And Now a Word From the Reality TV Sociology Department

I give you Minh's predictions for tonight's premiere of Black/White (gentlewomen, start your TiVos).  Apparently reality TV sociology doesn't pay so well, because he's also taking bets on the side.  Anyone up for some action on the show?  Though I gotta say, lousy odds on the last one, dude, you need a lot more zeros on that number.  Sad but true.

Anyway, from Minh, with permission, of course:

I think the obvious message from this show will be that Race matters.  More specifically, the White family will realize that overt racism does indeed exist.  Although it will be mostly subtle examples, they will be treated more poorly (while black) than they originally expected.  This realization will be a big shock to them, because they will be coming from a color-blind ideology.  It will start as a novelty, but the whole experience of being black will be difficult on them.  It will be a slow process, but will ultimately be an eye opener that will change their world view (at least they way it will be presented on TV).  I think the issue of class will be brought up, but will not be considered seriously.

The Black family will not be impacted in the same way at all.  Their role in the show will not be the same as the white family's.  Although the show appears to be set up to make this an equal experiment, I think that the Black family is there to be the educators rather than participants (their experiences as white people aren't as important or interesting I don’t think).  Their purpose is to teach the White people about the "real" or "true" perspective on race.  Although they will have varied experiences, they will not make much about their observations around inequality.  They may get treated with more respect in some situations, but it will be more of an "I knew it all along" affirmation.  They may find that being White isn't as "easy" as they originally thought it would be, but this won't be life changing for them.  They will be more uncomfortable playing white than expected, and will be very happy to go back to being black.

Not groundbreaking predictions, and maybe I'm not giving the producers enough credit, but I'm sticking to them!  So if I’m right, I can say that all my years of education are good for predicting outcomes on reality TV shows on trading races and I can consider a career change.  If I’m wrong, it will be sad and embarrassing, and I will need to re-study for my race reality TV comps exam.  Now to seal these predictions up in a safe somewhere ... do you think Vegas has bets I can place on the show?

1:1   all cast members will complain about the make up process

2:1   the term “ignorant” will be used at least once an episode

4:1   more than 3 people will cry when this is all over

10:1  the kids will hook up (a modern day Romeo and Juliet)

20:1 someone is going to use a racial slur to someone’s face

50:1 a fist fight will break out

250:1 the black family decides to stay white forever

2500:1 racial conflict in the US ends

Comments

[The Feminist Mafia]

I'm up for some action. What kind?
I'll gracefully bow out of making predictions as Minh called the good ones already.

[CarolineF]

I don't watch tv, reality or otherwise, but it sounds to me like Minh is right on. I hope the black family doesn't feel too used.

[Carole]

Did you see them on Oprah? I have some inside track information based on that show and I think these predictions are pretty dead-on.

[Justine]

Okay so my one channel of TV is all about showing Idol all the time (poor me:( ) and so I have ot really heard anything about the show. I think I saw one ad whilw I was in CA. I think that Minh is pretty much bang on though, I wonder what would happen if they just did it with a group of college students rather than with families, my confidence in a family changing is not so great, students however are changing and evolving all the time, you grow so much in those years away from home for the first time. Well you will have to keep me filled in, now I want to hear what happens

[christine]

I am looking forward to this show, though I fear the predictions are right on.

[Kat with a K]

Whoa, I hadn't even heard of this show. What is it, a sort of Black Like Me meets Wife Swap? (Um, yeah, I know I should just look it up. I'm not really demanding you answer or anything. ;-) )

[Martha]

I think Minh mentioned the most important part: the issue of class. I don't think you can honestly discuss race in America without discussing class. Generally speaking, I suspect even the least racist among us have class issues we may not even realize. In some portions of America, class may actually be more important than skin color in determining how people interact.

[amysue]

WTF? I really should turn the tv on once in awhile...I had no idea. That said those predictions are probably right on target. I see it every day, my lovely brown skinned son gets treated differently and he is only 7. We have on ore than one occasion seen assumptions made and then, when it is discovered that both his parens are white, the same assumptions dropped, too many times to not be a little worried for him. I don't pretend to understand what it is like to be black or any racial minority in this country but I do know that race matters. Sadly.

[bibliotecaria]

On a totally unrelated topic, I wanted to thank you for telling us about pandora.com (I'm enjoying it a great deal) and also a book recommendation from way back, which I did in fact read (The barn at the end of the world). It provoked me to thought in many places, though not always to agreement. But then, I'm fairly sure she wasn't trying for complete agreement.

[joan]

I'm a white person who has worked in tribal communities for over 18 years. It took about six months to discover that YES there is racism still alive and well in our society and YES it's sometimes obvious, but often more subtle. It goes both ways but having said that, the racism of the dominant culture is the more harmful variety because all the power is there to hurt legally, economically, even physically. The subtler racism has the power to hold back, discount, hurt and blame the victim - oh, sorry. I could go on and on! Once you become aware of it, you can't help seeing it, and it's a pretty discouraging picture. That said, the more we know, the more we can work against it.

[Imbrium]

I don't watch TV, so I don't know anything about the show, but like Martha, I think class is as big of a deal as race, if not bigger. I think even the most socially-conscious of us are swayed by class.

I'll be interested to hear everyone's impressions after it airs.

[Kat with a K]

Oh, okay, you've convinced me. I'll watch.