Black people are generally perceived as a threat. While there is no shortage of statistical data and sociological studies to prove this fact, those of us who live in this skin don't need a panel of experts to validate our experiences. We are well versed on the social penalties that accompany this melanin. Man or woman, child or adult, the burden of presumed guilt over innocence has always been ours to carry. Whether we choose to actively dispel it, defiantly own it, or boldly disregard it with carefree abandon, at some point we have all faced the latent contempt that racism brings, and adapted accordingly.
On Tuesday night BET came through for the culture with a brilliant twist to this familiar narrative. In the debut episode of a new series called Tales , the network turned systemic racism on it's ear, showing white people on the disenfranchised side of the social hierarchy and placing black people on the privileged end. Through this lens, the episode depicted the two polar sides of the criminal justice system, while also touching on racism, allyship, the arrogance of privilege, and the everyday microaggressions imposed upon racial minorities in America.
Produced and created by music industry veteran Irv Gotti, the scripted anthology translates hip-hop classics into three-act stories. Last night the series kicked off with a two-hour debut, giving cinematic translation to the controversial N.W.A. classic, "F*ck Tha Police." The episode highlighted the inherent undercurrent of fear, despair, and anger prevalent in communities disproportionately targeted, harassed, and brutalized by law enforcement. Viewing this dynamic turned inside out was a shock to the system and Black Twitter LIVED as #TalesOnBET trended for hours.
Yoooooooo this crazy ???? pic.twitter.com/8VE5txkv5Q
— Kayla Nichelle (@knichellempls) June 28, 2017
Seeing the shoe on the other foot was just surreal.
Here's a little insight of what we go through just in case you were wondering #TALESonBET
pic.twitter.com/XeBRucVl7T— you_mad_bro❔❕ (@j_smitty_5) June 28, 2017
And the praise just kept flooding in.
They already speaking mad truths and we only 3 minutes in #TalesOnBET
pic.twitter.com/5gmINiJVMQ— wavy tiara (@nochilInhj) June 28, 2017
The truth always resonates.
the most ironic thing is that every black person watching this show knew exactly what was gonna happen next cuz we live this #TalesOnBET
— griffin (@cole_griffin7) June 28, 2017
We had all the time.
Here for this role reversal. Sometimes folks don't understand until the shoe's on the other foot #talesonbet
pic.twitter.com/GWa8HKiZt6— Kimberly Ann Parker (@LoveTaylorDayne) June 28, 2017
But, are we preaching to the choir though?
Y'all really doing something with this show, but how the white people gone see it… they don't watch BET ????#TalesOnBET
pic.twitter.com/JEasQSnmCj— ???? (@aubdrgraham) June 28, 2017
Dear white people are y'all watching #talesonbet
@BET
pic.twitter.com/KqB3QYMFYD— SHADWILLIAMS ???????? (@RoshadMusic) June 28, 2017
Yo, Irv really came through with this one.
Thanks @irvgotti187 ???????? #TalesOnBET
— Ebony F. ???? (@NaomiTeneAustin) June 28, 2017
Who knew how much we needed this?
They done flipped the whole script. I'm shook already. #TalesOnBET
pic.twitter.com/1oQS4adoYh— Kennisha ???????????? (@KBarbieBeauty) June 28, 2017
To catch the next episode of Tales tune in to BET on Tuesday's at 8PM/7CST or you can view the exclusive director’s cut episodes on Tidal following their initial BET air date.