Recent scholarship in American TV studies has shown that television programs have failed to explore and demonstrate the dynamics of two particular characters, one of them being homosexuals. Julie D'Acci's "Television, Representation, and Gender" conceives television as a "technology, and as a social, economic, cultural, and ideological institution" (373). D'Acci goes on to argue that "television's schedule, its information, and its stories have active roles in shaping the ways TV viewers think about themselves and feel about themselves in their world" (373). Meaning, television not only produces images and sounds, but it produces citizens. TV is a common and popular medium that informs the ways in which we act, think, and treat other people.
Up until recently television shows have refused to display homosexual relationships. Now, we have a couple of hit shows--Modern Family, Empire, Glee--that thrive on their homosexual co-stars, however, it is important to note that rarely ever is a homosexual the protagonist in a show and their lives, especially not their love lives, are not explored in depth. It is nice that homosexuals are on screen now, but we're still not getting to know them. Their characters are always supportive other their heterosexual friend's relationships--especially during breakups--but what about their own relationships. Why don't we get to hear their intimate conversations, experience their fights, watch their kissing scenes (well we do if it's two girls smh). My point is, by censoring homosexual relationships we are giving the impression that 1) they don't exist and 2) they're not ok.
That is until Love and Hip Hop finally did something right. For years now, we have been watching these has-been music stars try to earn some extra cash and grip on tight to the last bit of publicity they can get, just to see the same ol' shit every time. So and so is sleeping with this girl's baby daddy, this dude is always in the studio, but never puts out an album, while this bum chick is trying to fight another bum chick over a worthless man. Drinks go flying, weaves get pulled, someone comes out with a lipstick line, and Mona wraps up the season finale with a professional spill that fails to mask how ratchet her show is.
For so long, Love and Hip Hop has been degrading the black community. They're making a mockery of hip hop, they're disrespecting our bodies, making fun of our refusal to commit to our significant others, and profiting on our pride, negligence, and lack of manners. But now, they're actually showing something worth watching. Miles and Milan are more than two gay men, with I'm sure their own ratchet drama, of course. They are one of the first homosexual couples that will get the opportunity to demonstrate the dynamics of a homosexual relationship on TV! This is a big freaking deal. Because guess what! That other underrepresented group that I mentioned earlier is….yep you guessed it….African Americans.
African Americans and homosexuals have yet to secure leading roles, consistent roles, and/or well-developed roles in American TV. Shows such as Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, and Empire are opening doors for more shows to have a dominantly Black cast. But guess what, those shows just started airing, which means we're just now getting our foot in the door. So don't close it!!!! Two men kissing may not be as sexy as two lesbians kissing, but it has meaning.
Here's my point. Our lives are not being documented well, accurately, or in depth, if at all on television. If television is an institution that influences the way we think about the world, our absence on screen is confirmation that our bodies aren't worth being seen, heard, explored, or appreciated. In no way am I trying to equate Blackness to homosexuality or vice versa, but I do want to articulate that both communities are struggling to be valued. I also want to reiterate that these two communities are not binaries nor are the enemies, they do overlap. When you chant #blacklives matter, I need you to know that our straight black men are not the only ones being hated, harassed, gun downed, exterminated. Our black homosexual males are suffering too.
Love and Hip Hop does not provide the best representations of Black people, but it's representation nonetheless. Miles and Milan are a game changer for the show and for American TV. We are finally being seen, so watch.
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