BET Provides Visibility and Representation

Hollywood news captivates audiences around the country. With its sensational stories and dramatic retellings of celebrity lives, Hollywood new satiates the voyeur in us all. Why do we so often worship celebrities? What makes them so different from you or I? Finding those differences – and more importantly, those similarities – that make us tune in on a weekly or even nightly basis. It helps us peek into celebrity lives, and gives a taste of what it would be like to be rich and famous.

But many of these superstars can be positive role models as well. BET (Black Entertainment Television) is viewed in 90 million homes around the world. It’s considered a lead provider of cultural based programming and entertainment and has featured a number of very successful African-Americans. These African-American celebrities provide stellar role models and representation to children. For example, Will Smith, a prominent actor, is one of the industry’s highest paid. Black entertainment news provides him visibility in a white-washed world.

Hollywood news and black news websites and really any gossip site love to talk about Beyonce. She’s commonly referred to as “Queen Bey” by her fans and has one of the most loyal followings of any celebrity. Beyonce is estimated to have a net worth of over $450 million and is considered one of the most successful female artists not just in the United States but in the world as a whole. She’s married to Jay-Z, a successful musician in his own right who has had eleven number one albums. Together, their net worth totals about a billion.

And of course there is Oprah, perhaps the queen of Hollywood news. Oprah ran a successful talk show for 25 seasons. It grossed $125 million just at the end of its first year alone. Her show reached millions of people worldwide and she became a household name, famous for her giveaways and overall success.

In the United States there are more than 45 million African American residents, making up about 15% of the population. In New York alone, Afrian American residents make up almost 4 million of the population. With so many African American citizens, it’s important that Hollywood news be representative of them and as diverse as possible. Representation is crucial and important, and famous black people deserve the spotlight just as much as any other famous person. They provide role models to children and inspire us all.