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1. afrobella » Worth a Click on 28 Feb 2007 at 8:45 am

   […] on that site. But even though I laughed at those pictures, I’m not crazy about the concept of BET taking Hot Ghetto Mess to the airwaves. I already saw that show when it was called Flavor of Love. What does it say about me that […]

2. Lived and Gone to Hell » The Primary Contradiction on 01 Mar 2007 at 3:20 am

   […] we’ve been tackling the insanity of two people of color who felt the need to spew their identical atrocious hatred of people of color in horribly public ways. I was all set to blog about this in a gutwrenching piece of analysis, […]

3. politicalpartypoop.com » Blog Archive » “Hot Ghetto Mess”, BET’s latest show, gains opposition on 05 Jul 2007 at 5:13 pm

   […] Meanwhile, word to Racialicious for the lede on this story. In February, it looked at the website “Hot Ghetto Mess” that the show is based on. Read “Hot Ghetto Mess: social critique or classist mockery?” here. […]

4. HicktownPress » Blog Archive » The “Mess” Hits the Fan! on 18 Jul 2007 at 7:45 am

   […] Racialicious […]

5. BET changes name, but doesn't pull plug on "Hot Ghetto Mess" at Racialicious - the intersection of race and pop culture on 25 Jul 2007 at 8:35 am

   […] new BET show based on the web site HotGhettoMess.com (we first told you about it back in February) makes its premiere tonight. But because of the firestorm of criticism, BET has decided to change […]

Comments

1. deb wrote:

   I’ve received emails containing photos from HGM and all I can think is, “My people.” I’ll admit, I have found some of the pictures LOL funny. Yet, at the same time I have to question what inspires folks to put themselves in such candid situations? If, as the woman in the above email says, these people are indeed “unsuspecting,” who then, is to blame for the lack of discretion? The person who submitted the picture and violated the subject’s privacy, or the unscrupulous subject?

   The cynic in me thinks that for some folks 15 minutes of internet fame trumps scruples.

   Posted 27 Feb 2007 at 3:41 pm ¶

2. bertie wrote:

   I’ve seen the site.

   I’m not sure how bright red hair wigs/weaves or NBA throwback jersey prom dresses are the downfall of the black community. Given that most of the pictures seem to be of folks at social events (clubs, proms, weddings) it seems like the site is just poking fun of styles that are outside of the “mainstream.”

   Posted 27 Feb 2007 at 3:54 pm ¶

3. Anonymous wrote:

   The slogan for the website is “We Got to Do Better.” I think we can choose to take the creator of the website at his word that he is trying to expose this ridiculousness for some constructive purpose.

   A television series, however, would be an exploitative cash grab.

   Posted 27 Feb 2007 at 4:14 pm ¶

4. motabhai wrote:

   i think this is *hardly* a social critique for the better of the community. the author of the web site makes it sounds like they’re presenting a non-biased image of the black community, and things that “need to be improved,” if i might paraphrase. but his presentation is insanely biased. by who’s standards are “our communities going to hell?” white, middle-class, hetrosexual, families in the burbs? since when is that the pinnacle of society that the author’s presuming we’re all striving for? they suggest the purpose of the sight is to give us an idea of how we can make our communities better. on what barmeter? what other comminities are we comparing ourselves to qualify what it means to make ours “better?”

   i think this site is insanely ingorant, and if it’s turned into a tv show, provides another reason for me to smash my magnovox.

   Posted 27 Feb 2007 at 4:16 pm ¶

5. Kaywil wrote:

   This person (website author) thinks their ‘community’ is going to hell…which pretty much sums up their reasoning behind this ‘face your reflection’ approach. In the same breath, the website’s author is asking everyone to take an individualistic (as oppose to group) approach to self/community examination. It seems to be a situation where they have not yet grappled with class vs. race. Perhaps they have been already convinced that “all (minority racial group) people are the same” and cannot make the distinction.

   The black unity movement (emancipation period and beyond) has fused some societal distinctions together - a removal of racial differences (changed to light skin/dark skin) and class differences (changed to ghetto/you-think-you-white). It’s sometimes seen as a betrayal to separate yourself from others within the ‘community’ regardless of their actions (ie. R. Kelly). We’re still seen as one unit with one voice, I guess.

   BET is not a place where people should be expecting fair representation, despite the name, but then again, it’s always shocking and revolting when things like this happen.

   Posted 27 Feb 2007 at 4:54 pm ¶

6. inciquay wrote:

   Hmmm after looking at the pics I have to say that it looks akin to the people that show up to American Idol in Star Wars get-ups. They wnt the attention and go into it wholeheartedly. While these people probably didn’t think they’d be featured on a website of this nature they are clearly courting notariety, however lame. They are proud of having Kool Aid Sun-Jammers emblazoned in neon orange on the back of their heads. they showed up to evens, nightclubs or simply city streets to let the world see their, ahem… creativity.
   Hot Ghetto Mess on TV seems like a variation of America’s Funniest Home Videos, which although I personally find ludicrous, has been on-air for more than 16 years. If this is something that people are willingly wanting to participate in by submitting videos so be it. They do not represent me and I hardly think that I’d be accused of being seen on the show, so it doesn’t bother me. Rest assured, the amount of White people who will come out of the woodwork to show off their towering, multicolred do’s will quickly equal or surpass the Black people. It’s a given.

   Posted 27 Feb 2007 at 5:07 pm ¶

7. Y. Carrington wrote:

   I think it is time that the black community or (insert your race here) needs to take a good look at itself in the mirror and each of us ask ourselves why are our communities are going to hell.

   Jam Donaldson is full of horseshit. The rationale: Since poor Black communities have devolved into savage barbarism, we need to have a show mocking said barbarism for all TV viewers to see. How uplifting. Presumably Donaldson is NOT exploiting African American culture in order to make millions of dollars for herself, but only to show those unfortunate “ghetto” Black folks how unruly and ridiculous they are. Wow, thanks for the lesson in “self-examination”! I couldn’t have done it without you!

   As for BET, they work for Viacom now. They’ve gotta make their boss happy.

   Posted 27 Feb 2007 at 5:14 pm ¶

8. Kim Hill wrote:

   If the creaters of HGM could find the way to make reality television both inspiring and uplifting, then the idea would be worthwhile. But that plan has yet to be found because it’s much easier to just sit back and criticize others.

   Posted 27 Feb 2007 at 5:45 pm ¶

9. Y. Carrington wrote:

   Okay Carmen and folks…I think we need to watch out for something. This is no hyperbole.

