VIEWPOINT
TV lags behind in portrayal of Blacks
By BEVERLY SHEPARD
SpecUl Pro]«ct5 Eklitor
Although the last few decades of the 20th
century have marked advancement for the
Black man, news of a different image has
AN KDITOKIAl.
apparently not reached television writers,
producers, or directors. The eye-bucking,
lip-chawing, yes-sur antics of the 1930s
have t)ecome more subtle stereotypes to
day. Remnants of these stereotypes exist
in characters like J.J. in “Good Times”
and George Jefferson in “The Jeffersons."
A decade ago. Black television stars fill
ed the ultra-cool, suave right-on man, im
age. Clarence 1-awrence III, who was Link
in the Mod Squad, was such a character.
The disc Jockey on "Dance Fever” typifies
that all too worn-out hippish Black.
When Diahann Carroll starred in
"Julia,” Blacks were so glad to see
another Black on the screen, that they
disregarded the show’s idealistic setting.
The character portrayed "blackness” so
ambiguously that it could have been
played by any white woman as well.
Thus m the 70s white writers continue to
present Blacks in situational comedies.
Themes in “That’s My Mama” and
“What’s Happening” were never serious
enough to allow the viewing audience to
By DONNA D. WHITAKER
Associate Editor
In view of President Carter’s recent an
nouncement in his Slate of the Union Ad
dress of plans to reinstate peacetime draft
registration, Americans aged 18-26 must
prepare to visit their local draft boards.
Draft registration is just a preparation
in case the draft is needed again. The idea
IS for the United States government to
know where you are in case they need your
ser\ices in a hurry. Then they can just
snatch you from your life activities and
make you a military person. What fun!
Captain Jack D. Stevens. USN. chair
man of the Department of Naval Science
Naval KOTCi, .said that he felt the an
nouncement was in line based on world
events It s the kind of thing the country
has to go to.” he said.
Colonel John W Wolfe, chairman of
Aerospace Studies ' Air Force KOTC i said.
1 feel that people will take it wrong - it’s
just a call to register."
.Mso in hi.s .State of the Union .\ddress.
Carter VQwcd to repel any Soviet Union at-
tempc to rontrol the Persian Gulf region
by u.'^of any means ncce.s.sary "
Okay, so the United States ha.s to start
the oie draft boards operating again,
because Carter has gone and threatened
the Soviet Union.
Although Stevens said that remstration
do* ,s not nei evsarjly mean war. American
young people should think ahead What if
the United Slates did go to war ’
get a clear perception of Black interaction
with themselves and white society.
At one time, all Blacks were presented in
ghettos. In “Good Times,” the Evans
family was poor, but they “was sho nuff
happy.” Estelle Rolle, seeing through
these shallow portrayals, quit the show un
til writers agreed to concentrate on more
serious themes and a more mature role for
J.J.
Redd Foxx does not dispel stereotypes
either when in “Sanford and Son" reruns,
he portrays a backwards, lazy junk dealer.
When Blacks were finally brought out of
T.V. ghettos, they did so in the creation of
Goerge Jefferson, who at times comes
closest to the 1930 buffoonery image. Then
too, there’s that loud-mouthed precocious
brat, Gary Coleman, on “Diff’rent
Strokes.” The writers of this show actually
expect people to believe that a kind-
hearted, upper-middle class white man
adopted two Black ghetto boys into his
home. Then, he has a white daughter and a
cook who just love them, the boys have on
ly a few bad habits so they adapt perfectly,
and the entire family lives happily.
I^st year’s T.V. programming did see
some breakthrough in Black roleasting.
In an hour long CBS program titled,
"Paris,” James Earl Jones portrayed a
happily married police catain^ named
Woody Paris. Paris rarely emphasized the
fact of Jones' being a Black man but
rather tried to typify him as a universal
character. Yet the dignity with which the
role was played surpassed the buffoonerv
Black men should constantly think of
answers to this question, because in the
past they have been the ones who tended to
get drafted moreso than others. They did
not have the money or connections to avoid
the situation.
Black women must now think of answers
to the at)ove question in the same light as
Black men must, since women could
possibly be drafted if the law is ammend-
ed. President Carter can start registration
of men. but must get special permission
from Congress to register women.
Also, if women are drafted, a law must
be passed that will allow women to fight in
a war. As of now, women in the armed
forces can tram for any type of job except
one involving combat skills.
