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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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
445 comments Add your comment
email profiling is wrong
June 22nd, 2012
4:16 pm
Nothing particularly insightful in Ms Beaty’s essay. The phenomenon of people willing to act like fools in exchange for instant celebrity is nothing new. It knows no racial boundaries.
True enough, Atlanta’s rep has taken a bit of beating in the last fifteen years or so. But it ain’t the fault of Real Housewives. The problems that plague Atlanta are real. Corrupt (Bill Campbell) or incompetent (Shirley Franklin) leadership at the city government level is the primary reason.
Also, I’m one white guy who is weary of hearing some of my fellow Atlanta citizens of the African American persuasion constantly ascribe their ethnicity as some right of exclusivity to our hometown.
News flash folks: Atlanta became a great city because of its diversity and its heritage. And the accomplishments of its citizens both black and white. It belongs to all of us. Our civic pride – and shame – are shared as well.
We need more of the former and less of the latter.
JLS
June 22nd, 2012
4:21 pm
The person who brought up Bait Car is funny and so right. It is always a black person getting arrested on that show when in Atlanta. In the west end too. Sometimes they are off MLK Blvd. Why is MLK Blvd always so full of crime in every city? Someone should do a show on that.
Kim Kittle
June 22nd, 2012
4:22 pm
BRAVO. I completely agree and understand your position on this topic. ALSO thank you for making us aware of some organizations such as Living Water for girls. I would like to donate to such a worthy cause. I APPLAUD YOU AND THE MANY OTHERS YOU SPOKE OF IN THIS ARTICAL.
norman
June 22nd, 2012
4:24 pm
Blacks have always helped our culture to become vulgar and degenerate. In Atlanta they continue this with a vengeance.
norman
June 22nd, 2012
4:32 pm
Blacks have no SUPER EGO.
Vote For Obama Because He's Black
June 22nd, 2012
4:32 pm
They have trashed every city,every neighborhood they have taken over. A “primitive” mentality is in place in all black neighborhoods. The only time they do society and themselves any good is when they imitate whites. That’s when their priorities are in order.They obey the law,follow the constitution,stay in school,dress appropriately. There are plenty of good blacks in Atlanta. It’s just the last 10-15 years that the area has been invaded by a huge underclass of uneducated,disfunctional people. Mind you,there are plenty of skanky white women that date,have affairs with black men. It is society as a whole. There are good and bad in all colors,cultures. Blacks breed like roaches,have moved into the area like and spread like a California wildfire.
There are some good points being made here today,however you are ignorant if you say all are terrible.
Realist
June 22nd, 2012
4:41 pm
How about how Kim Z. Makes transgender people look. That is shameful too!
JLS
June 22nd, 2012
4:41 pm
With the current state of public education in Atlanta schools, you can’t really say much to defend your race or city anymore. The overwhelming majority of folks involved in the cheating scandal were black. Stop the candy-coating and call it like it is. Just be better people.
calliope
June 22nd, 2012
4:44 pm
“Blacks have always helped our culture to become vulgar and degenerate. In Atlanta they continue this with a vengeance”
It is comments like this that proove my point. The reason why so many Black women are upset over these shows is because we never have the opportunity to be judged by our character as individuals. We are painted with a broad brush. So if one Black woman is a ho and and skank we all are. We still live in world where there are people who live in all white communities and never have exposure to Black people… except through shows like Hip Hop Altanta and the Real Housewives. So when I walk into an office or a board room I am already up against a stereotype and glass ceiling. When the new white intern walks in the office, is she assumed to be Jwow or Snookie? No, she is whomever she may be.
I am angry because the women… or for a better description “pigs in dresses” on these shows set me back 100 years. They reduce us to ignorant, gaudy, over sexed btchs. I work hard and dont look to anyone for anything. I worked my way through college waiting tables. I worked my way through law school by myself because I wanted a life that was better than what I was shown. So my head does hang with shame when I see this. There is blame to be placed with everyone associated with promoting and producing shows like this. I see it as Blacks selling other Blacks on the slave auctions blocks… all in the name of a dollar. Until we start respecting ourselves, how do we expect to recieve respect? I want to say to people stop watching this mess and it will go away…. But I know better because I know that our society loves to entertainment in the form of stereotypes and trash.