   Some of the photos on the “Just Sad” page (which focuses on children and youth) are extremely disturbing and inappropriate, and many depict blatant child abuse and neglect. One photo (two men posing a clothed female infant in a really disturbing position) could even meet the legal definition of child pornography. I won’t link the page because it is too fucked up, but click in the “Just Sad” tab in the left sidebar to see for yourself.

   Now Donaldson says she is a lawyer, why does she not know this shit? She even admits to posting photos without the subjects’ consent, and mocks the idea of litigation with this glib quote from her FAQ page:

   I am not able to tell you who submitted your picture. If you threaten to take me on a court show because your picture appeared on the site, please make it one of the black judges, preferably Judge Joe Brown or Judge Mathis.

   What?

   Posted 27 Feb 2007 at 5:47 pm ¶

10. kim wrote:

    Anonymous wrote:
    “The slogan for the website is “We Got to Do Better.”

    Y. Carrington wrote:
    “Now Donaldson says she is a lawyer…”

    Kim: Come on folks, this is a joke!

    (Oh God, I hope so.)

    Posted 27 Feb 2007 at 6:28 pm ¶

11. bygbaby wrote:

    The web site itself is a HGM & that’s one thing, a TV show is a horse of another color & NEEDS to be stopped by any means necessary.

    BET’s willingness to put something like this on the air shows their lack of commitment to truly entertain Black people.

    BET’s to me is the anti Christ & at this point needs to be taken off the air. They have no hard hitting programs. I mean who has time to watch videos all damn day. I don’t think there is one program on BET that I can sit & watch with my family & that is saddening.

    Bygbaby

    Posted 27 Feb 2007 at 9:03 pm ¶

12. kesha wrote:

    I don’t have cable, there fore, i don’t give a damn.

    Boycott Viacom!

    Posted 27 Feb 2007 at 11:32 pm ¶

13. Ariel wrote:

    “As long as ignorance prevails, blacks will be the tools of the exploiting class.” — Charles Hamilton Houston

    “What’s up my people. To those of you who are new to the site welcome and to my regular viewers, welcome back.

    My mission with this site is to usher in a new era of self-examination. And because I am proud member of the black community, they are my priority. However, those of other races take note and if the shoe fits wear it. I think it is time that the black community or (insert your race here) needs to take a good look at itself in the mirror and each of us ask ourselves why are our communities are going to hell.

    This site does not proclaim to know the answer to that question, for the answer is different for each of us. I want each and every person that reads these words to look at your life and ask how you can make yourself better, your community better or your kids better.

    I am just holding up a mirror to my community so don’t blame me if you don’t like your reflection.

    Frankly, the blame game is getting real tired. There is simply no excuse for not maintaining a high standard for yourself and your children. And by high standards I don’t mean expensive stuff, I means high standards of character. We already squander our considerable spending power on stuff and look where’s its gotten us. Yes, yes I know there is racism, there is inequality of opportunity, gross disparities in education and health care. But my reasoning is, BECAUSE there are all these things, it is even more imperative that we look inward and strengthen our communities ourselves. When I was growing up, my mother used to tell me that I had to be twice as good as my white counterparts to be considered equal. And of course we still have to fight the big fights for civil rights, health care reform, equality in education, economic opportunity but I just don’t see how we can do that when our own communities are in shambles. Those fights require cohesion and strength. Two things we are struggling with in the black community right now.

    Back in the day, everyone lived together, the doctors and teachers and plumbers and lawyers and housewives and whinos all lived in the same community—so you had standard bearers– role models, people for the kids to look up to. But now, with our cities economically segregated, there are areas of concentrated poverty where kids have no idea what opportunity is—not because there are none, because there is no one to show them what it is. The black middle class has moved to the suburbs and too often don’t have time to tutor or mentor an underprivileged child because by the time they get off work and brave traffic back to their McMansion, where has the day gone. Now we all bear part of the blame, the middle class has moved up and out never looking back to help our less fortunate brothers and sisters, and some of our less fortunate brothers and sisters conduct their lives like idiots.

    And money isn’t always the answer, just because you are poor that doesn’t give you license to live any kind of way. You can pick up the trash in front of your damn door.

    Just because you are poor doesn’t mean you don’t have to support your children, respect women, live in a pig sty or you can have 5 kids by different fathers. To say that we shouldn’t expect strength of character from a person because they are poor is insulting to all the hard working folks scratching and scraping to get by but know they must set a high standard for themselves and their children if they ever want to change their condition. Look at black folks in the 20’s and 30’s when we didn’t have two nickels to rub together but we had pride in ourselves and our image. And you’re just as bad if you ARE making money and not helping somebody else along the way.

    So again, I ask what are we doing to help each other because as Farrakhan said recently, “the days of the benevolent white man are over.” Power concedes nothing. All we got is us people. We can’t afford to live like we’re living. From school, to clothing to music, to our children—where have our standards gone? And if our own can’t come out and rally for change, who can? Why do we so often condemn the people who point out what’s wrong instead of condemning the behavior?

    And I will say again, to all of you who are angry at me for airing our dirty laundry—good I’m glad you’re angry, now maybe collectively, including me, we’ll be forced to finally go wash it. This site is the beginning, the ending is up to us.

    Peace.
    Jam Donaldson
    Creator

    P.S. I love y’all because y’all are mine. ”

    Quoted from website

    A shame.This just goes to show that:

    A. You can be a rich bum (what a crook)
    B. Once you “rise up” and become a lawyer doesn’t stop you from being a damn fool.
    C. People who have been exploited on this website are unfortunately probably too ignorant to call a lawyer
    D.She needs to know that she isn’t “my people” even if she is black.

    She is a disgrace to the community and is one of the many reasons that blacks are dipicted this way in the first place. If I were racist I would call her the “C” word… She just isn’t worthy of being called the “N” word.

    If your reading this please note that all black people aren’t like this…

    Is there hope?

    Deflamation of character….

    XoXo,

    Arie

    Also, BET is not black entertainment, but that’s a different story.I refuse to watch that- it is black exploitation.

    Posted 27 Feb 2007 at 11:50 pm ¶

14. Ariel wrote:

    *typos: (written in rage) depicted,defamation.

    Posted 27 Feb 2007 at 11:53 pm ¶

15. eric daniels wrote:

    Who cares, I have been to the site and it has photos of working class and poor blacks acting a fool. This is a class war that has always been going on in Black America, Cosby and Winfrey just bought it out in the open. I personally don’t think the people in those photographs really care if they are embrassing Black America because they are to busy living their lives and pursing their American Dream.

