Viacom Needs to Get Schooled

When I first heard that Bill Gates was teaming with Viacom for an initiative to boost graduation rates, I thought, "Good for Bill." But there was just one problem.

Viacom.

For those who aren't hip to Sumner Redstone's Empire, Viacom is the media conglomerate that owns just about every video channel on cable, that includes VHI, MTV and yes, Black Entertainment Television.

http://www.viacom.com/OURBRANDS/Pages/default.aspx

This is the corporation responsible for bringing America such intellectually stimulating shows like "Flavor of Love," "I Love New York," "For the Love of Ray J" and "Rock of Love."

(I would list all of BET's contributions but blogs have limited space.) Let's just say that a couple of years ago some exec at BET thought that playing a carton rap video called "read a book..read a m****f**** book was going to be the catalyst that would increase enrollment at historically black college's 100%.

How can someone promote education but at the same time be the chief culprit dumbing our children down?

Let's look at it.

Who taught Lil Tyrone how to wear his pants saggin' down to his ankles?

Viacom!

Who taught Lil Tanesha how to do the stripper dance.

Viacom!

Viacom doing a a show to promote staying in school is like the tobacco industry doing a stop smoking campaign. It's like a drug dealer doing a "Just Say No" commercial. It's like a condom company doing a ....

Well, you get the picture.

I guess BET will come out with a new ghetto version of "School House Rock "with the "Conjunction Junction Dude" getting high with the "I'm Just a Bill" kid, while the "Skate a Figure 8" chick gives them a lap dance.

Paul Scott writes for No Warning Shots Fired.com