Another popular reality show on television today is The Real
housewives of Atlanta. This series documents the lives of 6 women living in
Atlanta, Georgia and their lives as wives, mothers, and for some businesswomen.
Five of the women are African American and one is Caucasian and each episode is
filled with drama, but in some ways it shows black women in less stereotypical
roles. All of the women that are apart of the show are very wealthy and all of
them have obtained some of their wealth by working. The show is centered on
their conflicts but I think it is good to see black women within the media who
are doing well for themselves. When it comes to their financial stability they
are actually connoting more positive notions of black women and promoting the idea
that hard work pays off. I believe this doesn’t take away from them being
viewed as “authentic” because their behaviors on the show are at the forefront.
One
of the cast members is Kandi Burruss. She is a single mother and former singer
of the popular group Xscape. She has also produced many hit songs for numerous
artists, she has her own internet show called “Kandi Koated Nights”, she owns
her own boutique, and she has a line of sex toys. She is one that displays the
notion of hard working black woman because she is doing numerous things and providing
for her family. There are also some aspects of her that can perpetuate the idea
of “authenticity” among black women. Her web series is sexually oriented and
the fact that she produced a line of sex toys promotes the stereotype that
black women are hyper sexualized and that they thrive off being sex objects. In
my opinion, her web serious is done in an entertaining and tasteful fashion
where real life people are able to tell their stories to the public, but people
may perceive it as something different.
NeNe
Leakes is one of the most popular cast members on the show because she is the
most out-spoken. She is a soon to be divorced mother of two and she is also
making a living by working. Since being apart of the show she has made numerous
appearances on talk shows and she was also involved with the latest season of The
Celebrity Apprentice. Her authenticity as a black woman seems to be at the
forefront because she is the center of most of the drama on the show. She always
makes her opinion know and she is very loud and confrontational. This
perpetuates the notion that black women are angry and loud and these situations
are usually what the producers decide to air on television. Viewers are
inadvertently forming their views on society from the media.
This
show is Bravo networks highest rated realty television show. As the seasons go
on the producers need new material to capture so the audience will keep coming
back for more. The producers have changed the cast a few times since the first
season to alter the scenery and add more drama. Within every season and every
episode something new comes about that adds to the show as a whole. The entire
cast is making a very decent living as a cast member and for them to keep it
going they have to provide the audience with entertainment. This may not
actually be “reality” but it is produced in a way that can connote their regular
lives living in Atlanta, which is a life filled with glamour and drama and
people perceive it as such.
-Danielle Hicks
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