    There are 38 million Blacks of Afro- American descent there is room for every black person from the Bougie, working class and ghetto fab to be themselves. The problem is mass media and the Black elite’s shame of seeing only this image of black america, but in American people don’t want to see Black Doctors, Lawyers, Fathers or Black Men or Women just living their lives.

    They want the lowest common demoninator of black folks that sells paper and drives ratings and intellectual discussions on the plight of African- Americans usually led by a black criminal at 6 on newschannel 5. Let Jam peterson make her loot, someone is going to of lower class blacks being themselves.

    Posted 28 Feb 2007 at 4:54 am ¶

16. Angel H. wrote:

    I think about this website and television idea (I haven’t seen the site yet; I’ll wait for an empty stomach), and all I can think of are those “ghetto parties” that’ve been spreading like the plague recently. One of the main reasons that many of those people were unapologetic was because they claimed that that was how the Black community portrayed itself to others. (Nevermind that the only exposure to the Black community that most of them have ever had have been through music videos on BET!) And now, somebody actually wants to publicize this mess on TV to make a quick buck? And give those ignorant assholes more ammunition? Hell, no!

    [sarcasm]
    To hell with the Black community, as long as those dollars keep rolling in, right Donaldson?

    Posted 28 Feb 2007 at 1:00 pm ¶

17. Julz wrote:

    This attorney got a break, because of those who went before her. Jam Donaldson knows better. But, she also knows how to dupe.
    She is not as benign as she would have you think. Make no mistake: her intention is to make a profit, much like so many in/out of our community who seek to exploit/harm/disqualify/degrade “their own.” Her site is rife with advertisments.
    The Black community has so many other challenges to overcome. Why would she think that in the midst of those challenges, the egregious would pause from their offenses to visit her site?
    Additionally, Ms. Donaldson is ridiculing people who likely do not have computers; most Americans do not own computers. How are her ventures going to help the mentally challenged woman who was photographed half naked on a light pole? What will be the affect on the child, who while attending school, finds out that the fist fight her parents had the night before is on the web?
    Visit her site, if you must, with a new point-of -view: Ask yourself if the subjects look like they would intentionally “pose” for the pictures and if they would, did they intend for the pictures to be lampooned?
    Most of the pictures seem to be submitted as a betrayal. As a matter of fact, that is the spirit in which they are solicited.
    We have enough challenges coming into our community. Additionally, we are breeding parasites like Donaldson. When will the Black community run out of the cancers within, who claim to bring aid only to take more than they could ever give?

    Posted 28 Feb 2007 at 2:06 pm ¶

18. Mrs. J wrote:

    Did anybody actually read the letter by Jam Donaldson that Ariel reposted in full (before trashing it)? It clearly states that her mission is to usher in “a new era of self-examination”.

    In essence, constructive self-criticism within the African American community. As in start with the man in the mirror, as in check yourself before you wreck yourself. I’ll stop with the bad hip hop and R&B cliches, but this has nothing to do with college “ghetto parties” or anybody’s minstrel show.

    Donaldson’s way of thinking is obviously in the same vein as Cosby and Oprah - people who have actively demonstrated that they truly care about the black community, but want to see a positive change within it ( they also happen to be people who know what it means to be poor). I seriously doubt Donaldson would be putting the energy forth to do this if she didn’t have the best interest of black folks at heart.

    So my questions are:

    1. How long can black people as a whole afford to ignore, tolerate and/or glamorize self-degrading behavior?

    2. Why do so many care more about masking negative images as opposed to creating more positive ones…not for mainstream culture, but for the black community and its next generation to come?

    Mainstream America already assumes that the majority of black folks are this way (damn the truth hurts), so I fail to see the danger in publicizing this negative imagery if it’s done for constructive purposes. Jam Donaldson does a good job of it one the site, we’ll see if her irreverence translates well to the BET version or if it gets lost. I can’t image Reginald Hudlin not taking good care of it, but we’ll see.

    Either way - enough with the excuses. We know full well that *hairstyles way too outlandish for a professional job and nails far too long for typing on anybody’s keyboard are only the tip of this icberg.

    *Hairstyles like airplanes and rose bushes, not locks.

    Posted 28 Feb 2007 at 6:36 pm ¶

19. eric daniels wrote:

    Ms J, and what type of behaviour should 38 million African- American people should emulate?
    Rapists like Bill Cosby who loves to slip Roffies into women’s drinks while he sexually assaults them, Or Oprah who whines because she couldn’t get into a department store (at closing time) and claims it’s racism. Yeah I am for self- critique who gets to determine what is approiate black behaviour, You, Me, White People, Ghetto blacks.

    All I ask for any citizen of a given country is to in order..

    1. Obey the law
    2. Vote
    3. Take care of your family, neighborhood
    4. Know how to conduct yourself
    5. Treat your fellow citizens in public with respect.

    As any of these people at HGM violated any laws, I don’t think so except bad taste. And for your info, the helicopter hairdo on Donaldson’s site was from a black professional modeling and hairstyling contest. (it was a documentary on IFC and TVOne) if people like you , Cosby, and Winfrey weren’t so concerned with what was ‘proper’ behaviour for Afro- Americans, and I take that is to act like the old ‘black elite’ who were trying to ‘act white’ how ironic.

    Posted 28 Feb 2007 at 11:41 pm ¶

20. thejoyprincess wrote:

    Not sure if this was already said, so sorry if a repeat, but HGM did go on a court show and had to take a person’s picture down as a result

    Posted 01 Mar 2007 at 3:42 pm ¶

21. Mrs. J wrote:

    Eric, I missed the hair show doc on IFC, and would have liked to have seen it. I used to work with the beauty dept. of a well-respeted black women’s mag so understand that I have no problem with the creative hairdo from an aesthetic standpoint. That takes skill! But the sister who doesn’t know that an outlandish style won’t help her get to the next level needs to be told.

    It’s not about emulating anyone or “acting white”. It’s about economic empowerment and educational advancement. The same thing that W.E.B. Dubois dedicated his life to. Yes, the Talented Tenth would be considered “black elite”, but it had nothing to do with “acting white”. What is this, seventh grade?

    Those of us who don’t know who we are spend our time buying shoes and going to see Spamalot during Hurricane Katrina. Not giving time, money or energy to the community.

    When you see a sister in the boardroom or the courtroom with pink fingerwaves, let me know.

    Posted 01 Mar 2007 at 3:54 pm ¶

22. Ariel wrote:

    Sorry for offending anyone, I didn’t mean to trash it.

    A matter of class? Maybe?

    A matter of “acting white” maybe?

