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Launch HN: BlackOakTV (YC S21) – Netflix for black people

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Re: Launch HN: BlackOakTV (YC S21) – Netflix for black people

#311

Post by nindalf »

spaniard89277 wrote: post #183
afavour wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know what country you're from but if you don't think there are subcultures in your country under-represented by the dominant media I'd assert you're almost definitely wrong. Perhaps it feels a little strange from the outside that such a subculture is definitively "black" but yeah, that's basically how things are in the US. The country has a deep history of racism and black people being literal slaves, in that…

> I don't know what country you're from but if you don't think there are subcultures in your country under-represented by the dominant media I'd assert you're almost definitely wrong What constitutes under-repressented? Is proportionally represented ok? I mean, I'm one of those "subcultures" and honestly I don't feel the need to be represented in media. I'm ok with it, but I don't see what does it bring to me or to m…

Almost all the movies and TV shows and video games I’ve consumed featured no one who looked like me. But I still felt represented when a character behaved like I did or was interested in the same things I was - characteristics that formed a bigger part of my identity than my skin colour. I’d speculate you might be the same - you’re listening to stories that feature people who display characteristics similar to yours.

But here’s the thing you’re missing - if your race is a dominant part of your identity, like it is for many black people in America, it’s certainly normal to look for stories that feature black people and black stories. Stories where the characters experience problems and issues similar to the ones they might face in their lives.

Re: Launch HN: BlackOakTV (YC S21) – Netflix for black people

#312

Post by bxjaii »

warent wrote: post #277
mattlondon wrote: post #228

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. Where I work (US-company, but I work outside of US) it is similarly weird to me. We appear to have gone backwards in the past 5-10 years in my view - no longer can you just be "you", but now it feels like we have to be labelled, categorised, and segregated into different groups. We now have to make a big deal and a big song-and-dance to highlight our differences and define what our ethnic backgrounds are (app…

The problem is that white Americans don't have the same American experience as black Americans, which is where the divide comes from and it creates another culture. It's been getting a lot better, but there are still two legal systems, two education systems, etc. My perspective as a white man is that when black people create something for themselves like this, it's reclaiming the power. Like how they use the N word w…

This is 100% false. Cops brutalize anyone who slightly offends them. More black people are disaffected by this, but it happens to us all.

I am white and was nearly killed by a black officer in South Florida. He piled drived me head first onto a concrete floor on video tape. Prior to that, he choked me and threatened to kill me.

I was in Miami to attend the VMAs with a billionaire, yet they claimed I tried to fight them. Eventually all charges were dropped. The cop was actually working private security when this happened.

It’s just men, testosterone, and power emboldened by a badge. The cop — Mr. Ritchie — later won Detective of the Year, while his Sheriff went to federal prison. Reality is different than what you read in the papers.

Re: Launch HN: BlackOakTV (YC S21) – Netflix for black people

#313

Post by vorpalhex »

warent wrote: post #277
mattlondon wrote: post #228

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. Where I work (US-company, but I work outside of US) it is similarly weird to me. We appear to have gone backwards in the past 5-10 years in my view - no longer can you just be "you", but now it feels like we have to be labelled, categorised, and segregated into different groups. We now have to make a big deal and a big song-and-dance to highlight our differences and define what our ethnic backgrounds are (app…

The problem is that white Americans don't have the same American experience as black Americans, which is where the divide comes from and it creates another culture. It's been getting a lot better, but there are still two legal systems, two education systems, etc. My perspective as a white man is that when black people create something for themselves like this, it's reclaiming the power. Like how they use the N word w…

If you feel that there are two education systems, eg one for Black people and one for White people, aren't you simply reinforcing that by having more segmented services?

Separate but equal was a dismal failure in the US. I don't understand why it deserves a second attempt.

