The Sisterhood - True Unity or Fiesty Women in Sunday Go-To-Meeting Clothes?

After 2012 proving itself to be the year of ratchet reality TV, 2013 kicked off strong with a new reality show on TLC documenting the lives of four pastors’ wives in Atlanta. When the show was initially announced it was met with much criticism. After all, we’ve seen how cameras following people around documenting their “everyday lives” (or what the producers stage) can turn anybody into a beast. So of course the black church was fearful of how this show would represent the women who are supposed to set the highest standard in the church – the most revered first ladies. I wondered too if the show was going to represent a true sisterhood of unity and fellowship or just another gang of feisty women thrown together who wouldn’t be friends in real life that TV producers dressed up in Sunday go to meeting clothes just to create onscreen controversy. My initial impression was that I wasn’t going to even watch the train wreck. I’d rather turn my eyes away and love my first lady from afar without being confronted with the thought that she too could be a ratchet housewife in a church hat. Then enters my friend Lesley who nearly bullied me into watching and my life got flip turned upside down! LOL

So here are my initial thoughts...

I think the transparency of the show is what makes it REALITY TV and that’s what is going to eventually bring a lot of issues to light that the church has hidden or swept under the rug for so long.  There’s so much to be explored in this show. So much to be uncovered. So many chances for the cast to be real and represent the Kingdom in an honest way. My initial negative impression may have been premature, but we have to see how these stories will play out. One thing I did learn from the first show is not to judge a book by its cover. It caused me to think about my own reactions, the way I may misjudge others and my own shortcomings as a Christian. And if this is to be the evangelistic tool the church is afraid it won’t be, I think the first episode proved us wrong. It offers an opportunity for believers and unbelievers alike to confront what separates us. That is the grace, forgiveness and honesty that we all look for.

So what do you think? Did you watch the show? What was your take-away?

Chanelle Yarber is managing consultant forBrightGirl Media, a social media and video production firm. Read this full post on the BrightGirl Blog. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for more information, commentary on Black media and tips on social media.