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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (March 2, 1978)
Page 4 Portland Observer Tbursdnv. March 2. 1978 What happened to TV’s 'Black Renaissance?’ by Bill FEBRV ARY 25 H»NS] - The broadcast on February 12th. 13th and 14th of NBC'» six hour "King." a T V biography of the a v il rights leader M artin Luther King. Jr., came almost exactly a year after ABC's triu m p h a n t p res en tatio n of "Roots, based on the best selhng book by Alex Haley. The year between "Roots" and "King" was supposed to be a year of great progress for Black actors, actresses and writers of intelligent Black-e»nented stor ies. A glance at the facts, however, shows that the Black T V renaissance still hasn't happened Perhaps the moot glaring example of the T V public's disinclination to accept senous Black topics was the ratings failure of N B C s “King." a project the network spent almost $4 million to produce. The mini-series' premiere epi sode Sunday. February 12th. was rated last on that night and last for the enure TV week ending on the 12th. The final two installments on February 13th and 14th were also rated in last place for their respective nights. Aside from considerations of compel mg shows on other networks, the TV community generally acknowledged that “King" s failure was unexpected. Its rejection by the viewing public has been attributed to reasons ranging from ra cism to public revulsion for the national divisions of the 1960s W hatever the cause, it's clear from empirical observa tion that something - the production community, the networks and. or the SKY T R IO public - is stopping reasonable, realistic Black projects from succeeding on TV The "Roots" phenomenon was unique The soap-opera bastardization of Haley's gripping book removed color from all characters. Black and white, and coated the whole story in the dislorung gilt of a typical Hollywood T V tale The series was a costume drama, buffered by 200 years of intervening history. and so didn't strike viewers as a Black white story of today- When "Roots" set new ratings records in January. 1977. and became a national obsession for one week. Hollywood s«ers predicted a flood of new work for Black entertainment craftspeople. A year later, the only beneficiaries of the "Roots" success are L eV ar Burton. Leslie Uggams. Louis Gossett, Jr. and Ben Vereen Sadly, many of these talented people now spend their professional lives constantly re-living the "Roots" saga. Ben Vereen's recent ABC entertainm ent spe rial was subtitled. "His Roots." and LeVar Burton reports he's more or less become the young Kunte Kinte. "Black" T V programs that are success ful are. almost with exception, horribly distorted stereotypes produced and w rit ten by white men and women. CBS' “Good Times," the home of Jimmy "J J ." W alker (M r. Dy-No-Mite*. suffered the loss of its female lead last fall when Esther Rolle quit the show, charg ing the producers (Norman Lear's Tan dem Productions^ were insulting Black Americans by playing up a character who is 18-years-old. doesn't work or go to school and seems to survive on street hustling. Black leaders had earlier com plained about "trtwxl Times" »hen the father character (John Amosl was w n t ten out of the show, thus leaving a mother headed household Are all Blacks living in fractured families, the leaders asked'.* Must alt Black women he depicted its maids? The most successful "Black" show now on T V is ABC's "What's Happening!." which is basically a white version of what life is like tn a funay. funny ghetto. In this senes the main character is a hippo like teenager nicknamed Rerun, a living Dennis the Menace gone to fat. The adult characters in “W hat's Happening!" strive to impose order and civilization on the bumptious youngsters, but the jungle drums of ghetto rock music and the call of the streets always triumph In "What's Happening!." the bad guys always »via. The newest “Black" show to hit the air is CBS' “Baby I'm Back." and if its w nters ever heard about the Black renaissance post "Roots" it doesn't