Simply put, 2020 has sucked. I don’t think anyone can really dispute that. But from the chaos of everything going on, something good has come out of it all. The discussion surrounding race in America.
This year’s reckoning of Bravo stars was just one step forward. Forcing the Vanderpump Rules cast to take responsibility for racist behavior was shocking to many, but absolutely necessary. Seeing some of our favorites, like Porsha Williams and Braunwyn Windham-Burke, calling for justice was inspiring.
Now Bravo is truly focusing on the issues while doing what they should have been doing all along – amplifying black voices. As reported by Page Six, a group of Bravo stars gathered to virtually film the special, “Race in America: A Movement Not a Moment.”
Those set to appear on the special include Real Housewives of Beverly Hills‘ Garcelle Beauvais, Real Housewives of Atlanta’s Porsha, Kandi Burruss. Kandi will be appearing with husband, Todd Tucker. Real Housewives of Potomac’s Gizelle Bryant and Real Housewives of New York’s Leah McSweeney will also be there.
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In addition, Married To Medicine cast members Dr. Simone Whitmore, Toya Bush-Harris and Dr. Eugene Harris will attend. So will Dr. Britten Cole from Married to Medicine: LA and Gregory Gourdet from Top Chef. Finally, Braunwyn from Real Housewives of Orange County.
Former Housewives producer Dorothy Toran explains the special, saying, “This is unlike any other conversation. You could talk to someone and have a conversation with them for every day for five years and you would never have a race conversation. So I think when you open the door to a race conversation you will be surprised at what everyone says.”
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Producer Leslie D. Farrell also added, “What’s fascinating and surprising is to hear — and we always think this — when someone is either well off or they’re on television or whatever, well [race-related incidents] don’t really happen to them. We get it that it happens to us, the normal people, the ones behind the scenes, right? So I knew my experiences and Dorothy has hers, but to hear some of their experiences, it’s like, ‘I’ve experienced that!’”
The producers each handpicked who would partake and mentioned that no one turned down the opportunity. Leslie continues, “Braunwyn, what was surprising to me about her is she was so open,” Leslie said, noting that Braunwyn has been part of the Black Lives Matter movement for years.
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Leslie continued, “Or Leah saying, ‘Well we were able to act a certain way because it was the norm and it was just accepted.’ Those are very surprising revelations, I think. And I think a lot of people are going to relate to that. Because they’re not bad people but in a system that is set up to favor one group over another, and if you’re born into the group with favor, how do you see it? It’s just your life.”
The producers add that having Gregory involved added a unique perspective, “What’s so fantastic about Gregory is he’s speaking from the perspective of a black, gay man which is yet another layer in the race and gender conversation. There’s a really cool part in the special while Gregory is talking and there’s protestors actually outside of his home in Oregon protesting!”
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In addition, they say that Dr. Britten’s stories were shocking, as “Dr. Britten is an African American woman who does not look African American and the stories that she tells about not trying to be, but unwittingly being the fly on the wall … is shocking sometimes.”
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The special will be airing on Sunday at 10 p.m. on Bravo and is hosted by Nina Parker. I’m looking forward to tuning in and hearing what everyone has to say as it’s one of the most important topics we should be talking about right now.
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TELL US – WILL YOU BE TUNING IN TO WATCH? WHO IS MISSING FROM THE LINEUP THAT YOU WOULD HAVE LIKED TO BE INCLUDED? WHO ARE YOU MOST INTERESTED IN HEARING FROM?
[Photo Credit: Bravo]