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
YourPoliticalAnimal
June 23rd, 2012
10:30 am
@ natasha…wow !!!…that was a mouthful!!!…as a Native New Yorker I guess I better pack my bags and head back home…very articulately put…I personally would rather have to work weekends than watch reality shows (with the exception of Shark Tank)…those shows obviously thrive on (1) drama; (2) people’s thirst for the shallow and vain things in life…it’s just like the news when they steadily parade the multitude of black, mostly male, (suspected) criminals before us every day…even though if you were to go to a courtroom in a predominantly white county such as Cobb, Forsyth, Oconee (near Athens), etc., you would see a sea of white faces…but through some strange miracle, their crimes barely get mentioned…I teach in DeKalb County, so I know all too well about the “thug” element that has infested ATL…and it’s a shame because the city does indeed have such a great history…and South DeKalb, along with Prince George’s County, Maryland, used to be one of the riches African American enclaves (Native Atlanta, that means “neighborhood”) in the entire U.S… but alas, the housing bust, which decimated African Americans’ major source of wealth to the point that whites now have 22 times more “wealth” than African Americans, has all but destroyed what was once the Jewel of the New South…growing up in upstate New York, I too, heard about a city “down South,” whose streets were paved with milk and honey…where the sisters where so fine they would have your nose so open you could smell ice..a city, unlike Buffalo, New York, where Blacks (I can still use that word, can’t I?) wielded tremendous political power, the home of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr., Maynard Jackson, Alonzo Herndon, the “City too Busy to Hate!”…but alas, the mafia-ordained drug trade, strip club industry (how’s Fred Tokars doing?), prostitution industry has so infested the ATL that now people are looking to Charlotte and………..BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA as new models of southern success…
Mr. Obvious
June 23rd, 2012
10:30 am
I am surprised the double-standard-loving AJC even allowed comments on this topic.
I wonder how many accurate, too-real, call-it-like-it-is statements were “removed” by the AJC censors.
YourPoliticalAnimal
June 23rd, 2012
10:52 am
@ natasha…wow !!!…that was a mouthful!!!…as a Native New Yorker I guess I better pack my bags and head back home…very articulately put…I personally would rather have to work weekends than watch reality shows (with the exception of Shark Tank)…those shows obviously thrive on (1) drama; (2) people’s thirst for the shallow and vain things in life…it’s just like the news when they steadily parade the multitude of black, mostly male, (suspected) criminals before us every day…even though if you were to go to a courtroom in a predominantly white county such as Cobb, Forsyth, Oconee (near Athens), etc., you would see a sea of white faces…but through some strange miracle, their crimes barely get mentioned…I teach in DeKalb County, so I know all too well about the “thug” element that has infested ATL…and it’s a shame because the city does indeed have such a great history…and South DeKalb, along with Prince George’s County, Maryland, used to be one of the riches African American enclaves (Native Atlanta, that means “neighborhood”) in the entire U.S… but alas, the housing bust, which decimated African Americans’ major source of wealth to the point that whites now have 22 times more “wealth” than African Americans, has all but destroyed what was once the Jewel of the New South…growing up in upstate New York, I too, heard about a city “down South,” whose streets were paved with milk and honey…where the sisters where so fine they would have your nose so open you could smell ice..a city, unlike Buffalo, New York, where Blacks (I can still use that word, can’t I?) wielded tremendous political power, the home of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr., Maynard Jackson, Alonzo Herndon, the “City too Busy to Hate!”…but alas, the mafia-ordained drug trade, strip club industry (how’s Fred Tokars doing?), prostitution industry has so infested the ATL that now people are looking to Charlotte and………..BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA as new models of southern success…SMH !!!
Val
June 23rd, 2012
11:01 am
@Natasha, so true!
