Still No Respect from Dog the Bounty Hunter Sponsors

A&E Network is actually one of my favorite locations on television. There are a number of syndicated shows and original programming from that network that I enjoy watching. So, I am very disappointed at the decision of the network to bring back a self-proclaimed racist, Duane 'Dog' Chapman back on the air. Last month I joined many others in a Day of Blogging for Media Respect to protest this decision. A&E Network did not budge on their decision to bring back Chapman's show.

The next step is simple. Identify the A&E Network advertisers who support this show. We will alert the broader public about those Dog-sponsors. After all, sponsoring Duane Chapman's show is a sign that these companies have little or no respect for their African American customers. Duane Chapman should not be able to profit for his racially-motivated vitriol and hatred [see video].

You can read the press release from the Afrosphere Action Coalition here.

Return of Dog the Bounty Hunter is Unacceptable

The Electronic Village supports the call of the Afrosphere Action Coalition (AAC) for a 'Day of Blogging For Media Respect'.

A&E Network is the object of our collective ire as a result of their decision to bring Duane Chapman (aka 'Dog the Bounty Hunter') back on the air. Chapman had been taken off the air after his racist rantings became public knowledge.

The AAC wrote the network and its advertisers to express anger over this immoral decision to bring Chapman back on the public airwaves. We are taking a stand against Chapman's expressed racism. It is our view that Chapman has not adequately atoned for the racially derogatory intent of his words. Instead, he made claims about his motivation being benign and disparaged his son’s Black girlfriend, Monique Shinnery.

'They should pull the show completely and never air reruns or anything with Chapman ever again,' SiCap president Wayne Perry says in a press release. "A&E should wash their hands of this guy. Dog’s rant has personally disrupted my faith in people, and we will never associate any of our brands with any forum that supports racism in any way. This goes far beyond what Don Imus said on MSNBC, and they fired him immediately.”

We seek respect for people of African descent.

Daz Wilson, AAC co-coordinator, says, "The Black community won't tolerate the lack of consideration and respect we have seen from television networks, which have become increasingly insulting in their commentary; using stereotypical depictions, and allowing their spokespersons and actors to use racial slurs or refer to 'lynching' in a self-described joking manner. This unacceptable behavior seems to be shared by A&E Network, despite the fact that they and their advertisers benefit from diverse audiences and consumers."

I encourage all villagers to take a moment to call or write A&E Network and its sponsors to let them know you seek respect for people of African descent. Let them know you want A&E Network to remove Duane 'Dog the Bounty Hunter' Chapman from their airwaves.

---

1. A&E Vice President of Programming - Nancy Dubuc and Rob Sharenow
2. Travelocity - Vollmer Public Relations, Amanda Borichevsky
3. Tylenol - Call (877) TYLENOL
4. AT&T
5. Red Bull Energy Drinks - Call (310) 393-4647
6. Yellowpages.com - Call (877) 647-6278
7. Allstate Insurance - Call (866) 908-2500
8. LG High Definition Televisions - Call (800) 243-0000
9. Dell - Call (800) 915-3355
10. Nintendo - Call (425) 882-2040
11. Subway

---

Kudos to the Afrosphere Action Coalition coordinators -- Daz Wilson, Yobachi Boswell and Francis Holland -- for providing leadership on this Day of Blogging for Media Justice.

I'm interested in hearing your village voice on this Chapman/A&E Network situation and this effort at online activism. What say u?

Call on A&E to Keep Dog the Bounty Hunter Off-the-Air

UPDATE: Yobachi Boswell (Afrosphere Action Coalition) gave comprehensive interview on this issue with Your Black World blog earlier this week.

---

Many 'villagers' recall a few months back when top-rated A&E reality show star Dog, the Bounty Hunter was caught on tape mouthing off a racial rant. Dog's real name is Duane Chapman. Anyhow, his show was pulled from A&E network.

Life was good.

Well, A&E announced recently that they are re-instating the show ... and a number of bloggers of color are upset at the lack of respect being shown to the Black community. Purple Zoe and Yobachi announced campaign to express disappointment in decision to renew television appearances by an admitted racist.

I encourage all 'villagers' to support this effort in any manner possible. What say u?