    A matter of time before we do something? Hopefully.

    Also, I know how it feels to be cyber-bullied, so don’t think that people don’t see these things. This isn’t constructive at all.The people in these pictures most like don’t live like this day-to-day anyways.And if they do, who are we to put on a TV channel paying homage to what is supposed to be a black culture…More like oppression.

    Thanx,

    Ariel

    Posted 02 Mar 2007 at 12:55 am ¶

23. Ariel wrote:

    Wait a sec, this woman is in no shape or form in the same class of Oprah, yet alone has the inetentions of “helping my people out”. If she wanted to do that, it could have been easily accomplished with a mass e-mail.(Which I would have been almost equally opposed to)

    give me a break,

    Ariel

    Posted 02 Mar 2007 at 11:59 pm ¶

24. sabrina wrote:

    Hot ghetto mess? HUMPH…*sigh*

    Well…if it wasn’t this type of “mess” it would be probably be some other “mess” out there to make people look stupid.

    The truly scary bit? This show probably will appeal to people of various races including our own…there’s no accounting for personal tastes.

    As for me, I figure there’s only 24 hrs to each day, so I wouldn’t waste an hour watching that triflin’ stuff.

    Posted 05 Mar 2007 at 10:05 am ¶

25. eric daniels wrote:

    Mrs J, Maybe it’s just me but I think people like that are not going to be in some fortune 500 company anytime soon. And because some people think these sterotypes reflect badly on the race, I think there are bigger fish to fry like lack of advocates for the black poor and working class until something like Katrina hits and then every talking head is on the microphone suggesting their own public policy. (neither which has worked)

    So as far as I am concerned if Donaldson who I think is no better than Young Junc, Jadakiss, and 5O Cent has to have a website promoting bad taste to “embrass us into action” and the only people offended are Upper and Educated Afro- Americans then do what the

    Asians
    Jews
    Russians
    Japanesse
    Arabs

    do and be real advocates for better schools, a broker for real police and community relations, and not ” televison intellectuals” and faux advocates. You can’t be a leader in the “Vanilla Surburbs” and lecture poor black people’s cultural habits to save face in front of your white (and other) friends, lovers, and wives and husband’s families.

    Posted 05 Mar 2007 at 5:06 pm ¶

26. belledame222 wrote:

    y’know, something about taking photos of people in order to point and laugh while calling it “for your own good” or even “critique” rang a familiar bell. then i remembered: oh yeah, that kind of reminds me of I Blame the Patriarchy, and similar “feminist critiques” of other women for looking like “sexbots” or “patriarchy-pandering fuckbots.”

    I don’t buy it there; not sure I’d be any more likely to buy it here.

    Posted 06 Mar 2007 at 5:39 pm ¶

27. Ariel wrote:

    I am not an “Upper and Educated Afro- American” I am a young person trying to take a stand for how my race is being represented as a whole.And yes, I do take offense to black exploitation, as any self-respecting black person should.

    I feel that in order to help some of these bigger problems, we have to stop the mentality that we are all ghetto trash, and we all like BET and eat fried chicken, and wear weaves. Individuality, is something that unfortunately leads to little to no respect from what is being potrayed as “Black America”.

    I do worry about other plagues to my race(and other races) as well, but this isn’t the forum for that.This is the forum for people’s opinions on exploiting the black race.

    Nobody has spent money, and alot of time on stopping this production, but many have taken a step, by simply stating they’re opinions, to stopping this nonsense.

    Maybe you do not understand why blacks being mis-represented in the media is hurting us.Let me enlighten you.

    A. Stereotypes hold us back.

    B.Make us look unreliable.

    C.Make us look triffling.

    D. Hurt us when it comes to looking for jobs.

    E. Lowers our self-esteem as a people.

    F. Kills our individuality.

    G. Hinders our ability to think that we amount to much, except for people that have large vehicles, and like to use the “N” word.

    H.http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/sports/homepage/article_1610203.php

    I think that the link above will explain completely how mis-representation can lead to blatant racism, from both us, and other races.

    I don’t understand why anyone would want this aired.It is an embarresment to the race.

    There are bigger fish to fry, but this is the one that was on my plate.

    Thank you,

    Ariel

    Posted 11 Mar 2007 at 1:51 am ¶

28. angelsma wrote:

    Yes, please make it into a tv show so these folks know they way look and dress is not cute or socially acceptable. I don’t care what color you are…see through clothes or man in a tight dress; red and green hair ain’t cute. I’m so tired of some black folks tryin to hide the dysfunction in our community. That’s why we have so many retarded young people walking around thinking that being nearly illiterate is “being more black” than a child who studies and speaks properly. Hell to the naw…show that mess in all of it’s glory. Shame has never killed anyone but it sure will make them tak ea look at themselves.

    Posted 21 Mar 2007 at 9:58 am ¶

29. Carnell Djoukis Diem wrote:

    There is another site out there that pokes fun at everybody. Anyone of you who are too sensitive about black folks should check this out. It talks about all BAMMAS white or black. http://www.bammaphibamma.com

    Posted 23 Mar 2007 at 11:38 am ¶

30. Jam Donaldson wrote:

    Wow. All this over little old me. Jeez, where do i begin….

    Let me just address a few bits of misinformation before dealing with the larger ideological issues.

    a) I dont know how many times I can say this but I DO NOT MAKE MONEY ON THAT WEBSITE. And the advertisements someone pointed out, the majority are given out for free. I offer free advertising to small business or other types of sites that I think are positive or progressive.

    I am a struggling public interest lawyer who works representing the low-income community of Washington DC while trying to pay off about 130K in student loans. My clients are indigent and 99% black. I assist them with civil litigation defense when they would otherwise not be able to afford an attorney.

    The site was not a money-making endeavor (and it still aint). I started it as a second year law student purely as social commentary.

    There are other aspects on the site. The “ghetto” pics are juxtaposed with pics labeled “not ghetto”. There is aLyrics page where I contrast ghetto and not ghetto lyrics, HGM Recommends/reading list, a Not Ghetto Profile, A Do Better page where I showcase people doing positive things in the comunity. Too often, people will get a picture in an email and assess the whole site from it. I just ask that you actually go to the so we can have informed opinions.

    As far as my court appearance, yes, someone sued me on Judge Judy and I won. Judge Judy asked me to take the picture down as a courtesy and I obliged. She determined once you post your picture on the internet, it becomes fair game. Not sure if its good law, but it was good TV.

    Did someone say millions of dollars??? Thats hilarious.

