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I mean, jeez, we have a black president, Joshua Alston opines in a NEWSWEEK web exclusive. How far behind is entertainment?
He’s got a point: The show is now in its 14th season, and all the male contenders have been white. What gives?
Rather than actually contacting the show’s executive producer and getting a “crafted, politically correct” response back, Alston decided to answer the question for himself. He decided that the show has only featured white bachelors because the majority of the country is white, and because folks still “overwhelmingly” seek a love connection with people of their own race.
Could they cast a black man? Sure. Would it be smart to? Probably not. The Bachelor is one of many pop-culture artifacts that highlight the uncomfortable gap between the way we’d like to think of racial integration and the way it actually is.
Honestly, I think Alston is letting “The Bachelor” off way too easy. It’s common knowledge that 24, for example, leans right — not the most progressive political P.O.V. – and yet it featured an African-American President close to a decade before that became a reality. And that show’s been on the air FOREVER. It’s done well. Maybe it’s the idealist in me, but don’t the people behind pop culture have a responsibility to close the gap between how accepting we profess to be, and how accepting we really are? Or at least to prepare us, to move us forward? Has money made entertainers such cowards? Wait, don’t answer that …
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“The Bachelor is one of many pop-culture artifacts that highlight the uncomfortable gap between the way we’d like to think of racial integration and the way it actually is.”
So, so, so, so true. I don’t even really know that they’ve ever had a black female finalist on that show. It’s phenomenally racially biased. But if they use a black bachelor, then we all have to look at the accompanying ratings dip and find some PC excuse for it, and that’s not going to be comfortable, either. Great piece, Ashley.
I like how he talks about romantic attraction between ethnicities, and then you talk about a black President on 24, and act like you’ve made an argument.
While I agree that there is probably some bias there’s probably also quite a lack of potentials. In 14 seasons we’d expect maybe 10 white contestants, 2 hispanic, 2 black. Statistically there would be half an Asian and other races would be statistically insignificant. That’s assuming they’re going purely on race but there are other factors at play. For one, the pool of eligible contestants is small; you must be young, good looking, and rich. Furthermore I think the contestants usually come from old money do they not? Not only are you looking for someone who has buckets of money but you’re ideally looking for someone who has inherited family money and possibly has a business to take over some day. I imagine when you narrow it down like that it’s not a huge statistical anomaly to only have white contestants.
It’s the goddamn Bachelor. Nothing about it is natural. I don’t even know why we’re bothering getting worked up about this. Considering that so many people understand that the show is complete grabage, I think you’d be better off saving your righteous indignation for a more popular show that more people actually watch.
They had Flavor of Love,with Flavor Flav. It was only the best show ever. I’m cracking up just thinking about it!
That show was unbelievable. Especially when Brigeitte Neilsson was on it and called him ‘Foofy-Foofy’.
I had a big plastic wall clock with a dog chain on it,after too many drinks I would wear it around the house with my bath robe on. I think one of my friends stoled it.
I wasn’t even aware that such a show existed.
Tv is largely one big box ‘o rot.
Me and Homer Simpson would disagree with you. Please don’t tear down all the healing our relationship has accomplished the last few days.
Forgive me, darling.
I am an avid user of Hulu and Crackle.
I do turn the TV on while I’m getting ready for work so that I can hear the news.
I’m really not so much a snob as I am easily distracted.I haven’t watched a movie the whole way through in years (at home).
If I get all comfortable, sit down to watch something? I fall asleep.
I have to agree with you. I didn’t have a TV until about a week ago. I gave in because I love the show “Lost” and it’s in it’s final season right now. But after that’s done, the ole television’s getting packed right back up and being put in the closet to make room for the rest of my books.
“Lost” was really good way back in the day, but then I missed a few episodes, and after that I had no idea what the hell was going on. I watched it last night, just for kicks, and I was so thoroughly confused.
I think I’ll stick with “Chuck” for now…
Sydney, missing episodes will DEFINITELY throw you off! If you start from the beginning, though, and work your way through it, you won’t be disappointed!
One of the main things I love about Lost is how deep it is. There are literary, religious, and philosophical references running rampant throughout the entire series. It’s wonderful! It’s the classic good vs. evil battle that goes incredibly deep and has so many layers. I LOVE IT!!!
