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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

#351

Post by disneygibson »

endisneigh wrote: post #332
disneygibson wrote: post #152

This just makes me sad. We seem to be returning to a segregated society with separate services for every ethnic group. It’s not the “melting pot” idea of America that I was raised with, where everyone contributes their own unique culture to a unified American whole. That was the brilliance of American identity, which is now fracturing at an accelerated rate.

The lie you’ve been fed is that America was ever integrated.

The melting pot is a goal and a living idea, not an idealized time in the past.

And yes, groups of white Americans that were hostile to each other a century ago are now so integrated that it’s not even thought about. An Italian Catholic marrying a German Protestant was a huge deal in 1900. Today it is nothing.

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

#352

Post by LordHumungous »

vorpalhex wrote: post #313
warent wrote: post #277

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

The reality is that most of the country remains extremely segregated.

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

#353

Post by mbesto »

Uzo0312 wrote: post #96
kitcar wrote: post #35

Out of curiosity - you mention that in the 90's there were a number of TV shows featuring prominent black characters but there isn't anymore. Why did you decide the solution to that problem was to create a black-focused distribution platform, instead of production company focused on creating new shows of similar quality to those in the 90's - has something changed about the market that would prevent shows like those…

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…

> We took the distribution route, because ultimately we believe it's the direct relationship with the consumer that will allow for this to work.

Be honest. It's less capital intensive, with much higher valuations.

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

#354

Post by pier25 »

salamanderman wrote: post #255
h3daz wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My only problem with marketing "X for black people" is that marketing "X for white people" isn't socially acceptable.

Except that "for white people" is the default. The minority representation in media is still generally token at best. And, while it may seem like a double standard, when you say something implying that there should be a "x for white people" it sounds like you're saying you're already seeing too much minority representation in media for your comfort or sense of place in society. And if that's the case, know that that…

So you'd say Netflix is mostly for white people?

Asking seriously, I'm European.

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

#355

Post by imbnwa »

krapp wrote: post #267
unixhero wrote: post #165

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The US must be sooooo ripped apart by now.

No, it's just mostly triggered white people concern trolling as usual.

Saddening that the top comment is a banner rally for questions that are posed naively whose direct answer can easily be gotten at by asking an actual Black person in real life instead of a niche space like this one. But that's not the point.

You should see the diversity threads on this board. It's the same dog whistling every time, but here its about some made-up 'we're reverting back to segregation' argument but no one had a problem with Minari winning awards about the Korean-American experience. It's the same idea, simply expanded to an entire platform of such content.

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

#356

Post by zentiggr »

kadabra9 wrote: post #300
zentiggr wrote: post #249

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You need to justify how "for " is exclusionary, as opposed to it's normal meaning of "focusing on ".

Saying it is For implies it is not for other groups. Again, realistically, how many white people would pay for a platform like this? If you think the number is substantial you are delusional. For starters, its being marketed "for black people", its all black content, and other platforms e.g Netflix already have content from black creators (albeit not as focused) Having said that, they do not need white people to sub…

> Saying it is For implies it is not for other groups.

Umm, no? Like I tried to convey in my original comment, "for " means a focus on that group, as opposed to just general content. Nothing I've ever come across that was marketed as "for " has ever been intended to exclude me as a non-member, nor have I ever interpreted it that way.

I suspect you have a bias to hear it as exclusionary more than is typical.

Anecdotally, I watch BET fairly regularly, if not often. I'm aware that it's business model is generally content by black creators, for black consumers, but again, I don't remember any hints anywhere of implications of "if you're not black, you can go". If anything, wider viewing would be more informative and promote sharing across groups.

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

#358

Post by cphoover »

flyingfoxxx wrote: post #159
tcoff91 wrote: post #84

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

What constitutes as the “black experience”? Are you speaking in terms of the modern day experience of black people? This is a genuine question, and I would really appreciate to hear a response from one who is black. Also, is “black” a culture? No really, aren’t there different cultures that make up the black population, just as there are for whites? Or is there also “white culture”? Or “brown culture”? These seem lik…

A Nigerian, or Jamaican may have a completely different understanding of culture than black people whose family history ties back to US slavery.

It is weird how we just tend to generalize over all of this because of the color of one's skin.

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

#359

Post by wildcoding »

This is so racist I finally created account on HN just to tell you how racist that is. Idea is outrageous, are you testing the overtone window once again? Not enough afroamerican content on Netflix? Black Queen Charlotte is not enough?

Stop racism at the roots. You do not deserve to be popular. I'm ashamed this even got to main HN page.

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

#360

Post by ggggtez »

afavour wrote: post #17

I can't help but feel like everyone commenting here read the headline, brushed straight past the lengthy explanation and went directly to outrage in the comment box. This is a streaming service set up to elevate content by black creators, to make up for the fact that the mainstream media under-represents those people. I'm struggling to see the outrage on a cultural level and on a startup level I can absolutely imagin…

If you go to an Italian restaurant where the waiter tells you about the fine wine of his home country for five minutes, and then offers you a free sample and you find out it's a grape juice box... Then you would rightly feel outraged.

The problem isn't the idea, is being sold and marketed as something it's not. This isn't like BET. This is... I don't know what it is. But it's not a Netflix competitor with classic black talent sitcoms.

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