    And yes, i did request that if people are gonna sue me, can we go on Joe Brown or Mathis. Look, i can be glib and flippant sometimes but its only because i dont take myself too seriously and I try to have a sense of humor with this. Yall aint gonna make me a crack head.

    The TV show on BET is being developed based on the Hot Ghetto Mess DVD that was released in 2005. The DVD is a mixture of clips, photos, spoken word, man-on-the-street interviews and statistics. All stressing the “we got to do better” message of the site.

    The film was a finalist in the Hollywood Black Film Festival and featured in the Urban Film Series.

    Its so difficult hearing the venomous comments expressed by you guys. I was born and raised in DC and I dont understand the raw anger and the name calling I’ve inspired. Debate my site, debate my DVD, debate my methodology but why I gotta be a bitch? After two years that still shocks me, and now i just got called the C-word.

    I want to thank the person who posted the Note From the Editor featured on the site.

    The site also features quotes from Charles Hamilton Houston, MLK, Farrakhan, James Baldwin…

    Look yall–you can debate my methodology until the cows come home–thats what America is all about. And this is precisely the conversation I wanted to start. Believe me, thsis project has caused me much grief and internal conflict and I have reached out to those I respect for guidance, for example Henry Louis Gates who said this could be a “powerful tool for change”.

    Its not easy hearing myself called a bitch and a cunt and a sell-out and not black and everything else. Especially when i believe that my intentions are beyond reproach.

    If you want to debate my tactics, cool. Yes, i do attempt to use shame and humiliation as a tool for behavior modification. And no its not pretty. I use songs on the site that parody our glamorization of ignorance and baseness. But I spread the blame around from the poor to the rich to the White Hot page. Do I believe our standards and expectations of ourselves have plunged into the toilet, yes. This is my small contribution to the discussion.

    And I have spoken with Reginald Hudlin (President of Ent at BET/Boomerang/House Party, etc) and I wouldnt have moved forward without the commitment to promoting the “We got to do better” message as a driving force in the show. Why would I spend the last two years promoting an anti-coonery message, only to have it destroyed in a coon clips show?

    This is my way of addressing some of these issues and throwing them back into our faces and seeing what happens among us. What will we talk about? Who will do the talking? What will we decide? What do we think? How will we address the class issues, race issues, personal responsibility and everything else that this conversation unearths. The marketplace of ideas is invaluable to our progress. Please dont silence voices as a knee-jerk reaction to something that disturbs you. Lets talk about it and see where we can find common ground instead of calling each other names. Because im sure you’ll be surprised at how much common ground we truly share.

    And from the masses of positive feedback i get everyday–clearly my way of thinking is, for better or worse, something that needs to be addressed and debated.

    We need more discourse, not less. So however you feel about my site, please believe that I am a average female who loves being black and loves black people and its that love that forces me to challenge the images that pervade our society and call them out for the hot ghetto messes they really are.

    Why I gotta be a bitch for that?

    Lets talk and not scream at each other. I love y’all cause y’all mine…

    jam donaldson
    http://www.hotghettomess.com
    http://www.myspace/jamdonaldson

    Posted 28 Mar 2007 at 7:31 pm ¶

31. Jam Donaldson wrote:

    sorry for the long post–i guess im just so tired of all the negative imagery that floods the airwaves, masquerading as black culture. And I just wanted a place to put these images into context. Some forum where i can yell out to the world: SEE THIS??? THIS IS NOT WHO WE ARE AND WE SHOULD NOT ASPIRE TO EMULATE THESE FOOLS!!!

    There is no one out there actively challenging these images. Our kids are learning what being a man and woman is from videos, the radio and the streets. This was my answer. You may disagree. And thats cool.

    But why I gotta be a bitch for that?

    Posted 28 Mar 2007 at 7:44 pm ¶

32. Latoya wrote:

    I look at them fools and say to myself ‘Self, this is why White people dont like us, or RESPECT us.’ We dont respect our damned selves. They make a mockery of our people as a whole. It is just foolishness to have that crap on the Net. They should be ashamed and what if their Great GREAT Grand Mothers saw that bullshit. What would they think. OOOh, call on me I know. They would think ‘I suffered years of verbal abuse, mental abuse, rape, starvation, physical abuse, and just the most intolerable circumstances. What would your Grand Mother say…OOOOH, I know!!! ‘I rode in the back of buses, ate by trash cans in restaurants, used a seperate water fountain, staged sit ins and protests. I walked with Malcom and Martin. For what to look on the net and see my grandchild dropping it like its hot, with long nails of all colors, not taking care of her kids, smoking weed. For what!! The white man was laughing at us then and they are laughing at us now.

    Posted 30 Mar 2007 at 11:30 am ¶

33. Latoya wrote:

    This is not a comment to the editor or the creator of the site..It is to the assholes that place themselves on the INTERNET—Yall are too funny to me…why wouldnt Jim Crowe and Uncle Sam think so.

    Posted 30 Mar 2007 at 11:42 am ¶

34. goldenchild wrote:

    This website is horrible. The images on this website magnify the worst stereotypes about black folk. This site should never be made into a TV show, especially not on BET. BET is the only national “black” TV network. For millions of people across America, the only time they have any contact with blacks is when they tune into BET. These ignorant images become a defining factor in the perception of black people in general. Now I’m from Maryland, one of the most affluent and blackest states in America. In fact, PG County is the richest county with a majority black population in the U.S. The majority of black people where I live are hard-working, educated, decent people. Why are their stories never told?

    Posted 05 May 2007 at 11:11 pm ¶

35. SHIRLEY ROBERTSON wrote:

    Hot ghetto mess is a worthless site it depicts african americans in a horrific stereotypical way. If the African American culture must be viewed by millions of people, then why not view the positive side of our culture. The media specializes in finding negatives about us. please reconsider BET. That time and money could be utilized in something positive for our community.

    Posted 23 May 2007 at 3:14 am ¶

36. H.R. 2fuknloud wrote:

    Black folks. White folks. The legacy of slavery and the persistent belief by both groups of individuals that any of the ennui of color or race really matter. When will all this tiresome media-driven BS fade away? Look around. Y’all better be brushing up on your spanish.

    Posted 11 Jul 2007 at 7:41 am ¶

37. Jacob Kitchener wrote:

    Hi. This is my first time on this website. I’ve had a good time reading all the entries.

