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Show FEBRUARY 1975 THE BROAD AX PAGE TWELVE PROSTITUTION AND RACISM THAT’S MY MAMMIE. ...MOMMA sensitivity to the images of Blacks over the air waves by producing yet another Black exploitative television series. This one has ‘been dubbed “That’s My Momma.” part, were extremely discriminatory and despicable in content. Sure, everyone has the right to express their views on any given topic. But why too stars an all Black cast, which is complete direct a publication with such Se tathesing references to minorities, which in this case were the Black people? with all of your old sterotypical friends, i.e. the happy go lucky darkies with nothing Lesser, derogatory insinuations were hurled previous “Black” television shows this one Throughout this first article by Gary towards the Black people in Salt Lake. to do but eat, drink, swindle, and of course be merry...and oh are they merry. In order to follow the precedent set by previous Black programs of the situation shows; poor script writers with ditto fluid for brain s:matter, topped only by equally poor and inept directors, who in turn are only surpassed by non-talented bodies posing as actors. At its very best, the show is trying. No — where else, with the exception of other Black programs on television, can one see Black actors trying to act Black and coming no closer than whites in burnt cork came ‘in early films to portraying Blacks. Even with a vivid imagination one finds it hard to believe that the characters are real beings and not just figments of a bad imagination. — Just when one felt that all of the stero- | types about Blacks had been played, comes ABC with its new idea, the revival of the greatest and most domiant sterotype of them all....the Mammie. The name’s been changed by the products the same. Images of yester-years films bring to mind the big, fat, Black woman who had a reputation for being highly religious, cantankerous, and the most domiant _ figure in everyone’s life she touched, especially Black men who are nothing but “boys’’ in her ever presentomni0 potent shadow. , As in the past, so is ABC’s Momma. Every character, friend or foe, must bow to the will of Momma, most sickening . of all the characters is her twenty-dumb year old son who still lives with his Momma, and bows to her every wish and command. _ With each newtelevision show being — aired, the negative images.get increasingly worse, and since ‘‘That’s My Momma” _is the latest ABC must have clearly felt that their sterotypes must be the,most degrading...and indeed they are. One can expect and with some degree of tolerance accept the sniper fire launched towards the Black but the recent attack on the Black woman that occurs in this series is above and well beyond the call of duty. When television portrays white women as sexy little kittens laying down every male they can, and-taking every- thing they can in the process, then maybe television can begin to portray Black women in the same light, until that time television should cease and desist in _ making every young Black woman their = Several city officials expressed their ardent — views and disgust at the amount of moncy the “girls” were making. “They are making so damn much money, they can afford to Aire the best lawyer.” This was a statement by Ken Halterman of the Salt Lake Police Department. Another insinuating statement . by Halterman was - “When she’s off the streets, it means she’s not making any money. And that’s bad for him (the pimp). He’s got payments to make on his Cadillac. ” Tf this isn’t a direct inference to Black people, then I don’t know what is. 3 | This article, as well as the rest in the series, all contain the characteristics of causticity and demoralization. Part two of the same series, gives an obstentatious account of a “white prostitute’” who successtully makes her come-back ‘into society and is accepted. To show the racist attitudes of the people in the Valley, a Black prostitute could never live down her past, simply because ‘they feel that “these girls have a character flaw” which keeps them, supposedly, on the streets, But in the case of the white prostitute ’ going straight, they state it as if she “was a victim of circumstances” who was just secking “love and security.” Because of her gullibility, she was “trapped into an unfortunate situation” before she was “‘aware of what was really happening to her.” White people really have a way of sugar-coating for their own. As - the old myth goes, “white is right; and Black is evil.” Some people in Salt Lake have a tendency to promote racist, stereotypic myths in regards to Black people. Another example _ of the white culture protecting their own, is that they try to make it appear that this white prostitute made the “majority” of her money by being a good listener; “I made a lot from just talking. Many guys don’t have anywhere to go to talk or get their ego built up, so they come to me.”’ A statement of this nature could lead one to believe that she wasn’t ee “immoral” but was just a “‘missionary in disguise.” ‘ An interview with a so-called “Black pimp” was the topic for the third article. “Dan” (an alias name) came to Salt Lake with two of his “white prostitutes” from Denver. mode of transportation? - “The Salt Lake: press will tell us anything, and the killing part about il is Lhal they expect us to believe it. Cultural ignorance and sickness is a disease that’s rapidly spreading throughout this “lily white” valley. “Dan” commented that the other pimps in town don’t understand him , and look at him lie he’s a “fool.” Is it no wonder, especially if he really is in existence? Dan , said, “They don’t understand me having fun with my old lady. They never think of any bul the street.”” Dan continued, “‘Their idea of fun is. being down on the street, hanging outin the bars and shooling pool. That’s not for me.” ; “Dan” claims in this article, that “pimping” is just a phase in his life brought on by the lack of better things to do and that wedding plans are in the immediate future for he and his * ‘old lady.” quite obvious that this reporter had nothing better to do but to print propaganda. -The last of these series dealt with the pros and cons of legalizing prostitution in the state of Utah. James Barker, Jr., ex-Salt Lake City Public Safety Commisioner, took the “con” position on the legalization of prostitution. “Under no circumstances would I ever legalize prostitution,” said Barker. “If prostitution were legalized,” continued Barker, “pimps would be given legal respec tabikiy which would be a serioud mistake.”’ Barker is known for crac king down well known “prostitute dec “oy” system operating on Second South. Barker summed up his exact se ntime nis on prostitution and pimps, by saying, “it’s a dirty,s. filthy, stinking business, whether it’s legal or illegal.” Barker also feels that prostitutes are milking the welfare system here in the Valley, and should be beracd: in bee ee to preserve the community. At the other end of the spectrum, J. Bracken Lee is reported to be in favor of legalizing prostitution. He feels that “‘you can’t change behavior by passing laws.” This statement does hold some validity. Lee’s contention is to-eliminate the crime element and to reduce the venereal disease rate by licensing and controlling prostitution, Lee commented on the “foolish” way the ' Salt Lake Police Department handles prostitution. He said that the decoy system has “contributed to the ruin and embarass- too many “brothers” who are “pimps” actually marry (legally, anyway) their “whore” and especially, if she’s pregnant -and by someone else? The writer must | But assess their inherent unstability and total — lack of knowledge of the Black culture. Dan stated that he “has his own style of pimping and that he doesn’t need the flashy car, clothes and diamond rings. He claims human, which is definitely a reality, and that as long as “they don’t harm anyone, what they do ts their own business.” At the conclusion of this four part series, [ found out from a very “reliable” source who told me that the reporter didn’t intet-view actual “pimps and prostitutes.” In other - words, according to my informant, this whole spectacle was falsely reported and printed for the masses in the Valley. for one who thinks Archie Bunker is flection of fool inside. on dirty books, screening X-rated movies, and instigating the. publication of their arrests.” “I don’t agree,” he stated, “with the stool pigeon method of catching people.” Lee apparently assumes that people are future wife. This in itself is extremely difficult to believe. For the most part, not from that above statement, one can readily nothing more than a figment of some one elses imagination and not a re- s One can readily see that the previous information on the “pimp” just doesn’t “jive” with the actual realities of the “street.”” It’s ment in the lives of many people through the think Black people are really stupid. say the show shows imagination and wit, - and is extremely funny, but then it was probably those same people or some wY like Cleveland: Amory of Guide TV where ride a “motorcycle” for their main: pregnant, by someone else, and is his their Mammie. will his “motorcycle.” ~ Now . se riously how many: Black pimps. any-. One of his “white prostitutes” is now tramp and every older Black woman There are those, as always, who *' “prostitution.” The articles, for the most In the finest tradition of all of the comedy variety, the show has all of the key elements required of recent Black _ that he’s content to a Jaty 28, 1974, marked the fitst' in a fonit part series in the. Salt Lake’ Tribune on ws either their total lack of concern or in- “Sunday, hoog uy hi The American Broadcasting Company, and for the record, the American Television Industry have once again demonstrated’ By Phillita Jordan | ° |