I love Lost, too, and I don’t have a TV. I just watch the episodes on ABC.com the day after they air. =)
o’
damn edit button…
The only reason the people “behind pop culture” have any power at all is because the consumers choose to consume their product.
Just like the consumers, they have no responsibility to anything beyond their own opinions and agenda. In fact, I find it rather insulting that I, as a member of the public, have a need to be “prepared” for social change by the same people who peddle brainless contrived pop fluff.
I can “move forward” under my own sail, thank you very much.
I think thats why the new media,mainly the internet and cable news,has the success that they’ve gained. People can choose between mindless amusement and information. I like the escape of some very shallow TV,and I’m also well informed.
You hit the nail on the head with the money reference. When it comes to prime time programing,they’re going to go with what sells,and the prince charming dude with the colgate smile wins. But when I think about how much things have changed in the last fifty years of my life,it is significant. I grew up in South Carolina in 50’s and 60’s and remember segregated bath rooms.If you walked down main street as a inter racial couple you would get insults thrown at you and maybe cause a fight. Now its widely accepted.
even though it is incredibly shallow and yes, people should take the responsibility to make up their own minds but sometimes I do wonder if maybe there was more acceptance in the media there would be more acceptance in the real world too..I am in an interracial couple now, I am from NY and he is from Alabama, and we get resistance from white people and people of color alike..maybe if people are presented with more examples of racial acceptance in the mainstream media, they will open up more to it in reality.
however, hope is not lost because now we saw a commercial with an interracial couple, and my boyfriend and I joke that we started a trend and are going mainstream
There’s a good point in that one. Much like you have to force people to integrate women into the workplace by law before it becomes natural.
Have you ever noticed that eharmony and other dating sites’ commercials never have interracial couples? Ever? It’s kind of ironic because of their professed criteria for “deep genuine compatibility.”
I am in an interracial relationship and I have never heard a bad word about it, but rather than feeling that the human race has gotten somewhere I am putting that down to the fact that my husband looks like a tanned white man, instead of a Metis.
People do stare at us because we are both fat, but thats the baby’s fault.
I think the first time you see anything it is a shock. In time, people become accustomed to it- if they see it enough.
I don’t get the big problem… why does everything in the US have to be Politically correct? does it really piss that many people off that things aren’t COMPLETELY equal? and do people really expect that we should be completely equal about something like race?
shouldn’t we make sure all people have the same citizenship rights before we bitch about not having a black bachelor? Gays don’t have the right to marry, Atheists are shunned from political office and many women are discriminated against in the workplace…
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You have a point,the politically correct are more worried about racial integration than the average citizen,black or white.
Ugh no kidding.
[...] Joshua Alston opines in Newsweek “Why no Black bachelor?” [Zelda Lily] [...]
[...] Why Not A Black Bachelor? – Zelda Lily [...]
Here is a suggestion. Why not have 1 white, 1 black and 1 hispanic bachelor (age 25-40) on the same show with 50 women of all ethnicities and ages, where each woman gets a chance to spend time with each one. Each girl would then choose which bachelor she felt she liked and had the best chance to be with. (The Twist) At the end of the show each bachelor eliminates however many girls necessary to equal the bachelor with the lessor amount of girls. If it’s ratings you want, then it’s ratings you’ll get.
That could actually prove to be very interesting.
Hell, I’d watch that! As long as it didn’t include the cheesy ass music that they have on the Bachelor now.
There is a Black Entertainment Network, Black Miss America, a predominantly black NBA and Black College bowl games and the world is round. The percentage of black MLB players is at an all-time low and the Bachelor is white and we have to do something about it. Maybe because of the Flavor Flav and I Love New York garbage the right choice is keeping the bachelor white. By the way, did anyone see where a contestant from I Love New York2 (amazing there is a 2) just got convicted of murder? Now that is a shock. Put it to sleep.
[...] Why Not a Black ‘Bachelor’? (32) [...]
[...] why won’t we escape it? Naturally, there will be a certain amount of prejudice and bigotry present in any situation whether it’s gays, whites, bl… — but with an attitude of acceptance that’s supposed to be omnipresent these days (at [...]