YourPoliticalAnimal
June 23rd, 2012
11:02 am
Both sides make valid arguments…too bad we as African Americans haven’t taken the time to invest to the point that we could produce our own shows…then we wouldn’t have to worry about someone else portraying us in a negative light…as far as I know though, we’re the only culture who uses its music to degrade our own selves, particularly our women…@ natasha…wow !!!…that was a mouthful!!!…as a Native New Yorker I guess I better pack my bags and head back home…very articulately put…I personally would rather have to work weekends than watch reality shows (with the exception of Shark Tank)…those shows obviously thrive on (1) drama; (2) people’s thirst for the shallow and vain things in life…it’s just like the news when they steadily parade the multitude of black, mostly male, (suspected) criminals before us every day…even though if you were to go to a courtroom in a predominantly white county such as Cobb, Forsyth, Oconee (near Athens), etc., you would see a sea of white faces…but through some strange miracle, their crimes barely get mentioned…I teach in DeKalb County, so I know all too well about the “thug” element that has infested ATL…and it’s a shame because the city does indeed have such a great history…and South DeKalb, along with Prince George’s County, Maryland, used to be the richest African American enclaves (Native Atlantan, that means “neighborhood”) in the entire U.S… but alas, the housing bust, which decimated African Americans’ major source of wealth to the point that whites now have 22 times more “wealth” than African Americans, has all but destroyed what was once the Jewel of the New South…growing up in upstate New York, I too, heard about a city “down South,” whose streets were paved with gold, a land of milk and honey…where the sisters where so fine they would have your nose so open you could smell ice..a city, unlike Buffalo, New York, where Blacks (I can still use that word, can’t I?) wielded tremendous political power, the home of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr., Maynard Jackson, Alonzo Herndon, insurance magnate Jesse Hill, Jr., the “City too Busy to Hate!”…but alas, the mafia-ordained drug trade, strip club industry (how’s Fred Tokars doing?), prostitution industry have so infested the ATL that now people are looking to Charlotte and………..BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA as new models of southern success…SMH !!!
Mr. Obvious
June 23rd, 2012
11:02 am
Can you really call someone a “racist” if they hate you merely for your selfish, rude, obnoxious, loud, inconsiderate, uninformed, uncouth, superficial, chip-on-your-shoulder, blame-it-all-on-someone-else attitude and/or borderline-criminal behavior and NOT for any of your (irrelevant) demographic information or flesh tone?
YourPoliticalAnimal
June 23rd, 2012
11:06 am
RACIST: (n.)…someone who believes in the mental and or physical superiority of one distinct group over another or others…to describe the obvious behaviors of a group of people, whether black, Irish, Italian, Latino, Jewish, etc. is not racist unless the person(s) doing so do it to confirm their feelings of superiority (Listen to Dr. MLK’s sermon “The Drum Major Instinct”)…We should stop tossing that word around so loosely because we too often misdefine it…
YourPoliticalAnimal
June 23rd, 2012
11:12 am
@ natasha…wow !!!…that was a mouthful!!!…as a Native New Yorker I guess I better pack my bags and head back home…very articulately put…I personally would rather have to work weekends than watch reality shows (with the exception of Shark Tank)…those shows obviously thrive on (1) drama; (2) people’s thirst for the shallow and vain things in life…it’s just like the news when they steadily parade the multitude of black, mostly male, (suspected) criminals before us every day…even though if you were to go to a courtroom in a predominantly white county such as Cobb, Forsyth, Oconee (near Athens), etc., you would see a sea of white faces…but through some strange miracle, their crimes barely get mentioned…I teach in DeKalb County, so I know all too well about the “thug” element that has infested ATL…and it’s a shame because the city does indeed have such a great history…and South DeKalb, along with Prince George’s County, Maryland, used to be among of the richest African American enclaves (Native Atlantan, that means “neighborhood”) in the entire U.S… but alas, the housing bust, which decimated African Americans’ major source of wealth to the point that whites now have 22 times more “wealth” than African Americans, has all but destroyed what was once the Jewel of the New South…
scott
June 23rd, 2012
11:12 am
some blacks are so angry and have a liftime of a chip on thier shoulders..these shows only feed that mentality they are confrontational,ignorant,with poor speaking skills,and pride themselves on being as ignorant and ghetto as possible…feeding the sterotypical white americans views on blacks and cast a spell on the entire race..they seem to be for the most part poorly educated and lack customer service or people skills which makes it hard for them to be employable…all think that being a rapper or sports is the only way to be succsessful..by the way most of the black males can talk to you about is sports they no nothing beyound that..the black women are angry,sassy,overweight and ghetto with kids out of wedlock to thier detriment,..my opinion most blacks have mental issues and need professional help due to years of unchecked mental issues
