I’ve finally taken the time to watch both episodes of FX’s Black.White reality show. As a reality tv fan (yes I admit it), I find the show extremely fun to watch. As an intellectual, however, I find it quite unsatsifying.

My biggest problem is that the situations that the characters find themselves in are very contrived. While this is the case with all reality shows, it is particularly problematic for a show that describes itself as a “social experiment.” I can’t help but cringe every time Brian (the Black guy turned White) attempts to prove to Bruno (the White guy turned Black) that racism exists by taking him to bars, clothing stores, and restaurants in search of individual acts of prejudice. These racial scavenger hunts place a focus on the individual, social interactional aspects of racism as opposed to the conditions that enable White supremacy to thrive.

My worry is that the White viewing audience will look at such incidents and say “See! I knew if people just acted right and didn’t expect racism, everything would be ok!” The fact that nobody calls Bruno a nigger or mistreats him in Macy’s (those things only happen to many of us occasionally) only makes it easier for him to ignore the ways in which his morality, intelligence, and fundamental humanity are never automatically called into question.
On another note, I’ve tried my best to like Renee (Black –> White) but I just can’t. (Yes, Carmen is an annoying ethnophile. Still, Renee set her up with that dashiki mess.) In general, I think Renee came in looking for beef and is determined to find it.

Rose (the White girl turned Black) seems the most sincere and thoughtful about her experience, although I wanted to cut my face when she started rapping.

I haven’t seen much of Nick (the Black boy turned White), but what I have seen has made me want to give him a kidney punch.