in order to improve its image, the black population of the USA is going to have to challenge itself to evolve away from the victim mentality, government handouts, and criminal behavior. Obviously not all black people act that way, but it’s a problem for all black people because of a shared identity.
Personal responsibility = pride. Pride drives a person to improve themselves. Unfortunately we can’t even talk about personal responsibility because of the ever-present race card. Thanks Al, Jessie, Eric Holder, and the Congressional Black Caucus for that.
email profiling is wrong
June 22nd, 2012
3:52 pm
Nothing particularly insightful or praiseworthy about Ms Beaty’s comments.
None of the Real Housewives shows, regardless of their locale, portray the “stars” in a favorable light. Generally, the worse is the deportment of the stars, the higher are the ratings.
Camera-struck Americans who flaunt their silly and/or ignorant behavior before a national TV audience are nothing new. ‘The Jerry Springer-ization’ of America started at least three decades ago. The current buffoons are prettier and perhaps better educated, but their behavior is the same.
The phenomenon knows no racial bounds as Ms Beaty seems to imply.
I do agree that our beloved A-T-L’s reputation has suffered in recent years. But you can’t blame reality TV for it. Reality TV just shows it off. The problems are real.
And as a white Atlantan, I take exception to Ms Beaty’s claim of racial exclusivity. Atlanta doesn’t belong to black folks or white folks. At least it didn’t used to.
Former Atlantan
June 22nd, 2012
4:01 pm
Excellent, excellent, excellent. Thanks Ms. Beaty for enlightening the rest of the US that the majority of Atlanta’s residents are NOT like those clowns depicted.
willie lynch
June 22nd, 2012
4:03 pm
Sadly, some people feel that television exposure equals “status”. As I see it self respect is the missing component on this and most reality shows. But I guess when life has been reduced to staring at the idiot box both producer and consumer share this quality.
I was always told “You are known by the company you keep”. Like Proud Atlantan, I don’t know any people like them.