YourPoliticalAnimal
June 23rd, 2012
11:25 am
@ natasha…growing up in upstate New York, I, too, heard about a city “down South,” whose streets were paved with gold, a land of cheese grits, milk, and honey…where the sisters were so fine they would have your nose so open you could smell ice..a city, unlike Buffalo, New York, where Blacks (I can still use that word, can’t I?) wielded tremendous political power, the home of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther, King, Jr. (next to Jesus my Lord, my hero), Maynard Jackson, Alonzo Herndon, insurance magnate Jesse Hill, Jr., the AUCenter, the “City too Busy to Hate!”…but alas, the mafia-ordained drug trade, strip club industry (how’s Fred Tokars doing?), prostitution industry, have so infested the ATL that now people are looking to Charlotte and………..BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA as new models of southern success…SMH !!!
YourPoliticalAnimal
June 23rd, 2012
11:28 am
@ natasha…wow !!!…that was a mouthful!!!…as a Native New Yorker I guess I better pack my bags and head back home…very articulately put…I personally would rather have to work weekends than watch reality shows (with the exception of Shark Tank)…those shows obviously thrive on (1) drama; (2) people’s thirst for the shallow and vain things in life…it’s just like the news when they steadily parade the multitude of black, mostly male, (suspected) criminals before us every day…even though if you were to go to a courtroom in a predominantly white county such as Cobb, Forsyth, Oconee (near Athens), etc., you would see a sea of white faces…but through some strange miracle, their crimes barely get mentioned…I teach in DeKalb County, so I know all too well about the “thug” element that has infested ATL…and it’s a shame because the city does indeed have such a great history…and South DeKalb, along with Prince George’s County, Maryland, used to be among of the richest African American enclaves (Native Atlantan, that means “neighborhood”) in the entire U.S… but alas, the housing bust, which decimated African Americans’ major source of wealth to the point that whites now have 22 times more “wealth” than African Americans, has all but destroyed what was once the Jewel of the New South !!!…
YourPoliticalAnimal
June 23rd, 2012
11:30 am
…@ Natasha: I personally would rather have to work weekends than watch reality shows (with the exception of Shark Tank)…those shows obviously thrive on (1) drama; (2) people’s thirst for the shallow and vain things in life…it’s just like the news when they steadily parade the multitude of black, mostly male, (suspected) criminals before us every day…even though if you were to go to a courtroom in a predominantly white county such as Cobb, Forsyth, Oconee (near Athens), etc., you would see a sea of white faces…but through some strange miracle, their crimes barely get mentioned…I teach in DeKalb County, so I know all too well about the “thug” element that has infested ATL…and it’s a shame because the city does indeed have such a great history…and South DeKalb, along with Prince George’s County, Maryland, used to be among of the richest African American enclaves (Native Atlantan, that means “neighborhood”) in the entire U.S… but alas, the housing bust, which decimated African Americans’ major source of wealth to the point that whites now have 22 times more “wealth” than African Americans, has all but destroyed what was once the Jewel of the New South…
megan
June 23rd, 2012
11:41 am
Thank you Kelly,I wondered how long before the true ‘Hard working’ meaningful,honest,lives of the real people of Atlanta would stand up,speak out for the values they believe in,that they give back to in their communities, as well as their contributions to this nation.The tv shows only show the’Class Less want to be,the thuggisnish,if such a word exists,the people on these shows never spend quality time with their families,never do you see them donate anything,they only brag about what they are wearing or dressed to un-impress,never giving a kind word to one another for long.The shows are out to make Mega Bucks off of them acting ignorant in front of the world,yet they feel Big’lol’ ..what happened to our history,the slaves that suffered to give a better quality of life to us,Atlanta is a very important place for my family it’s history and legacy is forever imbeded in my brain,the people mentioned in kelly’s article is so refreshing to see,Stand up Atlanta ‘take back your city’with more articles like this,show the world’You’ve earned it, the correct way-hard dedicated work ethics,pride,commitment and love of your city.We plan to purchase a vacation home there soon’.hope to share your true city, the city that we knew and still love,despite the Trash we see on tv with all the drama and people with nothing to give to this great city.