JLS
June 22nd, 2012
4:48 pm
There are all white communities out there? Where?
Cedric the Entertainer said that if White people moved to the moon, then black folks would be following driving Cadillac space ships. How does comments like that help the black race?
calliope
June 22nd, 2012
4:53 pm
JLS… obviously you have never been outside of the Atlanta Metroplex…
Natisha
June 22nd, 2012
4:57 pm
Yo. Why everybody be drinkin the hateraid. The aTL be blown up. Get you a good baby daddy with some bling and some big rims. That is what like be about. I got 4 baby daddies and they treat me good.
Angela
June 22nd, 2012
4:58 pm
I agree with the comments whole–heartedly…..I am a Black woman and I am proud to say that I do not watch any reality shows! I knew it was going to be garbage from the very beginning. We used to value education and family….now we value weave, stilettos, fake eyelashes, and lap dances. Our ancestors were not beaten, maimed, and humiliated for us to live so far below our privilege. Wake up Black America…..the world is going on without you!
Angela
June 22nd, 2012
5:12 pm
Enter your comments here
Yolonda
June 22nd, 2012
5:13 pm
Natisha be rite. Get you a man with some $$$ and a phat car. And that be what you be needen. The housewives be keepen it real in the atl.
Marcellas
June 22nd, 2012
5:16 pm
j
email profiling is wrong
June 22nd, 2012
5:54 pm
The heck with Kelly Smith Beaty’s essay – calliope’s post should go viral. It’s heartfelt, insightful and doesn’t smack of self-promotion. It’s just real life eloquently presented by a successful person who’s living it.
With all due respect to Ms Beaty, she’s afflicted with the same narcissism as her fellow reality TV stars. The only difference I see between them is that they have less home training.
Richard Braswell
June 22nd, 2012
6:04 pm
Atlanta is what it is…attempts to create a sort of Socratic Shaka Khan here we are and we are not dumb is feeble. Today, Atlanta is what it is….thug city, and then some…ask any thug.
Richard Braswell
June 22nd, 2012
6:14 pm
Again, Atlanta is what it is…sadly what it is…
RAMZAD
June 22nd, 2012
7:16 pm
Atlanta is great! That is the tragedy. We are a fine community. However, black people are all confused in it. The vestiges of slavery and all its toxins continues to be all in it. The savagery of the plantation continues to be as live as 1836, although it has just been digitized into news flashes, death certificates and murder convictions. It is white society and the potent vestiges of a monster it created that has now come back to haunt it and which it can’t very well criticize away.
The other questions though is if black people continues to live free in slavery to their own past, and if we are going to confront the goons, whores, leeches, pimps, and TV trash among us or we all just die together as they continue to vacuum up our honor and international integrity- as a people.
RAMZAD
June 22nd, 2012
7:19 pm
Atlanta is great! That is the tragedy. We are a fine community. However, black people are all confused in it. The vestiges of slavery and all its toxins continues to be all in it. The savagery of the plantation continues to be as live as 1836, although it has just been digitized into news flashes, death certificates and murder convictions. It is white society and the potent vestiges of a monster it created that has now come back to haunt it and which it can’t very well criticize away.
Other questions though are if black people continues to live free in slavery to their own past, and if we are going to confront the goons, whores, leeches, pimps, and TV trash among us or we all just die together as they continue to vacuum up our honor and international integrity- as a people.
RAMZAD
June 22nd, 2012
7:27 pm
The tragedy is that Metro Atlanta is a fine community. However, black people are all confused in it. The vestiges of slavery and all its toxins continues to be all in it. The savagery of the plantation continues to be as live as 1836, but it has just been digitized into news flashes, death certificates and murder convictions.
It is white society and the potent vestiges of a monster it created that has now come back to haunt it and in which the MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction) component can’t very well be criticized away.
The other questions though is if black people continues to live free in slavery to their own past, and if we are going to confront the goons, whores, leeches, pimps, and TV trash among us or we all just die together as these termites continue to vacuum up our honor and international integrity- as a people.
RGB
June 22nd, 2012
7:42 pm
A black woman attends a segregated college, works for a segregated organization, and then complains about people of her race being treated differently than society as a whole.
