2008 Woodie Awards
Not all Black.White
Television show review
Jen Elliott
Issue date: 4/6/06 Section: Entertainment
Ever want to walk a mile in someone else's shoes?
Cable network FX is making it a reality. A reality show that is. All the networks are getting their hands on a piece of the pie.
FX's new show "Black.White" is now delving into the reality of race. The premise of the show is to present America with the idea that race issues are still prevalent today. By making over two families and changing their race, they are able to see things from the other side.
"I didn't realize, more than anything, how hard it was going to be for whites and blacks to see the world through each other's eyes," executive producer R.J. Cutler said in an interview with MSNBC. "I didn't realize how genuinely different an experience it is to be a white American and a black American."
Rapper and actor Ice Cube is also involved in the production process. "Black. White" will force people to challenge themselves and really examine where we stand in terms of race in this country," he said on the Rap News Network. Cube also feels that racial stereotypes persist in society.
The "Black.White" families include a black Atlanta family, Brian Sparks, 41, wife Renee, 38, and their son, Nick, 17. The other family participating is a white family from Santa Monica; Bruno Marcotulli, 47, his wife, Carmen Wurgel, 48, and her daughter Rose Bloomfield, 18. After the makeup was applied the families continued the six week production process where they swapped both homes and lives.
"I thought, here it is, 2005, and people are still teaching their kids this," Sparks said in a recent interview with reporters after participating in a race discussion group where a white college student stated that he was warned to wash his hands after shaking hands with a black person, according to MSNBC.
The two teens however have different perspectives about racism. Sparks can't seem to grasp that the use of the "n-word" is not that big of an issue to his 17 year old son. While, Bloomfield struggled to tell classmates her true identity and her mother contemplates purchasing a dashiki (African dress) for church. And the two fathers are polar opposites. Sparks feels that racism is common all over and just as much of a problem as it always was while Marcotulli feels that racism no longer exists.
Even though race is less of an issue than in the past, recent events like Hurricane Katrina have forced America to open its eyes to the continuing reality of racism today. The nation has been affected and changed its views about racism within the government and society.
"Black.White" is the next step that may start the pendulum swinging again and help us on the path to a world where race is no longer an issue or it could just inspire a few viewers but, either way it's a start.
Cable network FX is making it a reality. A reality show that is. All the networks are getting their hands on a piece of the pie.
FX's new show "Black.White" is now delving into the reality of race. The premise of the show is to present America with the idea that race issues are still prevalent today. By making over two families and changing their race, they are able to see things from the other side.
"I didn't realize, more than anything, how hard it was going to be for whites and blacks to see the world through each other's eyes," executive producer R.J. Cutler said in an interview with MSNBC. "I didn't realize how genuinely different an experience it is to be a white American and a black American."
Rapper and actor Ice Cube is also involved in the production process. "Black. White" will force people to challenge themselves and really examine where we stand in terms of race in this country," he said on the Rap News Network. Cube also feels that racial stereotypes persist in society.
The "Black.White" families include a black Atlanta family, Brian Sparks, 41, wife Renee, 38, and their son, Nick, 17. The other family participating is a white family from Santa Monica; Bruno Marcotulli, 47, his wife, Carmen Wurgel, 48, and her daughter Rose Bloomfield, 18. After the makeup was applied the families continued the six week production process where they swapped both homes and lives.
"I thought, here it is, 2005, and people are still teaching their kids this," Sparks said in a recent interview with reporters after participating in a race discussion group where a white college student stated that he was warned to wash his hands after shaking hands with a black person, according to MSNBC.
The two teens however have different perspectives about racism. Sparks can't seem to grasp that the use of the "n-word" is not that big of an issue to his 17 year old son. While, Bloomfield struggled to tell classmates her true identity and her mother contemplates purchasing a dashiki (African dress) for church. And the two fathers are polar opposites. Sparks feels that racism is common all over and just as much of a problem as it always was while Marcotulli feels that racism no longer exists.
Even though race is less of an issue than in the past, recent events like Hurricane Katrina have forced America to open its eyes to the continuing reality of racism today. The nation has been affected and changed its views about racism within the government and society.
"Black.White" is the next step that may start the pendulum swinging again and help us on the path to a world where race is no longer an issue or it could just inspire a few viewers but, either way it's a start.