YourPoliticalAnimal
June 23rd, 2012
11:43 am
I personally would rather have to work weekends than watch reality shows (with the exception of Shark Tank)…those shows obviously thrive on (1) drama; (2) people’s thirst for the shallow and vain things in life…it’s just like the news when they steadily parade the multitude of black, mostly male, (suspected) criminals before us every day…even though if you were to go to a courtroom in a predominantly white county such as Cobb, Forsyth, Oconee (near Athens), etc., you would see a sea of white faces…but through some strange miracle, their crimes barely get mentioned…I teach in DeKalb County, so I know all too well about the “thug” element that has infested ATL…and it’s a shame because the city does indeed have such a great history…and South DeKalb, along with Prince George’s County, Maryland, used to be among of the richest African American enclaves (Native Atlantan, that means “neighborhood”) in the entire U.S… but alas, the housing bust, which decimated African Americans’ major source of wealth to the point that whites now have 22 times more “wealth” than African Americans, has all but destroyed what was once the Jewel of the New South…
KB
June 23rd, 2012
12:02 pm
I have never watched Housewives of Atlanta or any other reality show that depict black people in a demeaning and denigrating format. As a black American male the script is predictable – focus on form and absent of substance. For black people struggling to be educated in the 21st century and seeking recognition and respect globally it is shows such as Housewives of Atlanta and other television shows of similar format that foster negative stereotypes across the world about black Americans: it is psychologically disparaging: The images the shows convey are poor representations of our past and current struggles and contribute nothing to encourage substantive character development and the strive for positive values that are desperately needed for the youth if they are going to be competitive in the global economy. We must however, take responsibility for our future and that of our children and grandchildren by first not subscribing to any programming that depicts us
as being substandard, absent of morals, and willing to compromise our history and equally important our personal integrity and self – worth. The current narrative is sad and transformation is essentail for our survival as a people. I would encourage the current students and alumnae of Spelman under the direction of Dr. Tatum to link with all progressive thinking black women across the country and arouind the world to systematically address the problem of how black women, the conveyors of culture and values, are consciously being misrepresented in all forms of media. if a Caucasian teenager from the state of Maine can challenge Seventeen Magazine and successfully convince them to alter their policies related to the display of adolescent female body images then I am confident that a coalition of determined and competent black women could do more. Create a movement and take the young adolescent females and their young siblings along with you. If not you then who will assume the responsibility for the future.
Cynthia
June 23rd, 2012
12:08 pm
Fabulous, great article! I watched 10 minutes of Love and Hip Hop Atlanta. I couldn’t watch another minute. This has to be the worse embarrassment of all time. What a DISGRACE!!!! I hope people watching this garbage stop watching!!
LiveinATLtoo
June 23rd, 2012
12:11 pm
There are 13% of African Americans living in the US which is about 39 Million total which means that there is a VERY VERY large number of individuals that have minimal interaction with African Americans period, so Rap videos, RHOA, Love & Hip Hop, Basketball Wives, etc. is a general overview that they get in addition it is also very true that majority of young African American women and males conduct themselves in that way. So that is the general opinion that will be formed against African Americans.