Gee, honey (sorry, “guuurrrrl”), you’re playing the victim card once again.
Now isn’t that original?
George
June 22nd, 2012
8:06 pm
They are nothing but trash and dressed up hhoes with five dollars in teir pocket please we are much better than thhat.
A Real Housewife
June 22nd, 2012
8:13 pm
My wife is a real housewife and would never parade herself or our family on such a show. And yes, she is African-American. She works in our home to produce an environment that is supportive, caring, and loving. She does not drink wine all day and she does not eat everyday at restaurants. Her day includes supporting her family as we prepare for work outside of the home and school. It includes daily management of the home including cleaning, cooking, washing of clothes, grocery shoppring, and running errands to name a few things. She spends time praying for our family and encouraging others that call upon her. No, we are not materially wealthy. But, we are spiritually blessed. She is virtuous, wise, and godly. She would never degrade herself or another women as all the women do on all the housewives shows. It is most unfortunate that our young people are getting the wrong message of what a housewife is or should be. All of us are to be blamed. If we did not watch the shows, they would not air.
scott
June 22nd, 2012
8:18 pm
blame the folks that moved here from the slums of the north..Detroit,St.louis,Chicago,east st.louis,gary ind,newark,new york ..bringing that ghetto mentality and nasty attitude and thier problems with them and above all crime and despair.they dont care about themselves ,or anyone else or have no respect for property…the have ruined a gleaming , once beautiful city and went out of the way to make it look like where they came from blighted and ghetto…this once epicenter for the upper black middle class and proud has been forever ruined
scott
June 22nd, 2012
8:19 pm
blame folks that moved here from the northern slums
scott
June 22nd, 2012
8:21 pm
blame folks that moved here from the northern slums..your Detroits,Chicago,s.newark,,St.louis.east stlouis,cleveland..they dont respect themselves ,other people or property
Blogger Says ATL's Perception Skewed by Negative Reality Shows | EURweb
June 22nd, 2012
8:33 pm
[...] Beaty’s essay has gone viral. She told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s “The Buzz” blog that she’s really surprised by the far reaching response to the [...]
scott
June 22nd, 2012
8:34 pm
when blacks move to a neighborhood in Atlanta metro..stores close ,property values falls,house up keep is null and void but washing and cleaning a caddilac till the aint comes off is the thing to do ,loud music with no respect to neighbors or your neighborhood,barbecues in the front of the house instead of in the huge back yard..store what few are left after they move into an area in ATLANTA..the merchandise is few or whats left looks pimpish.the grocery stores become trasy and the meat looks a week old…i blame folks from the northern sections of the country moving here
Tired of Racists
June 22nd, 2012
8:36 pm
Those who suggest that Black folks from the slums are the culprit are not looking at the shows that reflect the White folks from the slums. Be assured, Blacks do not have a monopoly on stupidity. If you think so, you are “blind in one eye and deaf in the other.” As a matter of fact, Blacks have always been and will always be First-Class and Proud People. Our ancestors were such during slavery and well before integration and the Civil Rights Movement. Black Americans have always been the conscious of this nation and will always be. Yes, there are bad Black examples. But, there are more bad White examples. You name one bad Black example, I can counter with several White bad examples. Its wise for us to refrain from the race insulting. Let’s not go there.
scott
June 22nd, 2012
8:37 pm
when blacks move in a neighborhood in Atlanta..expect stores to close,loud music,barbecues on the front lawn,houses starting to deterioate,whereas the caddillac in the yard is clean and gleaming,horrible lawns and no yard work…just a ghetto mentality
scott
June 22nd, 2012
8:41 pm
when blacks move to a neighboorhood expect the area to go down drasticaly,..loud music,barbecues on front lawns ,cars parked on front lawns ,folks hangin out on front lawns,down hill property values,little to no respect for the neighbors or neighborhoods…just plain ghetto
scott
June 22nd, 2012
8:43 pm
blame the ghetto blacks from the northern slums
scott
June 22nd, 2012
8:45 pm
blame blacks from the ghetto slums of the north
O. Wilson
June 22nd, 2012
9:03 pm
Uuhhhh….It’s reality tv for goodness sakes. Why are we taking it so seriously? It is strictly entertainment, and I find most of it hilarious. Can we relax here? The reality tv shows based on the lives of white people on VH1 and Bravo are just as trashy and hilarious. Come on now…would Lovette Russell really be on a show like that? These shows cater to a certain audience, and I frankly think it is entertaining.
