‘Read A Book’ Discussed On CNN

As most of you probably know, I vacationed in the US recently. While there I saw the ‘Read A Book’ campaign clip on BET and cracked up…it’s hilarious. As funny (and controversial) as it may be, I’m definitely supportive of it’s actual meaning. Inevitably, not everyone is liking the video. Check out a discussion on the vid on CNN:

What do you think of the video?

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  1. Anonymous September 3, 2007

    They were definitely tight the stuff on BET sometimes is way worse so why not give our kids something that might help them to hear

  2. Anonymous September 3, 2007

    Sigh….

    …the CNN Newsanchor & the parents missed the point COMPLETELY. Watching this segment really pissed me off b/c the focus was on a very small subject.

    This cartoon shines light on a much larger issue…but instead became the subject under its own light.

    My question to the newsanchor & the parents is: Why are your children watching BET in the first place? I’m almost 21 & I can attest to the fact that my mother had complete control over what my brother & I viewed on television. I wasn’t allowed to watch MTV, BET, or listen to secular radio stations…until I reached an age where I could where I could decipher b/t right & wrong.

    I didn’t quite understand it until I got older & realized that my mother had protected my childhood from exposure to adult themes on life. People need to stop giving television, internet, music, pop culture, etc…the responsibility of raising their children.

    The parents & newsanchor were contradicting the entire subject. If you’re going to allow your child to watch a countdown that features real life videos where most of the controversial acts are taking place…then you shouldn’t have a problem with this cartoon showing in that time slot.

    Like I said earlier, the children shouldn’t be watching BET in the first place…& I think this is just another example of parents allowing pop culture to raise their children.

  3. Anonymous September 3, 2007

    When I was 12 and 13 I understood. Satire, so if your 12 or 13 year does not understand satire then you need to take that up with there english and grammar teacher

  4. Anonymous September 4, 2007

    Could you keep reporting on this subject because they said they would try to contact a head at BET
    Come on, if that news anchor did not know what A Bay Bay was, he has not been watching BET. I went to the US recently and my MOTHER learnt the words to A Bay Bay like 1 minute into the song.
    Thank you

  5. Anonymous September 4, 2007

    I saw this on CNN and they honestly made fools of themselves. The guy with the locs first started to defend himself and then by the end of the segment he was saying that he did it to INTENTIONALLY start something and realized how crappy and ignorant the video and song really is. He was lying. And if s*** is already bad, why add to it? He did it thinking his ass was funny and now he see’s that no one is laughing. S***…at least I’m not. This isn’t appropriate for kids nor adults b/c I damn sure didn’t find it entertaining.

    And yeah it’s easy to “attack” parents & s*** by why is stuff like this aired at all realistic or cartoon??? Both are pathetic.

  6. Anonymous September 4, 2007

    And another thing, if it wasn’t for kids watching BET they probably wouldn’t have a station b/c I’m 22 yrs. old and can honestly say that I don’t watch it, better yet defend it. I had never even seen this video until I saw it on CNN.

    And why is it hard to believe that the anchor didn’t know “a bay bay?” People have different preferences and choose to be exposed to their own liking. And your mother learned it b/c she was exposed to it!. If you never heard it how could you know they lyrics? I mean duh.

  7. jjlova06 September 4, 2007

    I feel that the men who created the song/ video were trying to prove something and also teach something. If the kids will listen to Ay Babay and s*** then why won’t they listen to this with the same look and concept only it is going to teach them something such as read a book. But at the same time I agree that if you believe that the video before yours being aired was bad and negative why put something on in the same light as that, instead try and go a different path in a positive direction. But I can’t know him for trying. I know when I was 12/13 I understood what satire was and if I didn’t know the word it is obvious that it is making a joke out of what it normally out there. Do you normally see videos saying brush your teeth and read a book so take the damn video for what it is. If the parents are so upset about what they’re kids are watching restrict the channels away from them instead of just blaming the creators. Its both sides fault. I personally have been watching BET since about 5th grade and it increasingly gets more vulgur in content and language, but I looked at it as strictly entertainment. I can’t say I took nothing away from it because everyone learns from there surroundings, but I don’t believe I took too much negative. I am in college, don’t drink like that, don’t do drugs and I will be well on my way to success. So more power to the man who is actually trying to do something to get kids to read or do other hygenic things whether it is through a somewhat negative light, at least someone is trying instead of sitting on there ass.

  8. Anonymous September 4, 2007

    I just want to say that the journalist/host for this story was horrible. He did everything you’re not supposed to do in interviews.

  9. Anonymous September 5, 2007

    STUPID STUPID STUPID BET stands for “Bad Entertainment Television”.

  10. Baby Doll September 5, 2007

    I understand both the underlying message and satirical aspect of the video and I can see how others do not. What it boils down to is freedom of speech. Someone took the time to utilize their talents to encourage our youth to respect themselves. Maybe the vehicle in which they chose to get their message across wasn’t the best, but at least they tried. I think that the newsanchor and BET both equally represent what’s wrong with our black culture on different ends of the spectrum. What we need to do is meet in the middle and save our future.

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