Put an End to Demeaning Images

Mariann Aalda’s response to the NAACP complaint about the continued abuse of African American images on television is specious (“Blacks on TV: Taking Steps Toward a Goal,” Counterpunch, Feb. 17). Her comments seem to be couched in the adage of her mother which states “We may not be where we want to be but we aren’t where we used to be.”

The real tragedy lies in the fact that there are endless stories and situations which could be developed into dramatic series or sitcoms that do not do violence to all of our sensibilities. Unfortunately, there is always more money available for negative, minstrel-type productions than programs such as “I’ll Fly Away,” “Frank’s Place” and many others.

Part of the problem stems from the fact that we as a people fail to adequately praise and support those networks, cable companies and sponsors who finance and produce those positive programs which we so thoroughly appreciate.

There really is enough blame to go around and the NAACP must share some of it. Their “Image Award” continues to honor those degrading, stereotypical programs simply because they are African American oriented and it encourages more of the same. To accord those shows more status than “Tuskegee Airmen” and other outstanding image-enhancing efforts boggles the mind.

To suggest, as she does, that white shows such as “Men Behaving Badly” in some way exonerate those ill-advised black shows completely misses the point. We can ill afford to waste one single dime of production money and one second of precious television time on negative images of our people.

If we all give the problem our intelligent attention we can bring about meaningful change.

ROBERT W. WILLIAMS

Pasadena