"A VIRTUAL WHITEWASH"?

August 1999
		The NAACP challenged NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox over the lack of minority characters in their new fall programming. Two experts take your questions.

Forum introduction Should the networks be required to have minorities in leading roles? Do some minority characters reinforce stereotypes? What about diversity behind the cameras? What can minorities do to help diversify television? Are the networks misrepresenting the U.S. to an international audience?   July 26, 1999: A discussion about diversity on television. December 12, 1995: A newsmaker interview with Kweisi Mfume. Browse the NewsHour's coverage of race relations and the media.     The NAACP NBC ABC CBS FOX

Frank Baker of Columbia, South Carolina asks: Is one possible solution to ensure more diversity at the program decision-making levels of both the networks and at local T.V. stations? Damon Standifer responds: As the creative workplace behind the camera becomes more integrated, the faces in front of the camera will reflect that diversity. In order to create a diverse environment two things have to happen. First, creative blacks will have to network with white Americans. We cannot continue to segregate ourselves in the college and professional environment. We must learn to form bonds and communicate with the dominant culture if we are to hope to be accepted and successful in it. One must be able to appeal to the masses to be successful in television and the masses are overwhelmingly white. Secondly, producers, directors and writers must keep an open mind when accepting new blood into their ranks. Because a person is black does not mean that he necessarily should be working on the new all-black comedy. Let us be colorblind in the offices as well as the soundstages.   Earl Ofari Hutchinson responds: Yes, the demand should be for network executives to pay more than lip service to mentoring, hiring, and promoting talented minority writers, directors, and technicians.

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