Through All The Nonsensical Drama, Is There A Purpose To Love & Hip Hop Atlanta?

July 12th, 2012 - By madamenoire

atlnightspots.com

 

by Shari Wright

This is what everyone has been waiting for. And by everyone, I am only speaking about the critics that have denounced the show since the first 10 minutes of episode one of Love and Hip Hop ATL(LHHATL). Monday night we finally saw the “OMG look at how they are shaming our community” worthy footage. Because before this, the show seemed actually light to me. Yes, the triangles and personalities involved in LHHATL are wild and boisterous and sometimes perplexing and unbelievable, but as for specific embarrassing actions, the most we got was a sprinkle of an apple martini thrown on the back of the dusty jacket Stevie J was wearing. No bottles flying overheads, no slaps or punches, no weaves snatched (at least not literally), in fact there was barely anyone raising their voices. Of course, after Monday’s episode, all that is clearly out of the 15th floor window. So protesters, your proclamations of shame and distress that were announced weeks ago may now have credence. Or not…

First of all, I’m not making any excuses. The show might possibly be the most unhinged reality show starring black women, but I can’t forget the image of beautiful, vibrant women battling for the “love” of Flava Flav…so there’s that. I’ll say it’s a close second. Even with the jaw-dropping storylines and the scenes that induce heavy pauses and double blinking, I believe there’s a stint of purpose in the show.

Think about why we fall for LHHATL and subsequently all other reality shows. For one, it’s entertainment. For another, we can relate. We sometimes see ourselves, friends, or maybe work acquaintances reflected in these situations, and we are happy when we don’t see ourselves in this light; we get invested in characters that have a glimmer of the traits we admire. Sometimes it’s the loud mouth in the bunch, unafraid to stand up for herself regardless of the situation or person she’s facing, or sometimes it’s the quiet, loyal friend with the open heart that is simply longing for their love to be reciprocated properly. It could be reflections of self or associates… either way these people that are followed by cameras are not anomalies.

Take Emily from the original Love and Hip Hop, who was faced with the “I’m dating a rapper and I have his child but he won’t claim me publicly” life. I read several tweets and posts of girls saying they knew what she went through. They related and they identified with her pain. They needed to see her take that momentary step where she finally put her emotional care in front of her emotional longing and walked away. The cameras followed this woman and caught her not screaming or throwing her ex’s clothes out on a sidewalk, but caught her instead throwing herself into a place where her sanctity mattered most.

Stop for a moment and ask, who on LHHATL was truly being “ratchet”…Momma Dee, but she isn’t ratchet as she is loud and unfiltered(also often filmed sans medication), but her personality appears to come from her struggles as a single mom looking to raise and protect her kids on her own. K Michelle could have been ratchet and started blasting her abuser’s name, but she used class and told her story without identities. I wish I could start a quick count of the many useful dialogues that crossed the social media forums dissecting the Mimi’s of the world and the women who can’t seem to let go of their turbulent relationships no matter how many times the man is caught disrespecting their existence. These women are present in this world. Why can’t we make room for their tales of woe?

Tags:

, , ,
More from StyleBlazer
More from MommyNoire

Comment Disclaimer

Comments that contain profane or derogatory language, video links or exceed 200 words will require approval by a moderator before appearing in the comment section. XOXO-MN

  • black face

    shows like this has set us back another 100 years…

  • realadulttalk

    This show is pure scripted comedy!! It’s like watching the soaps…except everyone is urban and outta control. Lol I can’t deal with people always talking about what a show is doing to a community. Really…so the ratchetness of the people in the community would not exist without these shows??? Or would these shows not exist w/out the ratchetness of the community?? Cause I believe it’s the latter.

  • FattyKimye

    Even though it’s a ratchet guilty pleasure, but it’s entertaining. It’s all scripted.

  • cherrygrlnc

    I am feeling the show because I see people I know in these characters. I am also feeling that we need to support other shows that showcase the diversity of us. If we don’t support us nobody will and we won’t see a truer depiction of who we are as black people.

  • StephLuv

    I was one of the people upset with the show after episode 1 and thought I would give it to episode 3 before I turned the channel. But I’m still watching it, smh! Yes it’s entertaining, yes I know people who act and talk like some of the personalities on the show and at the end of the day, I will always support black writers and producers who try to provide tv shows and movies to us cause Hollywood doesn’t do that enough. Not sure when or if I will turn the channel, my ratchet level is not quite at full tilt. Agree with the article 100%.

  • KSocial

    I like the show. I honestly don’t think the women are classless except for Joseline. They have real issues that warrant being upset about unlike Basketball wives. They issues are with their no good men. They seem to actually have a sisterhood between each other except for the outcast Joseline. I have seen worse reality shows and don’t really see what everyone is up in arms about at all. I do think its scripted as it seems more like a soap opera, however it is definitely good entertainment. Really doesn’t warrant all of the bad press its getting. BBW was far more ratchet than this show. That should have been boycotted.

  • Anonymous

    Reality shows are meant for entertainment. What I find disturbing is, the few reality shows with black people have to be the most ignorant of them all. It’s not coincidence. I know, people will hate me for this. I understand Kim got famous over a sex tape, Kim gets backlash all the time but I will rather watch their show than Love and Hip hop Atlanta or Basketball wives. I will rather watch housewives of Beverly Hills over housewives of Atlanta. The funny thing, if you are acting crazy on TV, how does that give you more opportunities, if anything it gives more of a negative which will eventually limit your opportunities. Yes, Nene is getting offers, but she will always be labeled the angry black woman on TV. Whites will give you what you want, but their perception of you remains. Hollywood exes is manageable so far. Love and Hip hop Atlanta, it makes me cringe. The one with Chrissy and Jim was better. I can’t look past the level of stupidity. I don’t see people, I see down low, STDS, tranny activities, desperate, low self esteem with poor judgement women, men that are immature boys, have no clue how to be a mature man let alone be a responsible husband or father, uneducated, not just bookwise but in everything . I think, the only scene that made sense so far since its aired is when Stevie J got in the car with his friend after Mimi went off on him. The guy who advised stevie J.