Stereotypes are mainly truths applied as standard to the masses of a specific group. But you can pretty much say that the “Stereotype that most African Americans want to be rappers, singers, athletes, models, etc.” hold validity. We even apply these stereotypes by ourselves by saying things like “Black people don’t ski, black people don’t do this and that – this is what [enter race] does”. I grew up with much of it.
So the reflection of these shows may not apply to all but it applies to a large number of African Americans. All you have to do is go to Shout on Fridays, Frank Ski’s restaurant, go to Velvet Room, Club Reign or any Hip Hop/R&B themed major event. And you will see it for yourself across the board. Guys pull up with their cars on 26″ rims, “poppin’ bottles in VIP”, “makin’ it rain” in the strip clubs.
We have a knack for valuing things that really have no value.
Mad Dog
June 23rd, 2012
12:12 pm
this Ne Ne person is an embarrasment to humanity, not just Atlanta.
What a bunch of circus freaks.
Mad Dog
June 23rd, 2012
12:15 pm
Only thng worse than this is Jersey Shore, the ultimate losers. Who watches this stuff? What is wrong with us when we think these low life no talent drunks are celebrity?
We have hit rock bottom, people get a life please and refuse to watch this idiotic garbage.
Snooki, Ne Ne, get a room!
Mark
June 23rd, 2012
12:23 pm
Atlanta, regardless of color, usually gets portrayed in a negative manner…..its not the mecca that many of us think it is.
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will crush the heads of the perverted New World Order integrationist crowd and their devilish black minions
June 23rd, 2012
12:39 pm
@11:25 – -YourPoliticalAnimal is not too far from the kingdom of God. In a nutshell, the exemplary Atlanta Georgia that he heard about while in New York was really the one blessed with citizens having the benefits of a separate but equal Atlanta. For the most part, blacks, politicians not withstanding were spiritual church going people. Ethics, morals, and character had sustained us for over 400 years. Politicians etc would tell you in a heartbeat that they support and represent black people. And to a lesser extent, they same was true on the other side of the tracks.
But once the doctrine of integration had been fully implemented in Atlanta, Ethics, morals and character went out of the window for everyone. And even to this very day, there are very few black politicians if any who will say out loud that they serve God Almighty and support black people… Can’t you see that integration demands that citizens etc become hollow godless deceivers if they want gainful employment, or hold political office, or to be thought of as intelligent.
So when you say that people are looking at Charlotte and Birmingham as new models of southern success, you are indicating to me that the vestiges of a separate but equal Charlotte and Birmingham have somehow survived in many of its citizens up to this point. But be forewarned, once the maturation of integration is realized in those citizens and cities, people will once again be on the move searching far and wide for a city endowed with citizens cleaving to the benefits of a separate but equal society unawares..
Amen?
John
June 23rd, 2012
12:54 pm
Kinda interesting that the Atlanta is known around the economic world as a serious business City. But, in the entertainment world it’s known as a black mecca where hip hop is king. As a resident, I see Atlanta as the former and not the latter.
Sue Ellen Ewing
June 23rd, 2012
12:56 pm
She’s a now a NEW YORKER – but writing about ATLANTA? Child please!
almost Atlanta native
June 23rd, 2012
1:01 pm
have lived in Atlanta since 1985. Watching the reality shows based in Atlanta I can honestly say they accurately portray the real inhabitants (majority) of people that I see in Atlanta. I don’t go to strip clubs so I am not sure how the people are there, either do I go to bars/clubs so not sure there either. But walking down the street, in the park, in the shopping mall, driving around in my car, movie theaters, the gym, the people portrayed in these TV shows are exactly like the people I encounter. Atlanta is full of lazy, inconsiderate of others, pretentious, irresponsible, uppity, uncaring, no future, no education, blame everybody else for their problems, chips on their shoulder people, there is no denying it. The people that complain about it are a good example of these people, people with nothing more important to do other than whine and complain. Nothing really comes from this behavior, nothing will change. Maybe some volunteer work might make a difference; the whiners probably think themselves above that though. Change comes from within, whether it is yourself or a community. It is what it is. Telling the truth isn’t racist, and the truth hurts sometimes.
Ronnie 62
June 23rd, 2012
1:44 pm
@ Truth Hurts-ROTFLMAO!
YourPoliticalAnimal
June 23rd, 2012
6:24 pm
@ all who are objective enough to heed the truth…to listen to some of the “Grady Babies” and “Mr. V’s Figure 8 Old Schoolers,” as a Native New Yorker I guess I better pack my bags and head back home… I personally would rather have to work weekends than watch reality shows (with the exception of Shark Tank)…those shows obviously thrive on (1) drama; (2) people’s thirst for the shallow and vain things in life…it’s just like the news when they steadily parade the multitude of black, mostly male, (suspected) criminals before us every day…even though if you were to go to a courtroom in a predominantly white county such as Cobb, Forsyth, Oconee (near Athens), etc., you would see a sea of white faces…but through some strange miracle, their crimes barely get mentioned…I teach in DeKalb County, so I know all too well about the “thug” element that has infested ATL…and it’s a shame because the city does indeed have such a great history…and South DeKalb, along with Prince George’s County, Maryland, used to be among of the richest African American enclaves (Native Atlantan, that means “neighborhoods”) in the entire U.S… but alas, the housing bust, which decimated African Americans’ major source of wealth to the point that whites now have 22 times more “wealth” than African Americans, has all but destroyed what was once the Jewel of the New South…Dr. MLK, Madame Coretta Scott King et al., must be turning over in their collective graves…
scott
June 23rd, 2012
8:16 pm
an atlanta metro resident for 32 yrs i,m dissapointed in what it has become…we now go to beautiful Greenville,sc for concerts,to go to the park(falls park in Greenville)shopping..we just live and work in Atlanta..the traffic ,the rudness,the nasty attitudes,the crime,has made it an impossible place to live and the quality of life has went way down hill..I STILL SAY ITS DUE TO NORTHERN INVASION..we can walk downtown Greenville..we dont feel threatened,harrassed,we can relax in the park thier without being threatned,or being a potential for crime we can go to the stores and get great customer service..Atlanta better quickly make a turn around or else it will be america,s new Detroit
scott
June 23rd, 2012
8:17 pm
blacks in metro Atlanta loud crude,angry,ignorant,where did this come from??the slums of the north
Sir Loin Tips
June 24th, 2012
11:53 am
whats an African American?
Sally McCracklin
June 24th, 2012
11:57 am
I wish someone in the black community would address all of the violence and killings that seem to happen whenever the black youth congregate….be it at a funeral or a rap concert? It’s a nationwide epidemic and all of the fatherless children too. Seems like that would be a priority.
The Man
June 24th, 2012
12:06 pm
Exactly Sir Loin Tips!
She’s not and AFRICAN-American! She’s an American. My heritage is European, German to be exact, and I don’t run around calling myself a European American or a German American. Instead, I’m (just like Ms Beaty) a NATURAL BORN CITIZEN OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA which makes me (and her) …. you guessed it, just plain ole AMERICAN.
————————————
Unfortunately, Atlanta is becoming more an more populated by blacks, and blacks (when broght together in groups) pretty much ruin everything they infiltrate. FYI to black folks or the the overly sensitive white liberals, my statement is NOT racist, it REAList (true). Go back 25-30 years ago and look at Dekalb County (low black population) and how things ran back then. Business was good, jobs were plenty, property values were INCREASING, crime was low, and people wanted to live there. Take a look at the same things now! Take a drive down Memorial Drive … you’ll get my point.
To Ms Beaty … if Atlanta’s so great, then get your black arse back down here, and help it out!
