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What are the merits of "black sitcoms" which paint a more positive picture of middle class "ethnic minorities" in western nations than is the type of thing the majority of ethnic minority communities in the west consider positive in any way? In a word, is Will Smith truly a sellout and, if so, since my answer is yes, then why exactly, and how can it be avoided in future, and what aspects of Will Smith should therefore be ignored.
Summertime the song about barbecuing and driving pimp cars and being a vain-ghetto-boy, a babylon boy, not a bruv from da hood, is the first thing to ignore. Ignore that it is even melodic. So what? "I should be so lucky" has melody and yet there is NO doubt that Minogue and all attached to her is to the music world as Satan is to the Christian world - entirely incompatible.
Will Smith's rise to fame through playing a middle class wannabe bad boy accepted by the bulk of young white american as what is the underlying "good (white) nature of bad boys in the hood" as much as they enjoy coolio songs and other music which, interestingly, appeals VERY LITTLE to the bulk of black members of the music loving community - is this rise to fame just another act of pursuing money through the basic easiest way available to anyone - sell yourself as a pawn to your worst enemy and make BIG bucks (enemies pay a LOT to buy you - an honest joe ends up with no bucks, and an honest joe can sell out to dishonesty, accept criminal work at a HUGE income-difference compared to what people less honest and more inclined to sell out at any level can).
The nature of the programme was to appeal to white audiences largely and convince them that eccentric rich black families existed and were not as black as the rest. A sort of unmade-up Addams family with the much the same hierarchy and odd-one-out type situation. Nonetheless, the Addams family worked, and I loved it. So perhaps, since they were all white, and represented more Eastern European types, mabe for the many non-black people who enjoy the Fresh Prince of Bel Air it is indeed a truly nice thing. I dunno. Some people don't like the Addams Family and to me Gomez Addams is comparable only, in the list of those I, in the end, weakly consider my heroes, to chaps like Yasser Arafat or Cleopatra (who got her claws into Julius Caesar, a man not very easy to conquer).
It may seem cruel, to suggest Will Smith is a step backwards for the change of perception by white people of black people and other foreigners, a change sorely needed, before too much has changed the other way. It is not really cruel. The man is minting it, and doing so by pandering to stereotypes which are exactly what we need to get rid of to PREVENT the social problems causing so much social despair in America and Europe.
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(final and corrected version)
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