Wouldn't it have been nice if cable "news" had made 1/20th of the effort

[EffieBlack]

they're making to help viewers understand the Catholic Church during their several days of covering the Pope's visit to help viewers understand the black church in context of their weeks-long coverage of Rev. Wright?

For the past several days, the networks have produced a parade of Catholic experts - current and former priests, Catholic scholars, lay Catholics, Catholic reporters and pundits, etc. - to explain the history, role, traditions, and rituals of the Catholic Church. Their coverage and analysis have been respectful, interesting and enlightening.

On the other hand, these same outlets covered the Jeremiah Wright controversy as if the black church were some sort of foreign oddity, worthy of little more than disdainful, detached yet all-knowing curiosity and amusement. Instead of offering any thoughtful coverage of the black church, its history, traditions and role in the black community, they trotted out all manner of white political commentators - Pat Buchanan, Tucker Carlson, Chris Matthews, Michael Smerconish, etc., most of whom had probably never even been in a black church - to criticize, analyze, pick apart, mischaracterize and even parody the black church. Their coverage was shallow, demeaning, insulting, and in many instances, outright bigoted.

This contrast is a perfect example of the narrow-minded, racially- and culturally-biased, arrogant and disgustingly unself-conscious double-standard the media consistently demonstrates when covering African Americans and our community. The fact that they obviously know better and can do better when they want to makes their behavior all the worse.

[EffieBlack]

1. kick

[Zachstar]

2. The MSM is still living in the 20th century. Hopefully over the next decade they will get into today

[Exilednight]

15. The 21st century will only turn the MSM into tabloid television. n/t

[Bonobo]

3. So true that it is painful.

[JeffR]

4. Good point.

Their agenda wasn't to understand and explain the black church. It was simply to use it as a piñata.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

14. BINGO FOR YOU, REMEMBER THE MEDIA IS THE PROPAGANDIST

DON'T WANT ANSWERS, JUST CONTROVERSY

[EffieBlack]

17. Talk about "elitism"

Watching these effete white guys look down their noses and sneer at the churches I grew up in sickened me to the core. And it was very troubling to me that neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton, who have spent so much time in and been lovingly welcomed into and embraced by our churches said nothing.

The whole thing has been ugly and sad and it's even more painful in light of the excellent and respectful coverage provided to the Catholic church this week. It's more obvious than ever that the media's behavior is intentional. And it's disgusting.

[libnnc]

5. That's a great observation

I don't remember the media going this batty over Pope JP's visits to the states. I know they were covered but not 24/7 and certainly not with such subjectivity. It's creepy, actually.

[TheDoorbellRang]

6. I appreciate your posts a lot, Effie

They always make me more aware of the discrepancies and disparities in what the M$M chooses to present.

K&R

[my3boyz]

7. I'm sorry but I'm sick of hearing about the Pope's visit. One day of coverage was enough. nt

[Schema Thing]

8. Indeed

interesting comparison, effie.

[Triana]

9. Couldn't agree more EffieBlack...

...darn good observation. The lamestream media is about as racist and sexist as it gets. It would be nice if they somehow made it into at least the 20th century sometime soon. I won't hold my breath for that. Pfft!

[Bjorn Against]

10. You are right once again Effie, the media wants to promote some churches while tearing down others

Remember all the talk after the 2004 election about those so-called "values voters"? It does not take a whole lot of analysis to see that most of the people the media considered to be "values voters" were Republican and very white.

With Obama they first wanted to insist that he was not even a Christian but instead a Muslim. Then they decided to drop that line of attack when they realized they could use the fact he went to a black church against him. Does anyone honestly believe the media would accuse him of both being Muslim and being an anti-American Christian if he were white?

[dana_b]

11. Excellent points Effie!!

To be honest, I hadn't thought of it like that. If I could recommend twice, I would!

[kid a]

12. K & R

[HowHasItComeToThis]

13. BILL MOYERS WILL HAVE REV WRIGHT ON IN NEXT PROGRAM

VISIT LINK http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/index-flash.html

HE ANNOUNCED IT AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM FRIDAY

[City Lights]

16. K&R for you, EffieBlack.

Another spot-on post from you. :thumbsup:

The double-standard in the media is inexcusable.

[dave123williams]

18. The king of the pederasts simply merits more attention. His dresses are *very* pretty.

Nice hats and red pump shoes, too.