CBC to Sunday Talkers: Diversity, Please!

Seems the Congressional Black Caucus are blasting political TV talk shows for their lack of diversity. Or, as Gawker joked, “Clarence Page can only be one place at a time!“

The CBC is referencing a recent Urban League report that put a spotlight on how even when minority issues are being discussed there are often no minorities on the shows. While a derth of blacks, Latinos and Asians abound in all TV talk, the CBC is SPECIFICALLY concerned as to why their members’ phones aren’t ringing off the hook.

More after the jump.

“I’m not pleased at all with the diversity issue as it relates to talk shows,” CBC Chairwoman Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said in an interview with The Hill. “We have, what, 17 subcommittee chairs and four full-committee chairmen? These members are brilliant; they know their stuff. They’re powerful and they should be part of the Sunday morning talk shows.”

Of course, we at The Snob already noticed this AMAZING phenomenon when we realized that the gorgeous twosome of the eyebrow-licious Jamal Simmons and the “we-don’t-agree-with-her-but-like-her-anyway” conservative punditress Amy Holmes were lacking on our TV post Jan. 20, 2009. Save Roland Martin busting out that sweet substitution slot when Campbell Brown went on maternity leave, things were looking a little lean for black pundits not named Juan, Clarence or Eugene.

We were so verklempt we actually made a VIDEO about it back in April! That’s how serious we take our black pundits. We love you ALL! (Except Ron Christie. You can drink a long, tall glass of STFU.)

The Missing Pundits from Danielle Belton on Vimeo.

 

daniellebelton

12 responses to “CBC to Sunday Talkers: Diversity, Please!”

  1. dukedraven Avatar
    dukedraven

    That would be nice.

    Reply
  2. Tiffany Avatar
    Tiffany

    Funny, I was reading your post before the jump and I kept thinking, "Didn’t we already know this?" But, alas, the Black Snob was the first to report this (how long ago). The CBC is just now getting to this?

    Reply
  3. polticallyincorrect Avatar
    polticallyincorrect

    What do these morning shows accomplish policy wise? There are tons of other ethnic groups who don’t have folks on Sunday morning talk shows and never had a sitcom yet they wield more power than black folks do. Sounds like a bunch of folks who just want to be on TV to me.

    Reply
  4. devessel Avatar
    devessel

    @Tiffany: actually, the official, data-driven report from NULPI came out in 2006 (it is called ‘Sunday Morning Apartheid’ and you can still read the report online or purchase it by going to their website), but folks have been noticing it for quite some time prior.Snob shines light on the irony here: The CBC’s <reasonable> issue is that their members are conspicuously absent from these shows–when in fact the 2006 report itself speaks to *any* kind of diversity in the shows, CBC member or otherwise. Kind of makes you say "hmmm…" doesn’t it?

    Reply
  5. TiredOfTheHypocrisy Avatar
    TiredOfTheHypocrisy

    The only black people who appear on Sunday Morning Apartheid are those whose appearance is just to offer criticism of the President, like Tavis Smiley and that nasty looking (ugly) Cornell West. Include with these corporate (WHITE) annointed race pimps and hustlers are the blace so-called scholars and interlectuals.What passes for media and journalist in this country is working very hard with the republicans in their attempts to undermine the President. So the only blacks to appear on these shows are brought on to assist the white media and the republicans.

    Reply
  6. joev Avatar
    joev

    Amy Holmes is my kind of girl……gives me the vapors

    Reply
  7. swiv Avatar
    swiv

    i’d tell the CBC to kiss my ***

    Reply
  8. rikyrah Avatar
    rikyrah

    they are right, and yes, some of them should be routine visitors on the talk shows.

    Reply
  9. Lala Avatar
    Lala

    You don’t enjoy the wonderful punditry of La Shawn Barber????!!!!!!!!! Boo snob! lol

    Reply
  10. T.W. Hudgens Avatar
    T.W. Hudgens

    It appears that all people of color literally disappeared from TV especially as hosts of anything. There is a remarkable absence of brown faces in conversations about brown faces. All of the networks can and should do a better job of putting people of color in the journalistic roles they have honed their skills in and paid their dues in, just as the white men and women that are getting airtime (and a paycheck). CBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, CBC… They all are guilty of avoiding what some would call "too many black folks on the air". I should know, I’m one of them and I am repeatedly ignored and turned down for airtime.

    Reply
  11. ross michel Avatar
    ross michel

    "Clarence Page can only be one place at a time!" LOL!

    Reply
  12. Romamo Avatar
    Romamo

    Hello Ms. Belton, I enjoyed the article. I was wondering, could you tell me about the painting/art/gif/jpg? Who’s the artist and what is it called?

    Reply

Leave a reply to polticallyincorrect Cancel reply

Live Your Best Life.