Therefore, men and women could
possibly be fighting in a war together, or if
not that, they could be working more close
ly together in the military.
In the past, college students and married
men were exempted from the draft, but
ROTC chairmen at UNC-CH believe that a
more equitable draft system must be im
plemented in order for the draft to work.
Although Carter can propose plans for
registration and draft procedures. Con
gress IS the l)ody that will set the wheels
rolling, and if it does pass the proposals, it
will take some months before the draft
boards will be able to operate.
So. even if there is not a war Black
.'\mericans, as well as others, should
prepar to answer to Uncle Sam’s call
sometime in the future.
of George Jefferson without becoming the
super-dyanamics of a fast-paced Starsky
and Hutch type.
As a kick-off from “Soap,” ABC aired
“Benson” starring Robert Guillaume. In
this 30 minute comedy, Benson becomes
the patriarch of a white governor’s
household. The talented 51-year-old
Guillaume, whether on stage showing off
his bass voice or as an actor, comes across
as a very positive and unique character.
Even though his character on “Soap” was
that of a servant, Benson’s arrogancy and
familiarity surpassed the apron and
dustcloth exterior.
Another ABC program, “The Lazarus
Syndrome," starred 42-year-old Louis
Gossett Jr. as Dr. MacArthur St. Clair. St.
Clair is a cardiologist and chief of staff at a
privately-owned memorial hospital . . .
The show aired for one hour and after be
ing discontinued for some technical ad
justments, it supposedly returns in
January. The American public knew of
Gosett’s acting talent from his portrayal of
Fiddler in “Roots,” which won him the
An analysis
BSM stresses
By JENNIFER DYKES
Staff Writer
The BSM held a general body
meeting Wednesday, January 23, in
Upendo. Two of the many things
stressed were interest and unity. The
BSM general body desperately needs
these qualities as evidenced by the
scanty 39 in attendance; that’s a realy
minute attendance out of the 220 BSM
members, and the proportion gets
even more miniscufe compared to thfe ■*
1560 Blacks on campus.
Another point stressed was input,
input, INPUT! How can the BSM plan
if they get no input as to WHAT they
should plan? What does the BSM plan
to do should they receive more ideas?
Well, a BSM subsidiary, the Central
Committee, held a retreat recently
and decided that a new department
should be formed exclusively for the
1977 Emmy for Best Actor. Yet, somehow
the show just isn’t what was expected.
Perhaps it is Gosset’s ill-cast white co-star
or perhaps white writers have difficulty
developing the character of a Black car
diologist.
Neither of these three shows are written,
produced or directed by Blacks. This br- -
ings to mind one very serious problem that
conflicts with the portrayal of Blacks on
T.V. Blacks are characterized as the white
man believes them to be. There has been
no successful median between the
idealistic and the ridiculous.
ESSENCE magazine points out that only
4.7% of all television programs on public
T.V. are by or about minorities. The
American public still awaits a type that ex
pands beyond “Good Times’s” J.J. and
“Baretta’s” Rooster. One suggestion is a
warm, sensitive Black family man. White
producers would probably take up that
idea and create a “Father Knows Best” in
Black, but he will be no more believable
now than Robert Young was then.
need for input
purpose of co-ordinating any sug
gested activities. The title for the per
son in charge of this department will
be Special Projects Co-ordinator. He
or she will have as a staff of all dorm
representatives, thereby providing a
direct line of communication between
the students and the co-ordinator.
Also announced was a permanent
date for general body meetings. Dur
ing this semester, meetings will be
heJd. on the third NJoncfay of 'every
"month "in UpeiTdo Lounge ai ’nOO. It is
hoped that a fixed time will help
students to plan their activities so that
they will be able to increase atten
dance at future meetings.
With a little perseverance more
people suggesting, and a special of-
hce to implement the suggestions.
Spring Semester 1980 promises
busyness, accomplishment, and
entertainment. Go to it, BSM!
BI4CK INK
“The essence of freedom is understanding.”
James Alexander Jr. and Theresa Williams
Co-Editors
Debra Harris
Managing Editor
Donna D. Whitaker
Associate Editor
Sharoyn Marshall
News Editor
Allen Johnson
Arts Editor
Linda Brown
F eatures Editor
Deweese Gilyard
Photography Editor
Frances Silva
Sports Editor
Beverly Shepard
Special Projects Editor
Ricky Bryson
Business Manager
Rochelle Riley
Advertisng Manager
NEWS FOCUS:
Draft concern arises