Big Brother Has a Bigot Problem

America is a nation of voyeurs. We look-in on the lives of friends and loved ones continually. We want the latest gossip and celebrity news, driving the ratings of shows like Entertainment Tonight and Extra. It was MTV's Real World that introduced us to the concept of a television show that revolved around the every day lives of people. But it was CBS's Big Brother that allowed us a more detailed, untainted voyeuristic portrayal of the lives of people.

Since its premiere, Big Brother has built a loyal following of millions of people who tune in to watch those inside the Big Brother house as well as host, Julie Chen meander their way through the maze that is Big Brother. With alliances and plots, deals and vetoes, Big Brother is far and away the most compelling reality show on television today. That compelling factor was induced by a thousand when comments were made recently by one of the housemates inside Big Brother.

While CBS has chosen not to air the conversation in question, videos of the conversation that took place between Amber and Jameka have surfaced on the Internet as Big Brother enthusiasts are able to watch a 24-hour feed into the Big Brother house for a fee. Amber, a 27-year old cocktail waitress, reveals a bigoted side, as she goes on a vile tangent against Jews as Jameka, a staunch Christian, listens in.

On Showtime's overnight feed, Amber is heard stereotyping Jewish people calling them selfish and greedy. In the conversation, she talks about comments her mom and sister have made about how Jewish people are money-hungry and always after self. In the video excerpt available on Youtube, Jameka is seen listening intently and offers Amber a bit of constructive wisdom, explaining the need for Amber to use decorum when making such blanket statements and that every Jew does not fit into one universal, binding category like selfish and greedy. One would certainly think, with Jameka's heritage as an African-American woman, she would be especially sympathetic to comments that could be construed to be racial and have bigoted overtones attached to them like Amber's has.

The fact that CBS has chosen not to air them speaks to the negative media attention that would rather avoid, but technology has made available for public viewing. The conversation revolved around a particular housemate, Eric Stein and whether he was Jewish or not. Amber felt he was. Jameka felt otherwise, that he had professed to her to be Christian. At which, Amber said, the male housemate had said, his nose, was the 'Jewish side of him'. Amber went on to explain that her mother had helped her to understand that Jews had specific physical characteristics that would be tell-tale signs of their heritage. And on top of that, their names would give them away as well.

Calling all Jewish people bad could have dire consequences for Amber. If CBS chooses to air the conversation on an episode, look for America's player, Eric himself, to be asked to get rid of Amber in a future episode. Or CBS could move to evict Amber on their own for detrimental conduct. The last option would be Jameka going to the other members of her alliance and letting them know the nature of her conversation with Amber. If she does so, Amber will become enemy number one on Evil Dick's list of housemates who have to be evicted.

With racism and sexism a prevalent and prevailing problem in our culture today, the fact that a housemate made the comments in not surprising. The fact that it took this long for someone on the Big Brother show to make such a statement is. Amber's proclivity to restate comments made by her mother and sister are unfortunate. The fact that she has bought into them, hook-line-and sinker even more so. Jameka's counsel provided a teachable moment we all should look for when in the presence of someone with racist pretenses. Otherwise, comments like these will continue to be heard in the guise of situations like the one Amber thought she had when she thought no one was listening.

Hey Amber, it's Big Brother. We are all watching.