Adult Swim,
I have been a dedicated watcher of your programming for many years now and no matter what’s on, I always make sure that by 11pm, my TV is tuned in. I am writing, however, to you today in relation to the new program, "Freaknik the Musical". Honestly, when I saw the first promo for the movie, I was absolutely floored and taken aback by the portrayal of the characters shown. It is important to note that I am a very laid back individual who always has an open mind about things, but upon watching the promo, I had to speak up. The preview, itself, contains a large amount of the very stereotypes many of my people are trying to put to rest. After watching the preview, it felt as if we had all taken a giant leap backward on the social progression timeline. It might not seem like it to your organization, but this kind of imagery is filled with subliminal messaging that really does have lasting effects on society. In an age where media influences everything around us, images and ideas portrayed on television are seen, but more importantly absorbed, by a wide and diverse audience. Believe me, my people have a very real understanding of the original Freaknik of the 90’s. Many of us have tried our best to move on and progress beyond it.
I do understand, though, that Adult Swim is trying to present a show that is supposed to be fun and lighthearted. But when this is done at the expense of cultural identity, then protest must be raised. What happens when someone, who with no understanding of African American culture, watches this show? What image of us are they to form in their minds about how it is we act and what it is that we do? I’ve worked in an environment where I was the only African American, and the rest of my co-workers had no idea how to even speak to me because they weren’t exposed to my culture and had no understanding of the endeavors and struggles we’ve faced. This was both, young and old, I might add. I’m not sure if you really understand it, but it is this type of programming and imagery that help to contribute to the disproportionate ratio of social progression of African Americans to that of everyone else, ourselves lagging behind. Media controls everything around us. And everything around us is not good. We do not need to keep seeing the image of the single mom leaving her kid at home, or the crazy patterned nails, or the dollar signs plastered on everything, or the flashy cars with the huge rims, or all the gold and platinum chains, and especially the “mountain” of **pOp** shaking back and forth as your promo portrays.
I’m not one of those people who believe that everyone should be watching shows like “The Boondocks” or “The Cosby Show”. I believe that people should have access to wide array of programming but when said programming portrays stereotypical events and situations, there must be an outcry of distaste. I really hope you understand that there is very limited programming on the airwaves of mainstream TV that contain predominantly all Black cast members. And when some of the few that do exist contain imagery such as this, then there is little room for any real social progression. It is not my intention to write a scathing or mean-spirited email to you. I do not even hold it against you, really, that you all might not be aware of many of the struggles that take place regarding the cultural integrity of the African American culture. I do, however, find it very offensive when you blindly decided to air a show to an INTERNATIONAL audience without taking serious consideration as to both the direct and indirect implications of such programming. Believe me, many of us have fought for years to dispel these types of images and ignorance that have plagued and continue to plague our people. I am all for having fun and wild’n out via different social outlets including music and programming, but what you all have produced here, and especially in this day in age where we can no longer afford to regress backwards, must be protested. So, all this being said, I’m sure that your corporate executives won’t care about losing only one of its faithful viewers, but with the advent of “Freaknik the Musical”, …they just did. So, I guess, in some regards this is also a farewell letter to Adult Swim itself. It is not an easy decision, but it is, I feel, a necessary one. It was said that those who don’t learn the lessons of the past are doomed to repeat it. Obviously we are right back there again.
Sincerely,
Bergen
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