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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

#871

Post by ptr2voidStar »

arp242 wrote: post #846
spaniard89277 wrote: post #761

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There has to be more, because in Europe, and particularly in southern europe there has been slavery for thousends of years. Everyone has been slave to everyone, like a free for all. Yet there's no one making claims based on that, and I'm not aware that such claims existed in the past neither. People just accepted as a fact of life and moved on. If you look at how all the relations played out between southern europe,…

A lot of black people arrived in Europe comparatively recently, the last ~60 years or so, and often from a specific country rather than the vague concept of "my ancestors several hundred years ago came from somewhere in Africa, but who knows where exactly?" Besides, not all forms of slavery are equal; what made American slavery fairly unique is that you were born in to it, was for life, based on skin colour, and was…

There has only been one time in human history where slavery was "racialised". The whole concept of "race" was invented to support this kind of slavery.

The descendants of people who bear the same skin hue of the formerly enslaved still have to live with the stigma caused by slavery.

This (and in many other ways as pointed out by the last commenter), is what makes the effects of the Translantic slavery still reverberate today - because people are still judged by skin colour because of that precedent that was set back then.

I don't know why this has to be continually explained to supposedly intelligent people - wilful ignorance?

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

#872

Post by arp242 »

ptr2voidStar wrote: post #871
arp242 wrote: post #846

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of black people arrived in Europe comparatively recently, the last ~60 years or so, and often from a specific country rather than the vague concept of "my ancestors several hundred years ago came from somewhere in Africa, but who knows where exactly?" Besides, not all forms of slavery are equal; what made American slavery fairly unique is that you were born in to it, was for life, based on skin colour, and was…

There has only been one time in human history where slavery was "racialised". The whole concept of "race" was invented to support this kind of slavery. The descendants of people who bear the same skin hue of the formerly enslaved still have to live with the stigma caused by slavery. This (and in many other ways as pointed out by the last commenter), is what makes the effects of the Translantic slavery still reverbera…

> I don't know why this has to be continually explained to supposedly intelligent people - wilful ignorance?

Not everyone is from the United States; reasonably sure the person I was replying to isn't (I'm not either).

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

#873

Post by Semaphor »

distantaidenn wrote: post #830
Semaphor wrote: post #71

When I read "Black" on HN or Reddit, it usually refers to African-American blacks, do you also have (or are looking for) content outside that region, more specifically Africa? A suggestion: have some description of your content somewhere. At least logged out, I can barely see more than the episode title, I have no idea what any of the shows are about. In any way, I (white) think this sounds like a great idea, congrat…

Just a heads up, referring to a people as "blacks" can ne seen as a bit rude. Also, I don't even want to get started on the term "African American"...

> Just a heads up, referring to a people as "blacks" can ne seen as a bit rude.

And the alternative is?

> African American

It’s such a weird term, but as far as I know it’s the term people over there use?

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

#874

Post by zomglings »

Congratulations on your launch. It's really exciting that you are taking on content creation.

There is so much curation of content before it shows up on somewhere like Amazon, Netflix (probably even BET?) that any minority-driven content you end up with is a polarized caricature of the actual experience.

I see you guys as providing agency to different communities of black creators, to actually share their UNFILTERED perspectives.

Even platforms like TikTok do not offer this agency - evidenced by the number of videos by black creators that start off, "If you're black, keep scrolling."

I hope that creators recognize this agency and rally around BlackOakTV. Good luck to you, my friends.

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

#875

Post by dang »

gamblor956 wrote: post #792
Uzo0312 wrote: post #720

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'd say you have a fair point about the competition, but not about their being a lack of critical examination. A critical examination of the market would yield the fact that surveyed black viewers want more content targeted at them, don't feel fully represented even in the existing black content that's out there, and that despite an admittedly (and perhaps temporary) spike in black content, an estimated $10b in reven…

Maybe it's just because I have more exposure to the Hollywood side of this than you do, but you're very dismissive of BET and your other Hollywood competitors in a way that suggests you didn't do your research and that you're thinking that your tech backgrounds will magically let you jump into this market without actually knowing how it works. BET can never be all the way in on serving the black audience, as Viacom w…

I'm late to this, but could you please stop being an asshole on HN? Your comments in this thread have at best straddled the line, https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28076349 crossed it completely, and unfortunately your comment history is often that of a jerk: your posts frequently contain something abrasive, even as you also make interesting points.