    I’m not black, I’m Asian. A minority like blacks, and unlike blacks. Either way, I think HotGhettoMess is hilarious. If you actually look at the stuff on there, it’s not all black folks. There are whites, people who look hispanic, and Asians. This show on BET is no more detrimental to African-Americans than Larry the Cable Guy or WWE wrestling is to white people. I live in Ohio, and there aren’t a bunch of white people here who are up in arms because Hee Haw, the Jerry Springer Show, the Blue Collar Comedy Tour, or the Paris Hilton sex tape ‘exploits’ white people.

    No one can make you feel insulted unless you let them. White people don’t sit around and cry because MTV isn’t “supporting” their community. That isn’t what BET is supposed to be. It’s ENTERTAINMENT. If you don’t like it, then change the channel. They have every right to put this show on the air. And if people are so upset about it, then why not go up to the people who are wearing their hair as portrayed, or showing their ass cracks or thongs in public, and ask THEM to stop??

    And another thing

    “Many of us were appalled at the blatant exploitation of unsuspecting people who are merely living their lives the best way they know how.”

    This statement is an insult to all people of color, including myself. In essence, it’s saying “Oh those poor people , they’re too stupid to know any better, leave them alone.” This condescending attitude is very subversive, and is almost as destructive as the attitude of racists.

    Posted 11 Jul 2007 at 1:23 pm ¶

38. Maddy wrote:

    What I find offensive is that the site seems to judge people from a consumerist point of view. As in, “Look, these people don’t dress and act the way that the middle class does - they should spend money to fix themselves up”. If you want to “fix” problems in a particular community, shouldn’t you focus on spending money (or time or whatever) on things that would make a concrete difference in people’s lives? And maybe teach people not to be so judgemental in the first place?

    Posted 11 Jul 2007 at 1:30 pm ¶

39. Anonymous wrote:

    It’s about time that Viacom is held responsible for the filth it puts on the air. Why do people still bother with BET. There is rarily ever any real entertainment geared toward black people I know on the station. What about movies like the Color Purple, Akeelah and the Bee, Roots. Any thing that will inspire African Americans to be better and to do better. BET, with all the garbage it puts out, should stand for Black Exploitation T.V. Shame on every black person who works there or any anyway affliated with Viacom.

    Posted 11 Jul 2007 at 1:46 pm ¶

40. Ariel wrote:

    I would like to say this to Jam Donaldson:

    So you are doing this for sport? Now there is a tv show coming up. So it’s funny to post peoples pictures online without there knowledge? And it cracks us up when you don’t want to take it down. It’s helping the black community to get what you consider class? Well listen, it is not up to you to keep us in line. And yes I just used us and you because you seem to have lost touch.

    Ghetto is a state of mind. It is also a place were there is poverty. In reality, we could consider parts of the world such as Africa the ghetto and laugh at the starving children there too. And post pictures of them without their knowledge too.

    Your saying that you don’t have money? Well then that’s even more of a reason for you NOT to tell people in what you consider the majority of the black community how to spend there money.

    Thank you,

    Ariel

    Posted 13 Jul 2007 at 2:36 am ¶

41. Plantsman wrote:

    A large portion of “mainstream” America has always taken images and behavior like this and used them to characterize all of black America, and they always will. How do you think minstrelsy came about in the first place? They will do this even when there are no easily found images of supposed ignorance and decadence. Look at the twisted image of black jazz musicians in cartoons from the 20’s and 30’s. These people were the creators and practitioners of one of the most revolutionary and intellectually challenging forms of music ever conceived, and they were still depicted as subhuman in manners and intellect. So, attempting to “shame” someone because you’re worried about how “white people see us” is not only futile, it’s stupid and cowardly. If these behaviors are symptoms of social pathologies (and I don’t disagree that some of them are), then the only right reason to make a statement about them and/or to be moved to action is because you’re concerned about the welfare of those folks.

    Posted 13 Jul 2007 at 8:14 am ¶

42. LD wrote:

    To Jam Donaldson:
    I can’t believe that you are more concerned about being called the b**** word and not about the out cries from your people. It you want to make change in your community, how about making national tours to high schools and urban neighborhoods, creating open forums of discussion, things like that!!!!!!

    Posted 13 Jul 2007 at 5:16 pm ¶

43. JK wrote:

    ” how about making national tours to high schools and urban neighborhoods, creating open forums of discussion, things like that!!!!!!”

    Yeah, like it’s that easy to do.

    Miss Donaldson works pro bono for blacks in the DC area. She has probably done more for the black community than all you naysayers combined.

    Posted 14 Jul 2007 at 5:02 pm ¶

44. Jefferson Sergeant wrote:

    Hello, I found out about this site from the What About Our Daughters Blog and decided to come over.

    If this grassroots campaign is succesful what will ultimately be accomplished? 22 minutes of planned programming will be removed from BET’S weekly schedule. Will that result in Black children being better educated, will that reduce the levels of crime and homicide in our community? I think the answer to those questions is a resounding no.

    What I must ask to all the people so concerned over how Flavor Of Love, Charm School, Rap video x etc makes us look to others is this. If someone is so myopic as to consider the aforementioned shows to be the sum of Black America’s intelligence, creativity and morality, then why would you care what they think?

    Posted 15 Jul 2007 at 3:27 pm ¶

45. Jefferson Sergeant wrote:

    To Ariel, I must say with the utmost respect that your post makes no sense. Here you criticize Ms. Donaldson for attempting to take the responsibility of improving the community on herself; while at the same time blaming BET for not attempting to do the same thing.

    If Ms. Donaldson is focusing on the ghetto culture in Black America; how is that diminished by her not doing it about the same settings in Africa or any other part of the world?

    Posted 15 Jul 2007 at 3:34 pm ¶

46. Ariel wrote:

    JK. I’m glad that you, feel like you need to be represented the way she intends to represent you. The majority of the black community DOES NOT want this to happen. It is evident that people do not support this show. I mean, come on. Just because she works pro-bono out there does not mean that I asked her to work pro-bono to make my people look like this.

    Does JK stand for Just Kidding?

    Thank you LD on shedding light on other, more positive and less offensive ways that Ms. Donaldson can help the black community.

    Ariel

    Posted 15 Jul 2007 at 7:30 pm ¶

47. Plantsman wrote:

    Check out the parallels here:

    http://www.chavscum.co.uk/

    As Julie Burchill says at Times Online:

    “Anyway, to paraphrase Obi-Wan Kenobi, “Who is the chav, the chav, or the one who disses him?” For sure, websites such as chavscum.co.uk demonstrate exactly the mean-mindedness and talent to abuse that chav-haters accuse chavs of”

    Indeed.

    Posted 16 Jul 2007 at 8:10 am ¶

48. Ashley wrote:

    Disgusting.
    And don;’t blame Viacom alone, when they bought BET, it was well on the path to shows like HGM.
    Boycott BET, they are making/funding/airing this garbage.

