HARD LIFE LESSON #101

(Or Why Ann Curry Is Saying, “Damn, Damn, Damn…!”)

As the world turns colder and crueler, each and every day, we learn why EnVogue crooned the lyrics, “…love don’t love you, love don’t care!” An obscure cut for the Funky Divas that resonates with me every time I hear of someone getting stomped on by, “the man.” Such is the case with Ann Curry and NBC. About a month ago, the network yanked Curry from her co-anchor spot on the Today Show—which is as American as apple pie. Her new title: Anchor-at-Large. Not necessarily a demotion, but undeniably a degrading lateral move. She was paid $10 million, no doubt to avoid a lawsuit, but probably more so to ease the network execs’ conscious.

There are a few proverbial elephants in the room. First, and sadly, NBC humiliated her with their hap-hazard handling of the situation. And while the leak, the rumors, lack of a proper final broadcast, etc., were probably not done on purpose, there is no question they treated her like a $2 whore. Or in this case, a $10 Million whore. The level of humiliation here even disallows the term, “call girl.”

Although I deem Ann an excellent journalist, who has no problem going anywhere to bring the real story to us, she was reaching. Yes, “reaching.” She had two big sets of shoes to fill—Katie Couric, America’s sweetheart and Meredith Vieira, tough as nails, but still a passionate journalist. There were some interesting online comments regarding Ann’s dismissal; one thing that struck me but is admittedly true—Ann is “quiet.” To quote a commenter, “she whispered too much!” Moreover, in a June interview with Ladies Home Journal, Curry admitted that she, “sometimes doesn’t know her worth.” She continues that she meant that personally, not professionally. I don’t believe that Ann meant personally, and I don’t think she believes that either.

Furthermore, take a look at the careers of Couric, Vieira and Robin Roberts. These women diversified their talents and skills wherever possible. In the African-American culture, we call this, “getting your hustle on.” That is, work the day job, but have something on the side to fall back on, “just in case.” Ann’s bio reads straight, company stuff with no interests or goals outside of work. Huge mistake; when you lack additional outlets or do not expand your horizons beyond “work” and the powers-that-be decide to cut you, your ass is twisting in the wind with a $10 million check tucked in your G-string. However, having a side hustle makes you more visible and more marketable—the boss thinks twice about letting you go.

Lastly, while this country was, in fact, ready for an African-American president, it is not ready for a Today show host who is, well, mixed. Curry is a descendent of few distinctive heritages. I can dig it, but an honest survey of Today show viewers might not feel the same. Not saying she was fired because of her mixed ethnicity, but I’m not saying she wasn’t, either. Howsonever, when Al Roker joined the Today crew several years ago, NBC apparently deemed him talented, competent and “all the window dressing” that they need.

Two examples for Ann to marinate on: Chris Spencer and Vanessa Williams. In ’97, UPN hires Chris Spencer, an up and coming comedian, writer and author, to host the late night show, “Vibe (the network’s answer to Arsenio Hall).” After 6 weeks, Spencer was unceremoniously fired. A few weeks later, Chris whines about it in Jet Magazine. Fourteen years later, people ask, “Chris, who?” In 1984, Vanessa Williams, however, was disgraced when scandalous nude photos she took in college surfaced forcing her to relinquish her Miss America title. Diva Williams did not crawl up in a hole and die—she went to work! Now Ms. Thang writes her own ticket.

And if that is not enough for Curry, she need only ask Deborah Norville—if she can find her.

My heart goes out to Ann, but I have a message for her: get your shit together! It’s been a minute and it’s time to declare the Pity Party over. Get up, write a book (or two), teach a class, surround yourself with the right people, get a side hustle and diversify your damn self.