Re: Launch HN: BlackOakTV (YC S21) – Netflix for black people

#314

Post by weimerica »

warent wrote: post #277
mattlondon wrote: post #228

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. Where I work (US-company, but I work outside of US) it is similarly weird to me. We appear to have gone backwards in the past 5-10 years in my view - no longer can you just be "you", but now it feels like we have to be labelled, categorised, and segregated into different groups. We now have to make a big deal and a big song-and-dance to highlight our differences and define what our ethnic backgrounds are (app…

The problem is that white Americans don't have the same American experience as black Americans, which is where the divide comes from and it creates another culture. It's been getting a lot better, but there are still two legal systems, two education systems, etc. My perspective as a white man is that when black people create something for themselves like this, it's reclaiming the power. Like how they use the N word w…

> The problem is that white Americans don't have the same American experience as black Americans, which is where the divide comes from and it creates another culture. It's been getting a lot better, but there are still two legal systems, two education systems, etc.

It's really more about how much money you have in your pocket, what neighborhood you're in - but please continue driving a racial wedge to further divide the nation and distract from our broken system's root causes.

Re: Launch HN: BlackOakTV (YC S21) – Netflix for black people

#315

Post by itsoktocry »

tcoff91 wrote: post #84
tag2103 wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why does "Netflix for Black People" scarily remind me of "Water fountains for Black People". This is horrifying, OP please consider this in your approach.

You’re essentially saying that black people need to erase their cultural identity and assimilate into the dominant culture and shut up and watch tv shows about white people like the rest of us and be happy about it. Black people live a different experience than other groups, and maybe they want different shows that resonate with them. BET has been successful for a long time and this service is BET for the internet.

>Black people live a different experience than other groups

Black people are certainly entitled to watch whatever content they choose, but they are not unique in their "different lived experiences". "White people" are not some amorphous, homogeneous group.

Re: Launch HN: BlackOakTV (YC S21) – Netflix for black people

#317

Post by yaacov »

brodouevencode wrote: post #207
Uzo0312 wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a great point. I think both things probably need to be done. We took the distribution route, because ultimately we believe it's the direct relationship with the consumer that will allow for this to work. As a production company, you're a step away from the end-user, so you're at the mercy of a distribution company that has more than just the black audience to worry about. But if a company is solely focused on…

But it would take Netflix just one or two demo-specific properties to win that demo back. Unless the goal is to be acquired.

It doesn’t have to be either-or, lots of people have multiple streaming services

Re: Launch HN: BlackOakTV (YC S21) – Netflix for black people

#318

Post by disneygibson »

plehoux wrote: post #262
disneygibson wrote: post #220

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most “white” people in America today were not considered so 100-150 years ago. Irish, Slavs, Eastern Europeans, Italians, Jews, Levantine Arabs, and pretty much everyone other than English, Germans and French. My point is that this identity was expanded to be inclusive in order to build social cohesion. That was a good thing, but now let’s rename it to just “American” and include all ethnic groups, instead of going b…

French-Canadian were too considered like most other catholics as different and undesirable : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ku_Klux_Klan_in_Maine

Yep, White used to be more or less synonymous with WASP. White Anglo Saxon Protestant.

Re: Launch HN: BlackOakTV (YC S21) – Netflix for black people

#319

Post by kadabra9 »

zentiggr wrote: post #303
kadabra9 wrote: post #30

Just from an addressable market standpoint, it seems like you have work cut out for you given that you’ve essentially isolated your product to 13-14% or so of the US population. Not to mention those in that segment that already sub to Netflix , other streaming services etc.

I can't understand why so many commenters here consider this launch to be divisive, or as you say "isolated"... They're focusing on a particular cultural group to aggregate content and sponsor more... none of which excludes anyone else. Marketing niches are a core concept across the entire business world. What makes this one niche less effective?

I never said it was divisive. All I said was from a practical standpoint the vast majority of their TAM is capped at capturing part of the 13.5% of the population.

Can they build a good business doing that? If they can discover and secure great content, then I think so.

Re: Launch HN: BlackOakTV (YC S21) – Netflix for black people

#320

Post by ahoka »

mattlondon wrote: post #228
f6v wrote: post #2

“X for black people” sounds so bizarre to me(non-American). The cultural divide between the people must be insane.

Agreed. Where I work (US-company, but I work outside of US) it is similarly weird to me. We appear to have gone backwards in the past 5-10 years in my view - no longer can you just be "you", but now it feels like we have to be labelled, categorised, and segregated into different groups. We now have to make a big deal and a big song-and-dance to highlight our differences and define what our ethnic backgrounds are (app…

This is the harsh reality if identity politics. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity_politics

Very harmful.

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