I Won’t Be Seduced by ‘True Blood’

the problem with this show is that it's ALMOST good...so you keep coming back and wincing at the smug and lame attempt at political commentary and the frequently cringeworthy dialogue. the show implies/asserts things about racial relations in the South which aren't supported by the dialogue. It's really about the writer's skill. For example, somehow it worked, in "Love Actually" to show interracial couples living happy family lives in 2008 London without having to even comment on it. It meant "yes, we're beyond needed to talk about that now. This is the South, however, and race relations in small towns even today are still in flux. Somehow, in True Blood, one just doesn't see THESE particular Southrn' gals Tara and Sookie, as depicted anyway, as BFF's...there isn't the chemistry. To me, yes, it does come off as yet another TV attempt to pair white lead actor with supporting sidekick black actor. Still, thanks, AB, for Lafayette, who does have style and is an original character even if one isn't always thrilled with where and what he's sent to do by your writers. The wonderful actors who play Tara and Lafayette rise above the writing on several occasions.

The South itself is the star of Charlaine Harris's books...Charlaine pokes fun at it, in a loving and knowing manner. Alan Ball doesn't get it right. The opening credits reflect perhaps where Alan Ball hoped to take Charlaine Harris's books...but don't ever connect. but seeing the retro shots of crackers n' gator sculls, ol' time Southern Baptisms and faith healings, and the fabulous musical score just highlight that the scenes in the weekly episodes are fake and unconvincing.

Joshua Alston is way off base here. Tara and Lafayette are the most interesting characters on the show! Where else on TV can you see an African-American woman who is not a "bitch", "ho", or "diva"? Where are all the gay/bisexual black men? Not on B.E.T., or anyplace else.
Alston needs to learn the concept of "main characters" vs. "supporting characters." Perhaps a basic literature course could clear this up for him.

It is evident to me that the writer gave the show only a cursory glance. True Blood is full of social contexts. We at True-Blood.net discuss the social and racial contexts of the show a great deal and even posted this article for consideration.

It may have escaped the writer's attention that Lafayette was chained in Eric's Vampire jail with four white people and the person Eric tore to pieces was a white guy.

Tara is an incredibly strong person who has gone through great trials in her life. Why shouldn't she be faced with trials same as the other characters on the show.

I suggest he not judge the show on a single viewing. He should examine it again and then visit our forum and check out the things we are saying there. It's incredible about the depth we get into.

However it is okay to portray everyone in Louisiana and the south as ignorant hunting plaid wearing hillbillies. The show is based on stereo types as are most shows. *cough* sopranos *cough* It's called entertainment for a reason.

However it is okay to portray everyone in Louisiana and the south as ignorant hunting plaid wearing hillbillies. The show is based on stereo types as are most shows. *cough* sopranos *cough* It's called entertainment for a reason.

You've got to be kidding me. Tara is an absolutely awesome character, and so well-played by Rutina Wesley. If she only seems to exist in relation to other characters in the show (a contention with which I very much disagree)... well, perhaps one might consider what the definition is of a 'supporting character.' When you factor that in, then the show's real fault is that its two main characters are white. Heaven forbid. You say that you "don't like the way True Blood's black characters relate to the white characters or to each other"... does that include how fiercely Tara protects Sookie, and how realistically her feelings about her alcoholic mother are portrayed??

Additionally -- I think that it's important to consider that this show is very much in the Southern Gothic style... where characters are exaggerated to the point of the 'grotesque' -- very few of the white characters on this show are not majorly flawed in some way, too. This piece just seems like complaining for the sake of complaining.

LL

I started watching True Blood and didn't even know there were black characters in it and I'm a black person. Yeah, I can see where people can be put off by by the portrayals of Tara and Lafayette. I can see where Christians can be outraged by the portrayals of the Newlins. But let's Black Entertainment Network were to run an African American vampire series. All you black folks reading this, start listing your cast of characters, their occupations, and the setting. Bet the setting will be a large, urban city, right? Bet there will be a few gangbangers in there too, right? Don't forget the rappers. How will white people, if any, be portrayed. Sure to be some stereotypes all around. No country music, either. Happy everybody?