    • KSocial

      You don’t like the show at all yet you seem to be following all of the episodes. Hmm….It’s entertainment. It isn’t meant to be educational. If everything on TV was educational no one would watch it as it would make life dull. Television has to have a variety as everyone is different. If you don’t like it stop contributing to its high ratings.

      • Anonymous

        If you read my comment correctly, I didn’t mention, I don’t watch it. You can watch something and still have opinion about it, right? Just like everyone will watch BW, but still hated Tami or Evelyn’s behavior on the show. Is Hollywood exes, Kim’s show, Beverly housewives, Mary Mary show educational? I know, its meant for entertainment but there’s line between entertainment and pure foolishness. Do me a favor, use your common sense before you comment next time.

        • KSocial

          Please believe that I used plenty of common sense when commenting on your post. You on the other hand are making no sense. If you hate the show so much why watch it? You have very strong opinions about how you dislike the show and how it “makes you cringe”. Why are you watching something that you are so disgusted by and contributing to its ratings? Most of the people who were disgusted with BBW were so disgusted they chose not to watch the show and boycott it. This is different than the actions of yourself who apparently doesn’t miss an episode. You are obviously very entertained by the show and therefore are finding some sort of enjoyment watching it. Most people will not endure the agony of watching something on television they don’t enjoy.They will take pleasure in using that little invention called a “remote”. I am sure you will have an excuse for the lack of use of yours as well.

  • http://www.facebook.com/BKmade Brooklyn MaydMe

    This show’s purpose is ENTERTAINMENT. I sooooo enjoy watching it. Just like I love watching soap operas and other shows geared towards the “urban” audience…like The Game, and Single Ladies. People shouldn’t look to this show for anything “deep”. Just have fun with it!

  • Trisha_B

    This show is a comedy to me lol. The one liners are a trip “I”m a lay them paws on him fo’real…” “You look nice by the way…” “Steebe do you welly lube me?” lmao …W/ a lot of reality shows, i never really see much of my friends in them or relate to it. But I have a friend like Erica & a friend on the road to be like Mimi, & I’m like Ariane (sp) trying to talk sense into them.
    That picture tho…. lmao

    • Msmykimoto2u

      *DYING* @ Steebe do you welly lube me? Hahaha!

  • NikkitaMichelle

    Love and Hip Hop ATL does not uplift the community, but there’s not much on television that does uplift our community. Oh how I miss the Cosby Show. But everyone in our community knows that these type of people and situations do exist in not only our community but in all communities. So a lot of people can relate to the K.Michelle’s and Mimi’s of the world. Most people don’t watch Vh1 for uplifting programming, you can turn on OWN for that. I know our girl Oprah would appreciate that.

  • Aja

    Pathetic…..And my friends wonder why I don’t care for reality TV? Buffoonery at its finest with the exception of the dance & talent shows I just don’t care for reality shows. I wish this part of pop culture would just go away.
    I tend to watch a lot of old re-runs of tv shows. I am more of a nostalgia TV person. Give me a good mystery any day than reality TV :-(
    Besides there is nothing real about reality TV

    • Tankyard

      but yet you are commenting “watching”…….please………..and will be tuned in every episode, who you fooling?

      • Aja

        I am not into reality TV. It’s a waste to me in opinion ….like I mentioned above give me the old reruns of “A Different World” The Cosby Show”, “Matlock”, “Murder She Wrote” and etc.. you can keep the buffoonery Tankyard :-)

  • Yvette

    I agree. Well written article.

  • mzjohnson

    you’re absolutely right!

  • Miss_Understood

    I enjoy watching this show because I find it entertaining. However, I will not pretend that it is doing our community any favors…

    • Tami

      I love HIP HOP Atlanta…It’s entertaining…Watching Mimi & Jose…That’s good drama. Stevie J is low down. He looks like the devil….Rasheeda & her manager/husband…i hope their love continues. K Michele trying to make it in the industry…Don’t take that show away…It’s good TV!

  • cocochanel31

    I wholeheartedly agree w this article..I like LHHATL sooo much more than Real Housewives of ATL or BBW because the women are not catty and do NOT fight one another , rather they just have issue with the sorry a**men in their life!! I will say that the ladies w the exception of Mama Dee and Joseline are all classy, and even in the midst of their pain, they somehow retain their classiness. However, every last one of them except of the chick who is married and K Michelle suffer from an inordinate about of low self esteem ( that I’m sure every woman has suffered from at one point) that allows them to stay in these emotionally abusive relationships. As crazy and stupid as Mimi and Scrappys BM are, who HASN’T been that woman??? I just hope at the end they are both redeemed and truly walk away from these men that JUST DONT WANT THEM!!

    • Miss_Understood

      I agree with the characters being relateable, even Joseline and Mama Dee, but there IS cattiness and fighting ie Joseline vs Karli, K. Michelle vs Karli, Mimi vs Joseline etc…I think we are responding well to this show because of two reasons: 1-it’s a new show with new cast members and 2-we realized our words about BBall wives fell on deaf ears…