Don’t believe Stacey Dash’s hype. The Clueless star recently grabbed national headlines by responding to the Oscars’ lack of diversity. While on Fox News’ “Fox and Friends,” Dash blasted Black History Month, the BET Awards, and the NAACP Awards.
“We have to make up our minds. Either we want to have segregation or integration. If we don’t want segregation, then we need to get rid of channels like BET and the BET Awards and the [NAACP] Image Awards, where you are only awarded if you are black. If it were the other way around we would be up in arms. It’s a double standard. Just like there shouldn’t be a Black History Month. You know, we’re Americans, period. That’s it,” Dash said.
Her statements were jaw-dropping, repugnant, and flat-out wrong from a factual standpoint (Whites have won Image Awards and BET Awards. Sam Smith and Justin Timberlake are both BET Award winners). But her statement met all the requirements for being a star on Fox News. You don’t have to be factually correct.
But if you can find ways to spew bigotry and nonsense on a consistent basis, Fox News can make you a hero among right-wing dogmatists who love guns and hate Obama. If you’re a White male who caters to this group, you’re basically the status quo and your job is to fuel the ongoing ridiculousness. If you’re a White woman who caters to this group, you’re likely a blonde who only serves as eye candy. If you’re a Black male who caters to this group, you’re a bit intriguing, but still too bland to make any real impact (think Juan Williams). But if you’re a Black woman who can cater to this group, you are an anomaly and pretty much a unicorn in this oppressive setting.
In 2012 during the Presidential election, Dash discovered that people would hand her a paycheck and give her airtime for speaking against Obama. Her reasons for talking down on Obama and siding with Mitt Romney were baseless and confusing to many who watched her in TV and film. However, her comments then and now gave her the starring role that she has lacked for years.
Dash has become a D-list actress who recently appeared in obscure films such as Cloudy With a Chance of Love and Lap Dance. She hasn’t performed in a meaningful production since her departure from “Single Ladies” and an appearance on “The Game” in 2011. Dash was thirsty for any type of comeback. As a Hollywood has-been, she needed another platform.
Enter Fox News. Dash won the role as Fox News’ self-hating female Black Republican and has totally embraced the character. She stands out because there isn’t any competition. Try finding another Black woman with a decent amount of notoriety who would be willing to hate themselves and their race on national TV. Raven-Symone comes close, but even she seems to have a limit. Dash, on the other hand, will denounce the president, disparage Black History Month, tell lies on BET, and tap dance in front of her majority White audience to stay relevant and get a paycheck.
Is it possible to believe that the same woman who appeared in all-Black productions such as Mo Money, Gang of Roses, and as a video girl in Rick Ross’ “Super High” and MJG’s “That Girl,” could really detest BET and Black culture? This is her latest role as an actress and she knows that it will extend her fledging career. That’s until Fox News finds another more prominent Black person who can speak negatively on Black culture. Until then, it’s best to ignore the idiotic statements until she becomes irrelevant, again.