scott
June 22nd, 2012
9:27 pm
blame folks from up north bringing thier ghetto mentality with them
its not a race thing
June 22nd, 2012
9:36 pm
PLEASE! This should not even have the race card thrown in. As a whole, these reality shows make OUR city look BAD! I don’t care if they are black, white, purple, or plaid they make the ENTIRE city look cheap and trashy.
Prof. T
June 22nd, 2012
10:20 pm
@ KDAWG In reference to your comment: “Huh??? Hard to make a reality show about someone who is no longer with us… Yes, in “reality”, he’s dead and has been so since 1927.”
Try looking up “retrospective” in the dictionary. You exemplify why U.S. schools are at the bottom.
Prof. T
June 22nd, 2012
10:29 pm
All is not well in the white community either: Jersey Shore, trailer park trash. And don’t white kids have their version of Freaknick every spring in Cancun and Florida!
robjh1
June 22nd, 2012
10:36 pm
What is sad it when you try to point this out to black people (the negativity of these shows) they become defensive.
FaithLoveGrace
June 22nd, 2012
11:03 pm
In ann seriousness, why can’t we all just get along? I think its because if everybody lived by true Christian principles they would know we are all one race, human. We are our brothers keeper and keeping these racial lines drawn are only proving to our maker that we are failing him. And not that it matters but I am a 36 year old white female that lives in the South.
Marcia
June 22nd, 2012
11:16 pm
It’s a free country, change the channel if you don’t like it. It doesn’t matter what color your skin is. If you’re sucessful, you’re sucessful. You don’t hear white people going around bragging about how sucessful they are. Why is it so special if you’re sucessful and black. There will always be discrimination when we have to have “black” this and “black” that. Just get on with your self.
Gillian
June 22nd, 2012
11:23 pm
Another ANGRY black woman.
Former Apprentice Contestant Laments Black Atlanta's Portrayal in Reality TV
June 22nd, 2012
11:51 pm
[...] Jennifer Brett, AJC Filed Under: Entertainment, Her Side, Heroes, Local, Opinion var OB_langJS = [...]
Sam the Sham
June 23rd, 2012
9:18 am
All I could think about was a thug shootout at a funeral. It may be hard to change the image unless you either change the culture or close down all of the media outlets. Just sayin’.
Trish
June 23rd, 2012
9:38 am
Tired of Racist: Blacks may not have a monopoly on poverty, but they certainly have a monopoly on crime. And if you want to watch Black culture on parade, walk down Peters St. in Castelberry Hill any Saturday night. But watch where you step…. your Black friends have dropped liquor bottles and fastfood trash every where on their way to the club. I am sure it will make you proud.
buy facebook fans
June 23rd, 2012
9:56 am
I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the layout of your blog? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or 2 images. Maybe you could space it out better?
Say it aint so
June 23rd, 2012
10:06 am
I left an earlier post lauding the essay and asking where I sign the protest to Bravo…(a station which I love). for some reason DP took umbrage at my Go Sister GO comment. I didnt realise that was in any way rascist…I dont think it is. That said, as a native Atlanta white man, I am glad she wrote the article. That said, I pray they dont do a reality show about people (my relatives included)in rural Ga either. I would venture to guess that woman are being beat in the trailor parks and brick duplexes outside the perimeter too. And most of the people are fat with no dental plans….I guess Im trying to say trashy has no color boundries….trash is trash.
Debra
June 23rd, 2012
10:13 am
Well spoken, but Nene was on CA also… A lot of so called Atlantans would never make it on a reality show ie: Russells…. They are boring… We want to see train wrecks! Get over it! it’s just entertainment, and if accomplished citizens like the Russells and Herndons and many more would Do something to lift the community instead of running up under whites to join their country clubs, and live in their communities and constantly seek their approval , than maybe they would receive more recognition for their contributions…. They don’t anything to be On a reality show!