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
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