    Posted 17 Jul 2007 at 5:02 pm ¶

49. FdeBear wrote:

    To BET Communications Director:

    I just saw MSNBC’s Countdown news story about BET’s upcoming production and honestly, I have never been more sickened and outraged! Frankly, I wanted to wring the producer’s neck. It is obvious that whoever she is she has a limited and distorted view of the black community regardless of her motivations and the “phoney” frame : We can do better. What “we” is she talking about? I would say the same thing for whoever approved this project. This is not substantive social commentary or cultural critique, but an excuse to put on a coon show. Honestly, I wish I could get in her face so I’m including all of my contact information because I think she needs a lesson in what is black authenticity. And I say this with complete authority – having grown up in so-called hardcore, low-income environments. I am proud of the community I came from and the people and situations depicted, though truthful, represent a very small part of everyday realities in the so-called ghetto. The depictions are of freaks, aberrations and the kind of people and situations we were encouraged to avoid and pity. I don’t fear our “dirty laundry” as a community, but this is out and out exploitation. It is classicism sexism and racism at its most insidious. Since the word is already out, no doubt you will get viewers. There are lots of voyeurs and this producer is among them. The real story for me is not the product itself, but the producer. What a hideous and cruel concept. This isn’t “tough love” this show is social butchery! Who is the audience? Certainly not the people depicted in this program. This is veiled hatred and an inhumane use of media power. I for one don’t approve of such media zoos as Jerry Springer. The producer is an exhibitionist who is incapable of genuine contact or concern with black people (even if she is black) with a false sense of moral superiority. She’s is the one who could “do better”. I don’t watch BET because I find the programming boring with too much emphasis on music videos. Occasionally I’ll find a movie of interest to me and the news and current event programs are valuable. BET can do “better” and still make money. I am so glad that the sponsors recognized the fiasco this type of program could be. I for one will steer clear of it and caution others about it. I can’t stop it, but I sure as hell will address it – not just the demeaning images, but the callous stupidity of the image maker.

    Posted 17 Jul 2007 at 9:21 pm ¶

50. Tyler Aikens wrote:

    First off, let me say that I am a 23 year old white male from the east coast of Canada, and after seeing the TV ad (yes sometimes I frequent BET because my Japanese gf likes some of the race-related documentaries and we both enjoy some of the music programs, not that I need to explain myself haha) and then the controversial blogs, articles, etc., on the net, I checked out Hot Ghetto Mess for the first time today and explored the site quite thoroughly.

    I won’t have a strong and/or valid argument because I am not black or part any other minority, and I live in a city where the “ghetto” is 50% white, and 50% Native American (a race that is cruely exploited on every day television, in both ads and programs, but for some reason, doesn’t attract the same controversy that a show like HGM does). However, as I said, I have thoroughly checked out the site, partly because I wanted to see what all the fuss about, and partly because I thought some of it was rather funny.

    The parts I found MOST funny usually involved white people, my race. In the “WHITE HOT” section of the page, I found myself, very often, saying to myself “Yep. Typical white moron”. I live in a College town, pretty much, with 2 University campuses and a population of just under 50 000, and on a daily basis (especially at said schools or at bars/clubs and other social events) and I see some “typical white moron” bullshit come from all over. Sometiems it’s so bad that I too feel like saying “Oh c’mon, you HAVE to do better than that”.

    Posted 21 Jul 2007 at 2:04 pm ¶

51. Tyler Aikens wrote:

    Sorry got cut off on that last post… Anyways back to what I was saying….

    I laugh at the photos of my fellow white people acting and/or dressing and I find that theyre things that I could only imagine a white guy or girl doing or wearing.

    I guess I can’t understand fully because I am not the minority who gets picked on, but I do not find this site very offensive at all. Theres worse shit out there that goes FAR beyond just exploitation.

    However, HGM as a tool to teach inner city communities how to “rise up” by showing stock or candid photos of a couple black people acting or looking like idiots? Thats ridiculos.

    Posted 21 Jul 2007 at 2:11 pm ¶

52. Symphony wrote:

    The scary thing is that black people believe these stereotypes are the norm in the black community. Some people on here actually say this is why white people view us in a certain manner. So when you are dressed for the office, you speak and write grammatically correct white people still see someone from Jam’s pictures?

    These pictures aren’t the majority of black Americans. I would hope all black people would know that. Its the lack of other depictions that is harmful. Only promoting ridiculousness for the sake of profit so they can “get theirs”.

    This is just one more way that a portion of us will be used to define us all.

    Posted 25 Jul 2007 at 10:22 am ¶

53. Jam Donaldson wrote:

    Just got some real interesting info regarding the most vocal opponent of the Hot Ghetto Mess Show and website. Like my mama told me, “aint nobody right”. Watch whose lead you’re following people. If anyone has more info to add, let me know…

    “A little background on Gina McCauley.

    Gina McCauley is part of a coterie of women who have organized themselves around Esha Moore, better known by her moniker Evia.
    As part of that coterie she blogs as Synamon.

    They began a few months ago under the guise of an interracial dating site. The site ain’t about interracial dating at all. It is about spreading white supremacist ideas among black women.

    Thus they began as:

    “Black women who are with Black men are “Mammies” and “Breeders”.

    Black men are “to stupid to think for themselves”.

    “Good and wonderful Black men” are “outnumbered” by Black men who are “lazy, thriftless, intemperate, insolent, dishonest, and without the most rudimentary elements of morality”.

    “bm [black men] could have become great multi-dimensional human beings if they could only think for themselves” .

    White men are kind, good-hearted, hard-working, and when they try to emulate Gangsta rappers they likely do so under duress:

    “Some white males who go to school with lots of black males want to ‘act thuggish’ as a way of fitting in with black males and seeming less like ‘white boys’ because that can be risky, even dangerous.”

    further…

    “… young, insecure, lower income white males are looking for an identity and may imitate black males but I don’t think they want to be black at all because they definitely know how black males are regarded by older whites around them.”

    In the meantime the group has spread and a number of them have developed specialized websites dealing with different aspects of their ideology.

    The ideology has advanced, too. Among themselves the individual members of the group have consciously ceased to refer themselves as black, and instead substituted the term “melaniated”. To outsiders of course they still use the term “black”. They also have come to the conclusion that black women in order to perpetuate themselves and their children must cease “breeding” with black men, who, on the whole, they view as and term “damaged beyond repair black men”, in short “dbr-bm”. Thus it is their duty to consciously seek to have children with non-black, and in particular (as they emphasize) white men, who, as they argue, in the majority constitute the ideal of what men are supposed to be and represent.

