Experts over at Google define reality television to be the television programs in which real people are continuously filmed, designed to be entertaining rather than informative. For years the reality TV industry has been lucrative and popular amongst people all over the world. Some may deem it to be just pure entertainment, some may believe it 's scripted. Either way, it 's imperative to look at the content that is actually being put out there by reality television. Not only does it promote negative images and stereotypes, it exploits the lives of individuals for financial gain. Viewers often overlook this negative portrayal and focus on the entertainment aspect which can be detrimental to society. When evaluating the effects that reality television
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Atlanta, Georgia often referenced as “Black Hollywood” is the central filming place when it comes to blacks on television. Shows like Real Housewives of Atlanta, Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, Married to Medicine, Ink Paper Scissors and more are all very lucrative franchises. However, with that type of influence it’s inevitable that they have a big impact on society. Fifty-five minutes of black women screaming, cursing each other out, fighting and being loud carries on the stereotype that black women are controlling, violent, loud, sassy, and promiscuous. Story lines in which women are caught in violent love triangles, strippers and prostitutes are glorified, alcoholic drinks are constantly being thrown and it seems there is no sense of resolution. As if black women weren’t already stereotyped and degraded in entertainment enough, these shows have drilled into society that black women aren’t worth praising. Black men aren’t represented positively in reality television either. The stereotype of the black man has been around for centuries. It can be traced back to the slave era with the “Buck” which was meant to refer to the alpha male in the group. Black men today are stereotyped as over-sexualized, womanizers, thugs, criminals, and incapable of being a stable father. In these cases however the male stereotype is often embraced and praised despite the fact it contributes to the overall negative perception of the African American man. The late Atlanta rapper Carlos Walker better known by his stage name “Shawty Lo” was in the process of filming his reality series when it was production was halted. The show “All My Babies’ Mamas” was subjected to the life of a 36-year-old Shawty Lo, his 11 kids, 10 “baby-mamas”, and his 19-year-old girlfriend. This show even went as far as to label the mothers with derogatory monikers such as “Fighter Baby Mama”, “Wanna-be-bougie Baby Mama”,
Atlanta, Georgia often referenced as “Black Hollywood” is the central filming place when it comes to blacks on television. Shows like Real Housewives of Atlanta, Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, Married to Medicine, Ink Paper Scissors and more are all very lucrative franchises. However, with that type of influence it’s inevitable that they have a big impact on society. Fifty-five minutes of black women screaming, cursing each other out, fighting and being loud carries on the stereotype that black women are controlling, violent, loud, sassy, and promiscuous. Story lines in which women are caught in violent love triangles, strippers and prostitutes are glorified, alcoholic drinks are constantly being thrown and it seems there is no sense of resolution. As if black women weren’t already stereotyped and degraded in entertainment enough, these shows have drilled into society that black women aren’t worth praising. Black men aren’t represented positively in reality television either. The stereotype of the black man has been around for centuries. It can be traced back to the slave era with the “Buck” which was meant to refer to the alpha male in the group. Black men today are stereotyped as over-sexualized, womanizers, thugs, criminals, and incapable of being a stable father. In these cases however the male stereotype is often embraced and praised despite the fact it contributes to the overall negative perception of the African American man. The late Atlanta rapper Carlos Walker better known by his stage name “Shawty Lo” was in the process of filming his reality series when it was production was halted. The show “All My Babies’ Mamas” was subjected to the life of a 36-year-old Shawty Lo, his 11 kids, 10 “baby-mamas”, and his 19-year-old girlfriend. This show even went as far as to label the mothers with derogatory monikers such as “Fighter Baby Mama”, “Wanna-be-bougie Baby Mama”,