show up in the scrips. "Baby I ’m Back" is about a charming, hustling wastrel (played by Demond W ilson of the late NBC hit "Sanford & Son." another racist stereotype) who re turns to his wife and two children seven years after deserting them to play the horses. His wife has become engaged to another man in the interim and has had the Wilson character declared legally dead Obviously, the w nters and producers think desertion of a family is an excellent fulcrum on which to balance a "Black" show. The firm resolve of the wife to retain her independence from the rough ish hustler is eroding weekly on the senes, whtch is climbing ut the ratings after its introduction early this year. On all "Black'' shows one of the most important humor sources to judge from the hysteria of the recorded laugh track - is the dialect joke. Just let onXrharacter utter "de n bb er" or exclaim Ah, yeah!" in minstrel show exaggeration and the canned laughter erupts in torrents. It was only a year from the tnumph of "Roots" to the disheartening failure of "King.” The year intervening was supposed to see a maturing of T V ’s attitude toward Black topics and artists. Instead, the T V audience has been given "Roots" retreads and two new racist situation comedies Those waiting for the revolution are still waiting. | Bill M andel is the broadcast columnist fnr the San Francisco "E x a m in e r *> Celt br¡'t -'editions Presents ALVIN AILEV AMERICAN DANCETH LATER Entertainment Guide by Allen J - m THE SKY TRIO - FEATVRING SOLA BOGLE • • • The Jazz Quarry u steadily becoming one erf the luppest Jazz spots around. Thanks going to the vocalizing of Gene Diamond - «ho. in my opinion, is the best male vocalist in Portland today. Sharing that same magnetism is Sky Tno. who held it down at the downtown Thunderbird for over a year. As anyone in the business will tell you - that's hard to do! Their transition from a hotel atmosphere to a nightclub atmosphere was natural. As a m atter oi fact. 1 think Sky T rio has become more imaginative and innovative in their musical styles since they departed from the T Bird to become the musical directors at the Jazz Quarry; which the management and patrons are really pleased about. Although Gene Diamond is no longer at the Quarry i Gene's currently appearing at Chuck's) the Sky T rio is still packing them in in S.R.O. style. D J .'s from KBOO Radio were on hand last Friday night as a part of the evenings program. Also an the program was Sola Bogie iwife of T .V . newscaster Dick Bogie* local songbird who is really making a name for herself in Jazz circles around Portland. She appears u> be more confident in her overall stage performance these days. Her delivery is much smother and her musical selections are more compatible with her style. Ms. Bogie was in excellent voice Friday night, as she sang such tunes as; "M y Favorite Things.” “Can’t Take That Away From Me." “I've Got I t Bad." and others. Ms Bogie is doing everything right these days - and th at’s good! Keep the Jazz Quarry in mind when you're in the mood to hear some good Jazz - it's there! Youth present fashion show The Young Adult Circle of Allen Temple C J L E . Church presents Fashion of Moods. Luncheon-Fashion Show Sa turday. March I L 1978 2:30 p.m., Shera ton Hotel. Lloyd Center. This will be the marking erf our eighth annual Fashion Show The purpose of the fashion show each year is to help the Church meet its Mamouth Tea goals. The Mamouth Tea drive is a fund rais ing event which climaxes tms year on Sunday. March 19, 1975 at 4:00 p.m. at Allen Temple Church. The proceeds from the Tea helps support five Black colleges and our Church needs. Come look and listen to these gala events. Fashion Show donations $10.00. For tickets call 283: 4934 or 289-6950. Faith healer visits Portland Elder Hertheo W n g h te r. evangelist and assistant Pastor of G reater Power House Church of God in Christ of Dallas. Texas, has been a visitor in Portland for the past four weeks. He has worked diligently, as assistant Pastor in numerous churches throughout the Texas area. Eider W n g h te r'* con