Your interesting points are worth reading, but the meanness is destructive and not cool here. We're trying for conversation in which people treat each other well, in addition to making interesting points, because without that, the forum crumbles into internet default nastiness.

I'm sure you can make your substantive comments thoughtfully, so please do that instead. If you wouldn't mind reviewing https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html and taking the intended spirit of the site more to heart, we'd be grateful.

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

#876

Post by dragontamer »

jonhohle wrote: post #850
dragontamer wrote: post #346

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 30 years later Mortal Kombat is the number one fighting game franchise of all time Smash Bros and Street Fighter are probably more popular actually. Mortal Kombat really, really sucked between 3 and 7. MK started to get good again around 8, but really it was "Injustice" (which used Mortal Kombat's engine) that made people start taking MK seriously again. MK9 is a modern, competitive fighter. But its not as well res…

https://www.denofgeek.com/games/mortal-kombat-best-selling-f... Edit: Mortal Kombat’s major advantage over Smash is that it’s available on every platform. I think Street Fighter’s problem is that Capcom doesn’t bump the version, so it’s non obvious how Super Street Fighter V Arcade Edition is different from Street Fighter V (which also had a bungled release). Of the three SF would be my preferred franchise, but sales…

Hmmm.

Not that I doubt your stats. But Street Fighter, Marvel vs Capcom, Tekken and so forth were largely arcade games.

MK2 was an arcade game for sure, but later MK games dropped out of the arcade scene.

Smash never was an arcade game.

I have to imagine that a lot of players paid one quarter at a time to get their Street Fighter skills. But MK players (especially recent ones) are console games. So I'm not sure if copies sold is the best metric.

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

#877

Post by distantaidenn »

Semaphor wrote: post #873
distantaidenn wrote: post #830

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Just a heads up, referring to a people as "blacks" can ne seen as a bit rude. Also, I don't even want to get started on the term "African American"...

> Just a heads up, referring to a people as "blacks" can ne seen as a bit rude. And the alternative is? > African American It’s such a weird term, but as far as I know it’s the term people over there use?

I'm American. The term I and others use is Black people. "African American" is typically a term people use in some weird attempt at being politically correct.

Personally, I see it as a misnomer and a way to create an other. Note how you rarely if ever hear white Americans referred to as European American.

I also feel you missed my point. I'm not saying "Black" is rude, I'm saying the term "blacks" is rude.

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

#878

Post by Semaphor »

distantaidenn wrote: post #877
Semaphor wrote: post #873

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Just a heads up, referring to a people as "blacks" can ne seen as a bit rude. And the alternative is? > African American It’s such a weird term, but as far as I know it’s the term people over there use?

I'm American. The term I and others use is Black people. "African American" is typically a term people use in some weird attempt at being politically correct. Personally, I see it as a misnomer and a way to create an other. Note how you rarely if ever hear white Americans referred to as European American. I also feel you missed my point. I'm not saying "Black" is rude, I'm saying the term "blacks" is rude.

> Personally, I see it as a misnomer and a way to create an other. Note how you rarely if ever hear white Americans referred to as European American.

It also creates the confusing situation of having white Americans from Africa ;)

> I also feel you missed my point. I'm not saying "Black" is rude, I'm saying the term "blacks" is rude.

Thanks, though at least Wikipedia uses the term very liberally, and there are several sources cited that use the term as well, including modern ones.

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

#879

Post by shsbdncudx »

shsbdncudx wrote: post #859

Trying to avoid being flagged here, genuine curiosity… I don’t get why black people would be interested in black on content. Would asians? Would women sign up to a platform that had only females? I’m not black but it feels insulting to black people. On the other hand, I’m aware that maybe I just don’t get it.

I mean, damn I had to come back to this. Can you imagine launching WhitePineTV - white only content and production?

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

#880

Post by specialist »

Late reply. Sorry.

Have you considered integrating meta data?

I'm always switching back to imdb.com while watching shows. Keeping that inquisitive traffic on your own site might help with engagement, building communities, etc.

PS- imdb.com sucks. You can do better.

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