Is 'Basketball Wives' a Bad Example for Black Women?

Filed under: Basketball

I don't regularly watch the TV show, "Basketball Wives," but I know enough to know what the show is all about. Effectively, our society not only has a fascination with how the rich and powerful live, but we're equally fascinated with how those who sleep with the rich and powerful are living. Personally, I've never spent much time wondering how to marry rich, and I worry about those who do. But then again, I'll never be a basketball wife, and chances are that you won't be either. For that, I sincerely congratulate you.




I often feel sorry for the women I see on shows like "Basketball Wives." Many of them find that for the uneducated athlete who doesn't make responsible choices, hitting your thirties and forties effectively leads to one lucid nightmare after another. The fairytale expected while dating these men during college doesn't quite play out to what you thought it would be. There's a nasty culture among professional athletes, and far too many black male athletes (influenced by hip hop culture) think that being able to dribble a basketball means that they are devoid of any mandate for personal responsibility, educational achievement or financial accountability. The glee of professional athletics, in many cases, leaves behind an ugly and unfortunate mess.

One person that I brought in to discuss this issue is Shanelle Walker, aka Madam Prezident. Beyond being an amazing spoken word and hip hop artist, Shanelle has strong opinions on important matters of social commentary. One thing she's taken issue with recently is the "Basketball Wives" TV show and the examples being set for young black women.

The interview is below, enjoy!

 

Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments