The Oprah Winfrey Network…
According to Sheila Johnson Co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, who feels Oprah Winfrey needs to open up her circle a bit and add some diversity; specifically black faces.
Johnson said “We love the Dr. Phil’s and the Suze Orman’s but there’s also African-American experts out there that I think, she should start bringing on her show that can reach an even wider audience.”
Oprah responded to the criticism by stating:
“We couldn’t ask for more – we built it and they came,” Winfrey told Multichannel News Thursday night during an OWN dinner party. “My dream is that they continue to come. It’s a long process – it’s not about this weekend it’s about sustainability long-term, but I’m pleased with the start.”
Let’s hope Oprah will take heed to some of the criticism and find a balance that will reflect everyone, especially since she has such a wide, diverse audience. Lord knows my mother loves her.
Tell me CEO Family….has anyone watched the Oprah Winfrey Network since it aired?
Conversations Of A Sistah 
WELL IT’S ABOUT GOT-DAMN TIME WE GOT A POST!!!!
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LOL! Right!
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WELL IT’S ABOUT GOT-DAMN TIME WE GOT A POST!!!!
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Shut Up Ace! Witcha complaining azz!
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WELL IT’S ABOUT GOT-DAMN TIME WE GOT A POST!!!!
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Mm Hmm, and be glad you got one!
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WELL IT’S ABOUT GOT-DAMN TIME WE GOT A POST!!!!
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some niggas neva satisfied! 😦
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WELL IT’S ABOUT GOT-DAMN TIME WE GOT A POST!!!!
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atleast WE gor one.
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I completely agree with her!!!! Oprah love her some white folk. she act like don’t nobody else know except these white experts!!!!
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Yeah @Pinky, I agree with her too but at the same time BET has some of the worst programming ever not to even mention GHETTO!!!!
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Well I don’t really get her problem. No offense but 106&park and 10 hours of the game aren’t exactly lifting black folks to new heights either.
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She sold BET years ago. Mrs. Johnson was the 1st black female billionaire. She does alot for black people. That crap on BET has nothing to do with her. She just keeping it real. Get some more black people on that channel Oprah!!!
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Joanne, the crap presently on BET has a lot to do with Sheila Johnson. Even though she no longer owns the network, she helped set the tone that the current leaders of the network are only building upon. BET was a coonfest under Sheila’s rule. Do not be deceived.
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Girl, please @Joanne. I KNOW she ain’t talking! For years, BET has done nothing to uplift the black community, even though they had a golden opportunity to do so. Taking shots at Oprah ain’t going to negate that fact, so Ms. Johnson, please take a seat and STFU!
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Kudos to BET for having shows like The Game and Let’s Stay Together but COME ON, BET’s programming is less than exemplary. If they do re-runs, coon videos and old str8 to DVD movies are your cup of tea then so be it, but to blast OPRAH for not catering to Black people is 20 years too late. IMO
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Olivijah, I just hate it that so-called intelligent people use this racist word: “coon” that ONCE AGAIN white people stereotyped us with.
You sound like you are so aware, so intelligent and so on point, yet you sound like one BRAIN WASHED SOULS. SMH
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Oh Lord, sounds like yall bout to get some shit started all behind this post.
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@Pinky, sorry that the word *coon* offends you but the truth of the matter is that’s how we were (and prbly) still are….labeled by YT. BET is black entertainment television. entertain the white masses so they can laugh, mock and intimate our culture. that’s a truth and very hard reality. and that makes me no more brain washed than the shampoo i use on my hair.
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Oh please Ms. Johnson…She has alot of nerve trying to blast Oprah.
Notice Tray said “co-founder” and not “co-owner”. BET is not even owned by black people anymore-they sold BET to Viacom-the same conglomerate that owns MTV and VH1(thus the programming we see now).
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I totally agree with this woman. Oprah lost her sense of culture long time ago. There are black doctors financial experts and designers, DIVERSIFY! Lets have a common medium. The only black movie we’ll probably see on the OWN network is The Color Purple. Lets be real here people.
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I completely agree. I honestly feel that Oprah doesn’t really hold Black professionals in the same regard she does for the white ones. She makes it pretty plain who she wants around her, and she doesn’t care what anyone has to say about it.
She’s Oprah…she probably hears her own voice when people speak to her.
Ms. Johnson is right, but that won’t mean a thing.
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I agree @Mahogany^^^^
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She
needs
to
look
at
what
she
done
to
her
own
network
before
she
comments
on
what
someone
else
is
doing!
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AMEN to that JUSTICE!
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Co-sign 100000000% @Justice!!!!
Also, Oprah is for ALL PEOPLE! It’s not just a black entertainment enterprise
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Ummm, she’s a little late with this comment. Oprah has BEEN catering to the caucasian persuasion for MANY years. She doesn’t plan on stopping either…she’s a billionaire so she has no time for the little people…smh…
and hell no i aint watch the O
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co-sign on “Oprah has BEEN catering to the caucasian persuasion for MANY years. She doesn’t plan on stopping either…”
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Who cares what anyone from Bet thinks. The only thing worthwhile to watch on Bet is The Game. Same videos all day, and all their shows are sitcoms in syndication.
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BET lost it’s connection to the Black community years ago…
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BET is NOT even owned by blacks anymore?!!!!
When BET steps their game up and shows more than old re-runs of black shows,music videos and the BET awards then maybe someone will take these comments seriously….#crabsinthebarrel
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I CO-SIGN Ms. Johnson!!!!! I’m tired of looking at Dr. Phil’s azz and erbody Oprah had on her show has been white..and now they all have their own shows.
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CO-SIGN!!!!!
But Oprah can do that!
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Amen to that!! YVONNE!
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Oprah knows what she is doing, and BET is not a Black Network any longer. I do not watch that trash.
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Really @Adriane,
I rather watch TV One rather than that stupid BET and Oprah Channel.
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Bet show lineup sucks, They have no room to criticize anybody else!
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Oprah is handling her business, if you don’t like what she is doing and who is on her show then you get your own damn show. Who cares what color the people on her show are, is it positive to help you want to change your life? Stop looking at color or we as the United States of American will NEVER move ahead! The race card is such a dead issue with me, we have got to come better then this, our President is Black
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Angelhair.,
I’m not pulling a race card..This post is a cry for Those in Power to actually show some DIVERSITY! So please STFU coming for me.
Oprah already admitted that she has some color struck issues…She doesn’t even have any Black Men on her staff, so please again STFU!
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Sorry Ms. Johnson, I would like to thank you for 30 years of stale comedy shows, booty shakin videos and the perpetuation of black stereotypes. BET should have set the standard for black programming in television a long time ago.
Oprah can do what she wants to do: her money and she does not owe black people anything. Even if Oprah did produce a black show yall would still hate on it.
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COSIGN:
Why are there no black news programs?..What happened to scripted shows and dramas focusing on black issues instead of comedies?…BET instead of setting a standard for black television turned into a stereotypical minstrel show…She shouldn’t criticize Oprah for catering to white folks when she and her ex sold out a long time ago…
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I have to agree with the comments regarding BET they should have been involved with quality program development long before THE GAME. However, I do have to mention that other than Gayle I don’t think Oprah gets along with Black women. She tried having Dr. Robin and Iyanla as experts and that didn’t last. Not sure why but I have a feeling it has to do with them probably not feeling her mess. I don’t care what anyone says you don’t make a billi dollars without being some kind of tyrant. Gayle knows where her bread is buttered. Gayle will remain because she will never give Oprah any back talk.
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Why is everyone jumping on this woman for stating the obvious, with that being said at least b.e.t. is showcasing black…oprah is a caucasion sak chaser, in other words in her eyes we are still not good enough even though we have black professionals. Oprah is catering to american white audiences as well as all these white shows with the usual token negroes.?? so people please!
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Ashanti, the network hasn’t been on for more than five minutes. It’s not a black exclusive channel.
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You can continue to praise BET for ‘at least showing blacks’ if you want. If I have to choose between seeing just a few well-presented blacks and lots of poor representations of blacks, I will always vote for a few well presented blacks.
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well good for you @Samantha!
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Who’s made more money off of gangster rap and misogyny than this broad?
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I guess she fills Oprah needs to add some more video hoes and young black men rejoicing (I mean) rapping about killing other young black men.
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Both need to look in the mirror.
and ya know what I’mmma add TV ONE Cathy Hughes..I LOVE her HUSTLE and FLOW, now she seems to keep it on da real…real…
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@Civil: I’m not a fan of BET or Oprah!! If you ask me BET and Oprah need to show african american in a more positive light!!
I2 love TV-ONE!! I pray they don’t change either!! although I’m not sure I’m feeling “Love that Girl” but I love the network!
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Please don’t compare Oprah’s station that’s been on for one week with BET that has been on for 20 years. Retards!
Also, most of you complaining probably never watch “quaility” black programing.
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Sheila Johnson needs to get her own house in order.
Oprah *does* need to open the circle. I watched her premiere weekend and thought the same thing. It’s about providing balance, yes, but it’s also about doing her network a favor and finding fresh talent with interesting perspectives. Open the aperture, Oprah/Harpo
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Sheila Johnson needs to get her own house in order
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YES! because im sure that BET reflect the amazing black community which includes bootyshaking videos and trashy shows! this lady sounds foolish and she’s a co-founder but the founder is a White Man GTFOH.
What has she done for the black community! Oprah can have as much white faces as she wants she has foundations here and in Africa helping to give back but what does Johnson do besides sit all te way in the back and run her damn mouth!
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Man crabs in a barrel this lady should not talk. Let Oprah do her thing the network has not even been on for a year yet. She does not know what Oprah has up her sleeve.
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If you know anything about black females or got a black BFF you know they check your azz and got your back when a blood sister “dont”. GAIL & Oprah two sistas that got each others back in this dog eat dog world!
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Oprah is a genius. To keep mega ratings you must have whitey. Whitey is the majority of who watches Oprah.
I would wait until the ratings skyrocket before bringing in someone of color which is unfortunate but in business its a numbers game. You start bringing in color and whitey will lose interest. In short, if you want big business embrace whitey!!!
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WOW E, is that what you think?
If our ancestors thought that way, we would still be picking cotton in MASSA’S cotton field!!
I may not be the biggest fan of Tyler Perry’s but the Brother built a billion dollar empire!! when “Whitey” said ‘No’ to Tyler. Tyler made it happen for his DAMN self!!
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How dare this woman even part her lips to criticize Oprah! BET is supposed to be black entertainment but most of their shows are hosted by non blacks. Wack azz music with their bright and light video ho’s. Bish please. Sit your azz down and get your shit together
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Hmmmm…I’m very twisted on this issue. I completely understand ms johnson because “@ times” it does seem lik oprah tends 2 focus on white ppl stories more than any1 else. But u have 2 understand white women are her core audience, they buy her products more & support her endorsements more than blk ppl do. E.g. She endorsed obama & more white ppl vote than blk so boom there u have it. U gotta go where u make the most money but I agree she does need 2 diversify her shows a little more.
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The truth is; we don’t need BET or OWN to showcase our unique stories. If Justin Bieber can become a huge sensation by utilizing YouTube, any afro centric talent can too. Produce your own stories and programming, and watch your brand grow. Frankly it’s just easier to sell out to the HUGE Cable companies because of the instant flow of cash and exposure garnered by signing contracts with them. BET cares just as much about black people as the OWN network and that’s not much.
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That’s the sad part. We used to have a “culture” now we are watered down caricatures of perpetuated stereotypes. Where is the ART? Where are the programs that make you say HMMMM?? Dignity is the only way for us as a whole to gain back our cultural credibility, only thing is; the youth who eventually will inherit our legacy only care about the superficial aspect of popularity instead of actual substance.
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Oprah has been catering to white people for YEARS! She got full of herself, she thinks she’s a god and she’s not. That’s why I stopped watching her. She don’t help the black folks in her own back yard, even said herself that black americans don’t appreciate nothin’, that’s why she chose to go to Africa to help the kids over there.
My issues with her run deep, deeper than race. She’s a woman with a lot of money and a lot of power and is using it to promote an agenda that I don’t agree with. Therefore I don’t watch or support her shows.
For someone who claims to do things for the black community behind the scenes, particularly in Chicago where she calls “home” there are a lot of people out there who beg to differ. They can’t all be lying on her! Why does she make a spectacle of her giving ways in Africa but you can hear crickets when she supposedly does things for folks in the USA????
I’m so over Oprah! I’ve been over her well over 10 years ago!!!
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wow you made some real good points!!!
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Yeah @Ashanti, IMO Oprah full a shit!!!!
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@2Thick4U, you’re absolutely correct! The people in Chi-Town hate Oprah!!! She don’t shit for her own and they’re NOT EXPECTING her too.
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Not sure how she can talk when they sold their channel to white people. Now their is not quality programming on BET. The Game is back, thank you BET for that, but otherwise she probably shouldnt be trying to give advice to Oprah. Oprah has done very well for herself, and I love her new Channel, it just started, so she needs to be given a chance.
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oprah sends a army of highly skilled whites to go out there head on in a racist industry and get her that paper, she’s not a sell out but a very wise person. she knows how to fight fire with fire.
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Whatever… BET sold out a long time ago and it was garbage from the get.
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In support of Mrs. Johnson, she has publicly said that she is angry about the state of BET too. She said the programming they have was not her vison.
Aside from that she spoke the truth about Oprah. If one of the most powerful black people on the planet does not even support her own (as much as the other), what do we expect from others…
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Oprah has done more for African Americans and Africans than any other rich black celebrity has ever done. People will always complain no matter what she does so WHO CARES WHAT YOU IGNAT MOFOS THINK ABOUT THE MEDIA QUEEN OPRAH!
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THis story is so fuckin boring! I could give two SHITS about these two billionaire broads throwing hissy fits !
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I don’t even watch or support Oprah. She promotes too much New Age Phuckery for me to deal with.
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Oprah is gonna let y’all keep hating anonymously on and talkin about her on blogs and by the time you click ‘submit’ she would have made enough to buy yalls azzes.
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Lol it’s all of Oprah’s money she can hire whoever she deems has the qualifications
That’s what a business person does. Maybe she wants a wider demographic? Maybe she wants shows on american mosaic which includes races of all people.
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Unreal!!!!
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This is one of the few times people have something intelligent to say on here without hating….Ms Johnson meet Pot Ms Harpo meet kettle…
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LMAO!!!!
Good One!!!
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THIS FROM THE WOMAN WHO BROUGHT US BET. HOE SIT DOWN YOU HAD YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND ALL YOU DID WAS TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN AFTER PUTTING ON THE WORST CHANNEL IN HISTORY.
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She’s mad that oprah was was smart enough to build and retain her POWER and influence while she sold out.
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I DONOT WATCH WHITE LADY. SHE CATER TO WHITE FOLKS. SHE DONOT HELP US! I DONOT WATCH ANY OF HER SHOWS.
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