Reflection: Trayvon Martin Case

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I would like to begin with letting it be known upfront that I have been pro-Trayvon Martin throughout this case. No, I do not have an issue with people exercising their constitutional right. No, I did not hope for justice to be served against Zimmerman because Trayvon was black. I hope that justice would be […]

Accidental Racist? Possible?

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Is April the unofficial month for artists to put out bad music? First it was Ray J, and now Brad Paisley and LL Cool J have teamed up to do their bid. Paisley and LL collaborated on a song called, “Accidental Racist.” Yes, you read that correctly. While I understand what they set out to […]

Shawty Lo & All His Babies’ Mamas

Well, as you all may be aware, Shawty Lo is expected to star in a new reality show titled, “All My Babies’ Mamas.” The new reality show, still in the planning stages, is set to run on Oxygen. It’s supposed to highlight the rapper’s life with his 10 babies’ mamas and current girlfriend, who is allegedly 19-years-old. Needless to say, I’ve developed some opinions about this topic.

Oxygen is only following suit of other networks airing reality shows. Not to say that should be a reason to air these types of programs, but we are all aware that the more drama there is, the more people will be inclined to watch. I don’t care what anyone says about that. It’s the way TV works. It’s a business, and ratings equal dollars. Television networks don’t care about the kind of trash they air on their respective channels because it’s about money. We all know that drama, violence, and sex sells. So, with Oxygen choosing to pilot this new show, it shouldn’t be a shock.

As far as the show is concerned, I’ve definitely developed some preliminary thoughts…

My first issue is that Shawty Lo has fathered 11 children with 10 different women. That’s disgusting. It shows that he has had unprotected sex with at least (and I do emphasize at least) 10 different women. Statistically speaking, someone had to contract something. It also shows what type of man he is, and that he has no respect for women. However, that conclusion could also be derived from his rap lyrics.

My second issue is with the women, if they were aware of each other. What would possess a woman to have a child by someone who already has 10 other children with at least 9 different women? Now, I’m not sure if the women were aware of each other, but if they were then that’s definitely degrading.

Both of the aforementioned points can also be attributed to people’s stance on marriage, and family.We are definitely living in a different time. Once upon a time, a lot more men and women wanted to be married before procreating, and wouldn’t even consider bringing a child into the world without exchanging vows. However, I won’t go off on a tangent…

I understand that many people are upset because they believe this to be a misrepresentation of the black community. However, I don’t think that we should allow these type of shows to dictate what represents the black community or any community at that. With that said, I ask, do shows like Honey Boo Boo and Shahs of Sunsets represent the community of the people starring in them? Shows like the Real Housewives of Atlanta, and All My Babies’ Mamas represent the people involved. My family, immediate and extended, are nothing like the families shown on these shows. If the people who view these shows choose to categorize every person belonging to a particular culture because of what was shown on television then they’re ignorant.

If the reason behind Shawty Lo and his 10 babies’ mamas getting together is for the children then I’d have to say that’s commendable; however, it definitely could have been done in private. The children are innocent, and I think it’s only fair for them to be given the opportunity to develop relationships with their brothers and sisters.

I do plan to watch the special so that I can give a more substantial opinion about the show. These are just my preliminary thoughts, and I definitely encourage you to share yours!