    These women have developed a further way to distinguish themselves from black women. They call themselves “evolved menaliated women” “EMW” as opposed to black women who remain with black men whom they dismiss as “Mammies” and “non-evolved”. Evolved and non-evolved, f course are catch phrases of white supremacy which our resident white supremacist troll employs as well.

    Over time, the group has become increasingly sophisticated. In recent times they have begun to adopt the terminology of black nationalism, but aimed it mainly at white women.

    Gina/synamon started whataboutourdaughters.com as a vehicle in her “battle” against these “damaged beyond repair black men”, with which she identifies the vast majority of black men. The site is supposed to be a rescue mission for black girls from the “dbr-bm”. That is, black men in general. Thus the site name. Not whataboutourchildern.com, or whataboutourgirlsandboys.com, or whataboutourboys.com.

    This group has become increasingly sophisticated and insidious. Thus it has become more dangerous.

    There are plenty of people familiar with Gina/synamon’s background. Plenty of them supposed “progressives”. hardly any of them speak up.

    This coterie of black female white supremacists now also refer to themselves as “black womanists”. Which is a logical extension of the ideology we dealt with a short time ago.

    Thus Gina/synamon is a hypocrite. ”

    And she’s all in my shit? I think this Ms. Gina deserves some looking into….

    http://bp0.blogger.com/_adi6yj5y-Es/Rqbm9L6cNUI/AAAAAAAABJw/b0lkM2dMpbA/s1600-h/synamon1.jpg

    This screen shot establishes the identity of synamon as Gina McCauley. The link where the original commentary is is here:

    https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=30641490&postID=904563252160166987&isPopup=true

    The next screen shot is here:

    http://bp3.blogger.com/_adi6yj5y-Es/Rqbna76cNVI/AAAAAAAABJ4/wYZci0BJmXk/s1600-h/synamon2.jpg

    and the corresponding source link where the original commentary took place is here:

    http://dateawhiteguy.blogspot.com/2007/05/why-black-community-desperately-needs.html

    Note that in the above commentary Evia’s ladies are discussing the futility of of “saving the black community” and that “higher intelligent black women” need to bail out. They soon get into promoting a kind of eugenics program where Evia argues as thus:

    “Evia said…
    Halima, a few points:

    1. This may sound somewhat elitist, but it’s clear to me that ’survival of the fittest’ is not just something we read about. We’re experiencing it now among black people. It’s almost like we’re in a laboratory because I can clearly see and predict which group of us (among bw) will emerge as the ‘fittest.’ Those bw who can see that they need to opt for higher quality mates of whatever color or background are among the fittest because higher quality parents produce higher quality offspring and higher quality offspring will be stronger and more capable in critical ways to out-compete others among them for resources and the cycle will continue until a stronger competitor rises up.

    The prime directive in nature is to survive. Survival is directly connected to intelligence. This is how I define intelligence, which has very little to do with I.Q. Therefore, given a set of circumstances, the more intelligent people are those most able to figure out what they need to do to survive and they will do it. Others will not figure it out or hesitate and be lost.

    So we have millions of us bw who find ourselves in certain circumstances. Some of us are going to manipulate these circumstances so that we and our offspring have a better chance of surviving at a higher level, and other seemingly intelligent ones of us are not going to do that. I don’t think it’s directly connected to education, though education certainly helps.

    The fittest survive through their offspring. Many sistas are just not going to make it and either they won’t reproduce or their offspring will be on the bottom–to be stepped on in various ways. Sad but true.
    Another indirectly related point is that
    2. Mammyism is still raging among bw because bw are still getting REWARDED bigtime for being mammies. From my days working as a behaviorist, I know that as long as a behavior is getting rewarded, it will continue.

    Even the whole notion of a bw getting herself in position to help the community sets a bw up to be a mammy given the way things are set up in the black community.
    Another thing I’ve noticed is that if you listen in on the conversations of ww and African women as I often do, you never hear them talking about ’saving’ folks. These women are usually trying to position themselves to get more for THEMSELVES or their families. They don’t think in terms of saving the community or saving others in the community aside from baking brownies for a fundraiser or collecting money or whatever for a charity or doing PTA stuff.

    So, if we look at the upside of being a mammy (because there’s always an upside to everything), there is power in being a mammy and many bw feel ‘important’ because they feel they have the power to save the community, whether they do or not.

    So being a mammy is not all bad if you look at it from the mammy’s viewpoint because she is like a messiah.

    I was with a group of bw last night and I was listening to what they were saying. Many of them were definitely mammies and the men regard them as such. I watched the way these bm sought out these women for information, help with different things, etc. because the men know they can’t depend on other bm to follow through. So, yes, these sistas are needy and suffering but they still feel like the important ones in the black community because they know that everybody knows that they’re carrying the community.”

    To which Gina relies that she is concerned that according to the rules of Darwinism her genes, being that of a higher intelligent/evolved black woman than “regular” black women might die out “Any offspring we have will be outnumbered by the offspring of the less enlightened.” Ginna/Synamon.

    Posted 25 Jul 2007 at 11:53 am ¶

54. Wendi Muse wrote:

    While I don’t think Hot Ghetto Mess is an amazing idea, I’m going to have to nod in agreement here with regard to What About Our Daughters. Anyone who posts Pearl Jr’s site “Black Women Need Love Too” as a link worthy of exposure loses credbility in my eyes and her website and message is sensationalist rhetoric garbage that only feeds into the same black female insecurities popular society likes to feast on.

    Posted 25 Jul 2007 at 12:51 pm ¶

55. Loey wrote:

    I have seen the show & it is sad to say that I enjoy it. I believe something that we should all take into consideration when viewing is, “it takes a village…..”, from way back in the day. Sad to say we have gotten so far from that and that is why we have shows like this. If some parts of the black community had some pride about themselves we wouldn’t be viewing ourselves in such a negetive manner. That is why I watch and learn what not to do. So if you find this show to be offensive then there must be something or things that you identify with.
    Let’s Keep it Real Ya’ll,
    Peace & Love

    Posted 08 Aug 2007 at 3:23 pm ¶

56. tracy simon wrote:

    I feel that this is needed in the black community to show the young people where our race has allowed itself to go. Looking at the rate the hip hop world as well as mainstream black america is going if we don’t look at ourselves now and do something while we still have time, then our children will be even more lost than they already are.

    Posted 10 Aug 2007 at 6:08 pm ¶

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