Starting Over Talk - Peer Coaching Support Site

I cannot believe that the producers of this show did not know when they had Niambi fill that spot in the house that the show was being cancelled. I think they knew, and I believe Niambi was just used to fill a spot. I don't think Antonia was ready to graduate, but she did successfully complete an exercise or two, so they were able to justify her graduation. I know that Niambi completed her exercises, but she did not do them with glee, and she did not hide her feelings about little Ms. Christie; therefore, she was labled and could not be given a graduation. I suppose some of you may say that she was not ready, because she was sneaking and calling situation man, but I don't think she was being sneaky at all. I think that she tried to avoid calling him, but how could she possible think that she was sneaking when she told Iyanla everytime she contacted the man. I believe that Niambi was dealt a bad hand, but if Iyanla really cared about her, she would have worked with her outside of the set.

I am glad that Niambi is doing okay and that she is no longer in the house, because the lilly white house ain't for everybody. I am sure that there were good times shared in that house, but thanks to the editing, that was cut out. Funny, they never cut out any of the comments that the Whiner had about Niambi. Please don't tell me that Christie loved this child; she talked about her like a dog. There was only 2 or 3 times when you heard Niambi make any comment about the Whiner-Christie.

I wish that they made a DVD from all the past seasons so people could see how the 5 or 6 Afro Americans were treated in all 3 houses.

I feel blessed to have had the show, but since it was a reality show, I am being real about the subtle racism on that show.

I am curious and really want to know what you think PattiAnn. Did you think there was racism or unfairness with Jill or with Nyanza or with Antonia? Did you think there was bias against other particular groups? I want to know because I didn't see that but that doesn't mean it wasn't there. I don't think you are saying that Niambi was ready to graduate and to me it looked like she needed more help than the House could give her especially after she said she had depression. But I want to see it from your point of view too if you wouldn't mind. Thanks.

doxygirl wrote:

QUOTE:
I am curious and really want to know what you think PattiAnn. Did you think there was racism or unfairness with Jill or with Nyanza or with Antonia? Did you think there was bias against other particular groups? I want to know because I didn't see that but that doesn't mean it wasn't there. I don't think you are saying that Niambi was ready to graduate and to me it looked like she needed more help than the House could give her especially after she said she had depression. But I want to see it from your point of view too if you wouldn't mind. Thanks.

I think that the show was more partial to a certain group of women that just happens to be white women. I think women of color were stereotyped on this show. For instance, let's start with Lisa who is Hispanic. What makes them think that she wanted to learn to do any type of Mexican style dancing? Is this something that she stated, or was this exercise something that they felt she needed in her already Hispanic cultured life? As for the black women, unless you live this life, in a setting where you experience subtle discrimination, you will not fully understand my point of view, but I am happy to share my opinions. Let's start with Audrey, since I can't remember much about Nyanza, I would discuss her. But, I remember very clear when Audrey was ready to graduate, and her supposedly show friend Brenda turned on her, but that was only to be expected; I don't think that they made too much to do about her graduation ceremony either. Then, there was Rain. She was too loud for them; she washed her hair in the kitchen sink, which I might add is a black thing.

I believe that they treated Tawana fair, because they thought that she was a semi-celebrity. I don't think that Rhonda was a good coach to women of color, but that is my personal opinion. And, I really didn't see her interact that much with women of color. Oh! there was Tess, but she was sent home, because she was an angry black woman too. Let's not leave out Deborah, who was also an angry black woman. So, maybe it isn't that women of color are treated differently, maybe it was casting who casted these women who they thought stood out as angry black women.

As for Antonia, I have no idea why she was there, nor why she graduated. Do you think that after 3 weeks, she was going to learn how to budget her finances?

Funny, (odd, not ha-ha), the very first remark I heard about race was from Niambi to Antonia when she entered the SOH.
She said to Antonia that is was "great to have a 'sister/sistah' in the house after livin with all these white women".
It was from Naimbi that I got any kind of racial remarks, first. Maybe I missed a few others, but there seemed, IMO, to be started by N from the moment A walked in the door. She hadn't even brought her bags in yet, it was when they were introducing themselves to each other.

Not that it matters to me what race anyone is. When I check those boxes, I check, "other" and write in Scottish American.
Tho parents moved here from Scotland right after I was born, I was registered as both. Most of the Scottish sides of the family have married into every various race/religion one can think of, so we're ALL mixed now.

MaryBeth <who has 45 first cousins, and is close to ALL of them, some more than others but we're one huge family!>

PattiAnn1 wrote:

QUOTE:
doxygirl wrote:

QUOTE:
I am curious and really want to know what you think PattiAnn. Did you think there was racism or unfairness with Jill or with Nyanza or with Antonia? Did you think there was bias against other particular groups? I want to know because I didn't see that but that doesn't mean it wasn't there. I don't think you are saying that Niambi was ready to graduate and to me it looked like she needed more help than the House could give her especially after she said she had depression. But I want to see it from your point of view too if you wouldn't mind. Thanks.

I think that the show was more partial to a certain group of women that just happens to be white women. I think women of color were stereotyped on this show. For instance, let's start with Lisa who is Hispanic. What makes them think that she wanted to learn to do any type of Mexican style dancing? Is this something that she stated, or was this exercise something that they felt she needed in her already Hispanic cultured life? As for the black women, unless you live this life, in a setting where you experience subtle discrimination, you will not fully understand my point of view, but I am happy to share my opinions. Let's start with Audrey, since I can't remember much about Nyanza, I would discuss her. But, I remember very clear when Audrey was ready to graduate, and her supposedly show friend Brenda turned on her, but that was only to be expected; I don't think that they made too much to do about her graduation ceremony either. Then, there was Rain. She was too loud for them; she washed her hair in the kitchen sink, which I might add is a black thing.

I believe that they treated Tawana fair, because they thought that she was a semi-celebrity. I don't think that Rhonda was a good coach to women of color, but that is my personal opinion. And, I really didn't see her interact that much with women of color. Oh! there was Tess, but she was sent home, because she was an angry black woman too. Let's not leave out Deborah, who was also an angry black woman. So, maybe it isn't that women of color are treated differently, maybe it was casting who casted these women who they thought stood out as angry black women.

As for Antonia, I have no idea why she was there, nor why she graduated. Do you think that after 3 weeks, she was going to learn how to budget her finances?

I LOVED Rain! She's my second all-time fave housemate! I don't care what she does in the sink! Did you think they were unfair with her? I thought they took good care of Towanda and were especially good to Nyanza. But I missed months when Tess was on so I didnt get to see that. But what do you think they are doing with the women that's different. Oh I agree about Lisa that ethnic stuff was a little patronizing.

For what it's worth -- I thought Tess got a crappy deal (pitted against a houseful of whiny goody-goodies, to be specific