I Wanted A Minority Real Housewife And All I Get Is Black Joe?
For years, minorities have decried the lack of representation on shows like Seinfeld and Friends, for the basic fact that New York is chock full of ethnic folks. Smallville is more diverse, and that place in Kansas, fer Pete’s sake!
The lack of diversity has been attributed to generational backwardness. Old cooters like Jerry Seinfeld and the writers of Friends, weren’t raised in environments The Dude would call racially cool. Unlike The Dude, they weren’t interested enough to enact change, man. But the dude is fictional and the Real Housewives of New York are real.
Last night, we finally saw minority representation other than LuAnn’s maid. The first was a sassy Caribbean worker for Jill Zarin’s business. The second was a recovering drug addict guided through a mock interview by the Countess. Then we had Black Joe at Bethenney Frankel’s birthday party at the track.
I though, “Man, she has a black friend! Take that Seinfeld!” Then we found out that Black Joe wasn’t a friend after all. He was a negro who got them drinks and placed bets for her and her friends. Whether or not Black Joe is descended from Nigger Jim in Huck Finn remains to be seen.
If this is what diversity means to “Real” New Yorkers, I guess it’s a good thing that Friends and Seinfeld didn’t have minorities.
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As Arts and Entertainment Aficionados, we have always had a different take on Pop Culture matters and enjoy venturing into the absurd. Please join us on our journey as we delve into Refried Screens.
April 16th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Obviously you don’t pay attention! in an earlier episode..Jill has a friends staying with her Marilyn and they go out of her house together and to the fashion show party together. Also the owner of the Detox Center is Black too. Did you forget. But really…does it matter? Set an example of tolerance not ignorance.
April 16th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
Those people weren’t black, they were actors playing black people. Shame on you for not being able to tell black people from white actors in blackface!
April 18th, 2008 at 4:19 am
“He was a negro who got them drinks…”
A “negro”? That’s not the most appropriate way to describe a black man either. This isn’t the 1930s.
April 18th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Negro means black man in Spanish, so don’t be all “English First” up in this jammy. The preferred nomenclature is “African American”. Bet you didn’t know that, did you?
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:31 pm
I don’t know if you got the memo, Refrieds, but everyone on the internet is either white or asian. Therefore, even those of us colored folk who’ve been called the n-word (with hostility) like it was our first name better learn our place (again).
But damn, it’s an interesting picture. Getting frisked by the race police. Nonwhites getting told how to address nonwhites on the internet.
Oh shit, did I just “out” someone? Is this a demographic turn for the worst?
Forgive me Refrieds, for I have sinned.
May 13th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Jerry Seinfeld Entertainment…
I Googled for something completely different, but found your page?and have to say thanks. nice read?…