(Continued)
You seem caught up in the most superficial of Lafayette???s attributes, a fondness for eyeliner, nail polish, bare midriffs, fringe & such. But he is savvy, more so than many of the white people in the town, and clearly an out & proud gay black man (the deadly Trinity of wrong) who's somehow respected-surprising in an atmosphere where, in reality, such a stance could get you killed or harassed. Not to mention a dangerous penchant for beating up bigoted rednecks. In fact, many gay organizations have singled out Nelsan Ellis & "Lafayette" precisely because of the refreshing originality of this character that you've tried to diminish. His & Tara's verbal joustings, like a brother & sister who know each other's buttons & enjoy pushing them, clearly have a deep current of affection underneath them that you'd have to be blind to miss. Also, your disgust at his scene w/Eric is ridiculous. You're reducing it to some antiquated black-white, "don't kill me, Massa" thing-so short-sighted. FOOL, Lafayette's a human being trying to keep a ruthless killer at bay, using every wily bit of negotiating skill at his disposal-the fact that at the end of the day, he's just a successful entrepreneur with good connections who didn't really do any vampires harm, & thus doesn't deserve death. Yes, Eric is white, but more importantly, he's a VAMPIRE. As in DEAD. Beyond race, or any of the other idiotic labels we the living tend to dwell on. Eric doesn't even see "Black", he sees dinner, and then, after careful consideration, a potential human operative. Which is more than he thought of any of his white victims; it's almost a compliment, for crying out loud. I can't believe anyone would seriously compare Lafayette & Eric's situation, so clearly different not to mention being in the context of a fantastically-fictional TV show, to that unfortunate moment of on the McCain campaign trail. Forget "bounding over logic"-Logic isn't even in the room.

You don't like "True Blood", that's your right. But to try to justify your hatred of the show because of some perceived racism is completely unsupportable. I'm sorry your broken "experiential prism" won't allow to you see this show for what it really is-a completely delicious modern Gothic thriller/soap opera. "True Blood" is simply not the color-coded & color-loaded insult to African-Americans you describe.

Mr. Alston-I find your perspective interesting, but decidedly flawed. Tara & Lafayette are in no way these ciphers without a center that you claim they are. Tara has never been Sookie's "sidekick" in any sense of the word. They are clearly leading separate lives, but share a lifelong bond & concern for one another that many Southerners, believe it or not, will recognize and that frankly is hardly ever seen on TV anywhere between black & white characters. Tara stands up for what she thinks is right, in a town where she is clearly the minority & it would probably benefit her more to shut up. Yes, she has had her decidedly "sassy" moments, but that 's just a cover to protect her profoundly vulnerable essence, evidenced by her moments of sweet longing for childhood crush Jason Stackhouse, her tentative yet doomed relationship with Sam Merlotte & her damaging relationship with the destructive mother that you denigrate, who, rather than being one-dimensional, is a curious meditation on dysfunctional motherhood, the ugly nature of addiction & denial, & religious hypocrisy & desperation.

I can't help but wonder that perhaps somewhere deep down in places you don't like to think about, you dislike the fact that Tara is openly enamored with White men, and that aversion to such behavior causes you to view her character, despite your claims of "careful analysis", completely wrong.. Because Tara is hardly a stereotype, she???s a fascinating character that is still unfolding.
( To Be continued)

Another idiot bringing in the racial card again. So Joshua Alston doesn't like the way that the black characters are portrayed? What would you like to see them as Joshua? Get off your politically correct high horse and watch the show for its entertainment quality and stop looking for something that isn't there. I see nothing wrong with the way the black characters are being portrayed, or is it that you have a problem with the one gay character being black? or maybe you'd feel better with a abusive and alcoholic white mother? Truth is that it doesn't matter what color a person is, these can be attributed to anybody regardless of their race, color or creed. The fact that the producers decided to make these characters black should be of no consequence, unless somebody like you is trying to stir up controversy. By the way, you seem to have forgotten that there were others shackled in the basement with Lafayette, and they were white. So why did you feel the need to mention only Lafayette unless you're trying to start something up? You say nothing about how the white characters are being portrayed such as the idiot deputy, the bible beaters, the IQ lacking brother, etc, etc, etc....and white trash in general. Perhaps you would feel better watching something not so intense for your viewing since it is obvious that you can't handle anything too adult oriented.

This show's just about to come out in the UK now, so I haven't watched it.

However, in reaction to this article I will say that I don't understand why you are looking for realistic racial depictions on a TV show - and then why you are getting so offended that you didn't find them. Just by TV's nature, for any show to sustain itself it needs to entertain its audience - at whatever cost. As I said, from not watching the show yet I can't say whether the price this show has paid is from depicting a negative portrayal of black people.

But to me, when's all said and done, forty minutes of "possible media-implied racism" versus real-life everyday prejudice doesn't even measure. Furthermore, there are African-Americans who evidently like this show, so your opinion is at best, more of a personal complaint.

I think you have some honorable intentions that have been let down by their delivery. I find the "yes-but-no" style of your argument a bit disheartening. As a diary entry of a personal complaint, this may have worked, but as an article - not really. Maybe that's why a lot of these commenters aren't not so much angry at your opinion, but at the *way* it is being expressed.

There may have been a way this could have worked as an article - perhaps you could have discussed whether there is a racial slant in True Blood and shown both sides of the story, who knows. I'm not saying this was a complete botch-job, but there is something in it that seems unfocused.

As a side note, I think that this concern could be spent on real life prejudice, of those facing the difficulty of real life stereotypes in their daily lives, I think that would be energy well spent.