Fox And Empire: How We Support The Machinery of White Supremacy.
- Johnnie Cordero
- Dec 15, 2017
- 4 min read
I promised when I started this blog that there would be no sacred cows. I promised to present the radical view without fear or favor. In keeping with that approach I will begin this blog with a confession. I make this confession at the outset because what I am about to say might be seen as hypocritical without it. I am not always immune to the things of which I accuse others.
I watch Empire, religiously. I believe it is one of the three best entertainment programs on television (the other two being Queen Sugar and Greenleaf both on the Oprah Network). It is well written, provocative and has a stellar cast. I just wish it were on another network. Let me explain.
It is ironic, though not often mentioned, that slaves through their forced labor generated the income that made their continued enslavement possible. This is the case of Fox and Empire: How We Support the Machinery of White Supremacy.
The Empire Phenomenon
The first episode of Empire was "... Fox’s highest-rated debut in three years, and viewership increased for the first five episodes. The first season averaged 17.33 million viewers, and the second averaged 15.73 million. The first two seasons and the first half of the third have ranked as the No.1 broadcast drama for the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic."
In 2016 Empire earned $125.5 million in ad revenue and $124.5 million in 2015. Sports programs excepted, Empire earned more than all other series including American Idol and The Big Bang Theory. Empire is aired on The Fox Network.
THE FOX NEWS NETWORK
Fox & Friends
During the Presidency of Barack Obama, the morning program Fox & Friends repeatedly did everything it could to undermine the first African American President. In fact, the New York Times wrote that Fox & Friends "has become a powerful platform for some of the most strident attacks on President Obama." "The program has provided a platform for conspiracy theories about Obama's religion and, in May 2012, aired a 4-minute video attacking Obama's record as President. The video was widely criticized as a political attack ad masquerading as journalism, TIME television critic James Poniewozik wrote: "It's hard to imagine a more over-the-top parody of Fox raw-meat-hurling, fear-stoking, base-pleasing agitprop."
We see from this that Fox & Friends (Fox's biggest attraction) spent its time relentlessly hammering the first African American with (dare I say it?) fake news. More recently, De Ray McKesson A civil rights activist is suing Fox News and network host Jeanine Pirro, alleging that she made "false and defamatory statements" about him while discussing the Black Lives Matter movement." The alleged false and defamatory statement was that Mr. McKesson ".. directed protesters to commit violence against police officers ...." It is sad that we have reached the point where a civil rights activist feels defamed because it was said that he called for violence against police who are killing unarmed black men, women and children with impunity. Good luck with that!
The point is that Fox & Friends are apparently in the business of attacking the ongoing movement for civil rights and its leaders. Its targets range from the first African American President of the United States to leaders of the so-called civil rights movement. Those of us who are more seasoned will remember that FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover's program to "expose, disrupt, misdirect, discredit, or otherwise Neutralize" the activities of these [civil rights] movements and especially their leaders" known as Cointelpro used the media among other tactics to discredit and defame its targets.
FOX NEWS IS NOW
A former Fox news host and anchor described the Fox News as the "Trump News Network" and stated that President Trump's political base is Fox's "lifeblood". That's what it says. Trump's political base is Fox's lifeblood. In other words the Fox Network needs Trump's supporters to survive. That Fox relies on Trump supporters for its lifeblood is not itself unique. All programming, news and entertainment alike is geared to a more or less specific audience. The problem with Fox News is that it has become the network that appears to broadcast what Trump wants, likes or dislikes.
The former Fox anchor said it best. "The press is not supposed to be on the side of people in power ever. The press is supposed to be adversarial, the press is supposed to question, the press is not supposed to curry favor with authority.”
The Machinery of White Supremacy
White supremacy is not racism. It is a political, economic and cultural ideology that is designed to insure that Caucasians shall rule and everyone else shall serve in perpetuity. The machinery of white supremacy includes control of the media.
The bottom line is that we unwittingly support the Fox News Network, Donald Trump and his supporters when we view Empire and other Fox programming. I only advocate that we recognize this fact. I do suggest however that the OWN Network would be an ideal home for Empire.
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Johnnie Cordero holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and a Doctorate in Jurisprudence. He is the author of Total Black Empowerment: A Guide to Critical Thinking in the Age of Trump. His new book Theodicy and The Power of the African Will is now available on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and other on line book sellers.