cept of life has been to strive to help others without asking or expecting any thing in return. Since coming to Portland a month ago. many persons throughout the rity . l^ve stated they have greatly benefitted from his healing ministry W hen asked about a fee for his outstanding work in this field. Elder W nghter immediately replied that he never accepted anything for his services, as it is a gift given him directly from God. and that he is merely being used as an instrument of God. He attributes his unique gift to. "mas much as God is the same today. yesterday and forever, he is still capable of perform ing the same and even greater miracles as he did in biblical times, if we only team to trust him and have faith and truly believe in him." Elder W n gh ter is presently worship ping at M t. Nebo Church of God in Christ, located at the corner of N .E . Ninth and Mason, of which Elder Jay Judy - is Pastor; and he is visiting in the home of his tw o sisters. M rs. Palesting Taylor, and Miss M ane W n g h te r on N .E. 18th Avenue. He can be reached at 281-8842. LINDA m i l TILLERY [Phm.; Lynda Gerdoel Women’s band visits city Women's Energy. Portland s non profit production company will present in eon cert on March 12th, "Olivia on W heels. A Traveling W omen's Festival of Music and Poetry" featuring Linda (Tui) Tillery and her six woman band playing music from her experience as a Black woman who has been called “one of the strongest singers around..in every way - powerful voice, firm pitch, rich tone and with a bluesy. jazzy, gospel-tinged inflection that really moves lyrics along." Black feminist Pat Parker will also read from her work. “W here Would I Be W ithout You" and Olivia recording artists Meg Christian and Teresa T ru ll »rill perform the open Olivia Record*, an ail woman recording company made music industry history just three years ago when they started with a tiny investment. They grossed nearly a half million dollars last year. In addition to the festival. Olivia »rill be providing workshops for musicians and music people on March 9th. Anyone interested in attending these workshops should call 226-0848 for more information. The concert starts at 8:00 p.m sharp at the Neighbors of Woodcraft Hall. 1410 S.W . Morrison. Tickets are on sale at A Woman's Place Bookstore. Longhair M u sic. Music Millenium East. Crystalship (downtown). House of Sound. Every body * in Beaverton. All tickets are $5. Free childcare »rill be provided for the concert at 2707 S.E. Clinton. Children are welcome beginning at 1:00 p.m. OABA meets here The Quarterly membership meeting of the Oregon Assembly for Black Affairs »rill be held Saturday. March 11th at 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m at Prince Hall Masonic Temple. 116 N X . Russell. Portland Agenda »rill include reports and plans from the Oregon Black Political Cooven tion that »rill be held April 7th. 8th. and 9th. A t 2.-00 p.m. the three announced candidates (Verne Duncan. Fred Heard and Ruth McFarland i for Superintendent of Public Instruction »rill discuss their educational positions and answer que* lions for OAOBA membership, the Black community and the public. Meeting is open to the public. s2£ Prifitly MEN'S FORMAL WEAR O LIV IA on WHEELS * TRAVELING FESTIVAL OF WOMEN'S MUSIC & POETRY CLOSE OUT SALE TUXSMKTS Sunday, MARCH 12,8 pm FORMALTKS TUXTROUSOS N a t t e r s of Woodcraft Ha« $5.00 $2.50 under 16 1410 S W Mormon. Portland CMdcare at 2707 S.E. Chmon (rom 7PM T ic k e ts Avwtatote at: A Woman's Place Bookstore. Long Hair Mu*«c. Mountain Mov.ng Cafe the Upper (Music Millenium) 3156 E. Burnside. House of Sound 3606 N Williams. Everybody s Records 9517 S.W Canyon. Beaverton USED NEW TUXEDOS tu® 175 .. N G w m a v l IU » '1 7 95 ^ ^ *6 q » ..... MW * 1 4 wanrrs au seouMO CUMMttttUND *"■ •" »o»l 6 * COATS w*«» m a n ww t m n PANTS woe* ru u o o man MOB J sc □ sc SHIRTS o s ic w w i js » » ! » J ran | J CU M M ER BU ND S 75* SUSPENDERS 25* TIESuuw 25* V H V E T SO* SHOES mam «1» • M O ALTMtATKMO • M X SAXIS MMAX • MO H 9 U M M CM UC HAM G CS lUDEUAISMOH ty ß h t ê5 QDay^
