My .02

It's March 1 and DirecTV subscribers should notice a few new channels on their bandwidth. The newly relaunched BET J (Channel 330 in all markets) debuted along with the premiere of "My Two Cents." Keith Boykin was joined by Selwyn Sefu Hinds, April Silver, and Cassidy Arkin in this new urban current affairs talker. Topics are introduced by a quick (wo)man on the street soundbite and the group jumps on topic to deliver their (you guessed it) two cents. Today's topics included leadership within the black community, self-esteem and ego, inter-racial adoptions, religion, homophobia, and, of course, Oprah. The short but spirited discussions were spliced by music videos from adult artists like Jill Scott and Angie Stone.

From a content perspective, its a strong show. Maybe we're biased, but, Keith's delivery is a little more forceful than the others and the editing made him appear as if he lead the discussions. The conversations are timed and, thankfully, do not drag. There are a few editing tricks (strobing video, etc) that help smooth transitions. The handheld, two-camera MTV-style easily lends itself to short segments, however, the producers may want to re-consider the excessive camera movement when the guests are trying to explain serious topics. But that's a minor point because"My Two Cents" is a solid production. The show will air three times weekly—Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 1300/est, with repeats at 2100 and 2300/est.

My Two Cents on BET J (Keith Boykin)

A New Look For BET (Keith Boykin)

Comments

[angel]

Hey my name is Angel, i usally watch this show and i love everything that they talk about.
I'm only seventeen and by watching this i learn a lot that i would never around my friends or at school. i just wanted to say thank you and keep doing yall thang.

[rabreezz]

please, not so much music!
the rest of the show is "cool like that"

[stan]

cought one of your programs with a young author, who's name I do not remember. I wrote the title of his book down, but cannot find it. The book was about seperating our race into two groups, tight skin and dark skin. there seems to me there was not enough time devoted to the author to develope his theroy, because of the other of the panel voicing their opinions.

[Stephanie]

I just viewed your show with Jennifer Lewis-Hall and a panel of ladies speaking about women's issues. I only caught the portion about traditional women vs. modern women and stay-at-home fathers. I don't know what her name is, I'm sure you know who I'm speaking of. The panelist with the accent and light complexion. She is very "passionate" about what she believes. I can't help but feel like she has some issues, not being able to hold a conversation without being so emotional. I am very emotional, but I wonder if she sees herself on tape would she feel differently about her responses when she converses with the ladies? I have to remember how I look to others when I get so excited about what I am expressing. I appeared to be hostile, negative and unable to listen to others. I learned that it's alright for others to believe what they believe, say what they feel and still get my point across a little softer. Others tend to not only listen, but hear what you have to offer. When you sound like clanging cymbals of brass, people tend to want to turn you off even if you are offering truth. What good does that do anyone?

Thanks!

[jeff]

i just caught your show on prison and drug charges.i,m a white father of three and live in a lower income area.i agree with many points brought out on your show.the cost to keep people in prison is way too high,but to say that drug dealers should be rehabilitated without jail time is crazy.for my self my kids are very important and very valuable and with drugs its not about getting high anymore it almost always escalates into some thing bigger and more serious(guns ,prostitution,gangs,all of witch i would prefer my children not be a part of).i agree that education is very important and that we all have choices but we need to make the right choices look more appealing and the wrong choices look less desirable.the fact is that growing up in a low income or broken home to some of these young people prison may not look so bad so options are go to school work hard get a job work hard or turn to the streets where you can make a living till you get busted and go to jail where theres always a meal heat water and electric basketball court gym and no real responsibility.it was said that in the sixties and seventies there was less crime and fewer jails needed to be built i believe that in the sixties and seventies those who were convicted of crimes had less rights in prison or shall we say prison was a place people feared today the streets of America are the place people fear.as for different punishment for black verses white there should be no difference black white rich poor should not matter . thans