Abdul-Jabbar, a basketball legend analyzed Bravo shows that highlighted African-American family structures and entrepreneurs, including the Real Housewives of Atlanta in 2015. Abdul-Jabber noted that the shows have redefined the conversation on African-Americans place in American society by showing “black Americans as neither icons nor victims.” He states that these shows emphasize the “broad spectrum of black lives” and that they “help combat what [Abdul-Jabbar] calls cultural racism.” While I agree with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in that these shows, especially the Real Housewives of Atlanta and Potomac which I briefly analyzed earlier help to break stereotypical norms of African-Americans especially in the setting of a gated community, I believe that these shows could do much more. The emphasis that these shows put on materialistic wealth and drama is what deters the audience from understanding the institutionalized racism and micro-aggression that are embedded in the ways ing which feuds, locations and scandals are presented on these installments.
Abdul-Jabbar also notes that these shows will show America that these “lives will now matter more”, another point I also disagree with especially with the current increase of police brutality and discrimination against the African-American communities. This article makes me wonder if other non-black audience members perceive these shows in the same way or if they continue to react to African-American classmates, peers or coworkers before and after watching the show.
While I agree that these shows that showcase the lives of African-American women dn families opens up the door for more conversations about social hierarchies and the dominant narrative in America, I still wish that this platform would be used for more positive social action than just emphasizing staged somewhat unimportant challenges. To see reality stars dealing with husbands going to prison, child support issues, financial burdens and divorce is what makes these shows real and relatable and if that was more of a focus then I’d agree with Abdul-Jabbar’s claim that Andy Cohen, the producer of Real Housewives is an “influential civil rights proponent.”
As one of Andy Cohen’s biggest fans I don't want to believe that he would ever produce or promote a series that capitalizes off of societal norms and dominant ideologies but the hesitation to further explore the socio-economic imbalances or racial makeup of casts is what makes me think these shows only further solidify stereotypes. If a Real Housewives franchise was introduced that had a diverse cast of women and the various challenges they face in the same geographic location, I believe that would have more of an impact on society than the very homogenous struggles that are showcased when only looking at one racial group in a specific city or county.
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