Matthew
June 24th, 2012
12:13 pm
I think black culture in general is very negative. This idea that society needs to change and allow you to do whatever you want do to do and however you want to… There is a professional world out there that doesn’t cater to being loud and rude when you want something. The culture that I see on TV mimics the culture that I see every day isn that Black people are angry, impatient, and loud. I don’t understand why every situation in life has to be a theatrical performance… I want everyone to be happy and live equally. As a gay person, I see each of us living happy. But, what I don’t want to see is angry people using theatrics to do something as simple buying a soda. pe@ce!
Jack
June 24th, 2012
12:14 pm
I quit watching TV long ago; nothing but trash. Read a book, write a book…do something other than watch TV. TV is where our children learn violence.
The Man
June 24th, 2012
12:22 pm
Find me an AFFLUENT black community anywhere in America, and I’ll give you 100 white ones.
But I get it ….. Blacks have been oppressed, forced to live in THE GREATEST COUNTRY on the planet, so it’s okay to commit criminal acts, retard your education, live off of the guv’ment, and FINGER POINT! Instead of joining the FUN in America, you sit back and cry “discrimation” and “racism” and “I’m treated bad b/c I’m black” and don’t realize that that is a one step forward, two steps back problem. Jump in, be happy, work hard & gets your hands dirty, and lose the prefix and be just a plain AMERICAN! You might find out that it works better that way.
Or go and live in Africa (if that’s where you truely think you’re from), and see how fun it is to live in Third-World countries.
janie
June 24th, 2012
12:47 pm
Hoorah! for Kelly Smith Beaty. She addresses a topic that both black and white Atlantans see, but for some reason, seem hesitant to acknowledge. It occurs to me that the classy, intelligent, “real” black women of Atlanta are too focused on family and career to put their lives on display on national TV. But, then again, these woman do not have enough drama in ther lives to make the voyeuresque public tune in.
wronggirl
June 24th, 2012
12:49 pm
kroy kroy kroy what were you thinkin? (he says to himself) keep it strapped dude!
BADA BING
June 24th, 2012
1:09 pm
If you want a reality show about the ATL, watch COPS.
Weezy norton
June 24th, 2012
1:27 pm
MS. BEATY COMMENTS ARE SO TRUE. ATLANTA IS A GREAT PLACE AND I LOVE MOST THINGS ABOUT IT…..BUT PEOPLE CAN MESS UP A “GOOD IMAGE”.LET US ALL DO BETTER, BECAUSE WE KNOW BETTER. GOD BLESS ATLANTA.
Reality shows make everyone look bad « ATLmalcontent
June 24th, 2012
2:43 pm
[...] much-discussed essay decrying the treatment of black Atlantans on reality show ignores the fact they portray everyone as [...]
Fern Bunwhacker
June 24th, 2012
2:48 pm
I visited Atlanta for a conference this past yr. Stayed at the downtown Hyatt. As soon as I opened the door of my taxi, a homeless black panhandler was waiting to harass me for money. During my stay, which was three days, I learned not to go out on the street because I’d be harassed by homeless black panhandlers, usually within seconds after leaving the hotel. I stayed within the confines of the Hyatt, or to leave, I’d go to the shops, bars or restaurants in the undergroud. I’ll never go back to Atlanta, ever.
Jay Adams
June 24th, 2012
10:58 pm
Natasha, there is nothing wrong with being “country”. What a prejudiced remark you have made!
DRCH2
June 25th, 2012
4:32 am
Thank you!! After living in Atlanta for 32 years, I too was embarrassed by its reputation. A year ago, I was shocked while visiting home with my family in D.C.,when my brother asked if everyone from the ATL was like what was portrayed in television. To some extent, that downward slide began during the 1996 Olympics, when greedy people ruined what was a marvelous event. They don’t even think about us in the events leading up to the next Olympics. Grow up Atlanta!!
MiltTwift
June 25th, 2012
5:44 am
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June 26th, 2012
8:02 am
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Former resident criticizes reality-show portrayals of black Atlantans | Brambleman
June 26th, 2012
8:44 am
[...] Her piece has created a lot of buzz. As a matter of fact, Jennifer Brett of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution wrote about it in The Buzz. [...]