Dear Vibe ..

VIBE,

Ask anyone I know how strongly I felt about you featuring four Scantily-Clad Reality TV stars on the cover of your magazine with the caption "Meet Your New Role Models."

Now granted, I was more angry that you featured a certain two females on the cover than I was about the other two. I won't speak on it, but it's pretty obvious to anyone that has seen all four shows: this letter is more-so targeted to their appearance on this cover.

After going on about for about 45 minutes and finally settling down to read the article, I realized that you all didn't believe them as Positive Role Models yourselves; the term actually mocked them in a sense, as you highlighted the negativity that they have been involved in on the reality shows, let them try to justify the actions as 'made for television', and tell how shamed they are for doing them even though they come back every season to do the same thing. You gave them a cover for doing so... it almost like you are rewarding them.

You also brought light to the fact that sadly, these are some of the only Role Models that Minority Females have to be forced to look up to (I mean, you would have came out a lot better featuring simply Lala on the cover, more believable and would have made a much more positive read.) But my question to you is Vibe, why would you spotlight some of the most controversial Reality TV stars in the first place?

I am aware of this angle that was pulled, but believe me, even as we watch these shows to poke fun, laugh at, and get angry over, at the end of the day, we want to see POSITIVITY in Black Females. 

This angle that you chose gives more light to the misconception that "Nice girls finish last," and this is why these Reality TV shows continue to survive: the way the media continues to feed into it. 

Vibe, you were right in saying that there are few examples of Black Female Role Models on TV. So instead of continuing to highlight the negative ones that are always spotlighted and praised for their belligerency and negativity anyway.. why don't you show us, and the rest of the world the fewer, positive ones? That's who we need to be reminded of and need to see. I know that you are an entertainment magazine first, and there are plenty of positive, black females in entertainment waiting on more exposure.

The play on words was controversial and definitely enticed me to read. But how many children, Caucasians, and the older population who are not so familiar with the sarcasm only saw four Black Women wearing fishnets, bra's and heels & a title that read "Meet Your New Role Models?"

A Disappointed Black Female Blogger.

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