Why ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ is Hated by Some Black Women

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When rumors began swirling wildly that “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” was about to fire NeNe Leakes and Kim Zolciak from season three, some women were very disappointed.

They were actually hoping the whole show would be cancelled altogether.

Or at least some were hoping that Bravo TV, which airs “RHOA,” would replace most or all the cast members and start anew with more dignified, more qualified and a higher caliber group of women. What these African American businesswomen did not want was the continued illumination of what they termed limelight-lusting, dimwitted, gold-digging, ghetto-minded, foul-mouthed, drama-seeking women — and then try to pass them off as the average black woman. 


Sarah P. Holmes, an executive administrator for an Atlanta OB/GYN, says that Bravo TV is exploiting the women’s ghetto-fabulous mentalities for record ratings and revenue. She wants her fellow professionals to boycott the raunchy show or block the channel from their children.

“The show is a disgrace to me as a professional black woman. Adding the ex-wife of Usher is a step down from the current women,” Holmes says, responding to the widely circulated rumors that Tameka Raymond would be added to the show. Bravo executives deny. “What will a network do to get ratings. Strong black women of dignity unite to protest this show,” implores the outraged executive.


Kye Lynn Wilson, an insurance company executive, says she has yet to see what value the show provides to young, black women nationwide — or any women at all for that matter.

“I personally think the show is a pretty poor reflection on black women,” Wilson begins. “What really bothers me about the show is how they are all so caught up in materialism and always keeping up with the Joneses. Everyone, with the exception of Kandi, seems to be very superficial. And I especially think it is a really bad show for young and impressionable girls. All that fighting, arguing and carrying on. I mean, really, what is it that we are even supposed to learn from the show? Or, is it just really bad entertainment?”

Seshana Patterson says the women’s antics, which oftentimes come off as manufactured and fake, have long since grown trifling and tired. “I say get rid of both their a—-,” she says. “Kim is a flipping idiot and she can’t, no matter what anybody says — sing. NeNe just got on my nerves last season. Every altercation she had with Kandi, she was in the wrong. And how dare she call Kandi ghetto when she is the definition of the word. Dump them both. ”

While the “RHOA” enjoys the largest fan base of any of the “Real Housewives” franchise — as evidenced by their record-breaking ratings — Holmes sums up the sentiments of the anti-“Atlanta Housewife” crowd by saying the shows counters everything she believes in and the stereotype helps to erode the moral fabric of the black community. 

“I am a wife of one husband for 26 years, I have a married daughter who graduated from UGA and is now working as a social worker and starting her doctoral program in August of 2010 and a son in the 11th grade. I have tried to be a role model and example to my children at home and in the workforce. I manage a minority medical practice and I do not allow my staff to act unprofessionally, even though sometimes my female patients try to take us there,” says Holmes. –terry shropshire

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