Blacks in tv
Overcoming the Stereotypes in Black TelevisionEver since the invention of the television in 1939, African Americans have been portrayed as maids, servants or clowns. These negative perceptions started to appear in sitcoms such as in Amos and Andy, who were the stereotypical blacks that never took anything serious. All those views changed during the 1970's when black sitcoms were becoming more reality based. There were five stereotypical roles of blacks between 1940-1970, they included, the Tom, the Coon, the Mammy, the Tragic Mulatto, and the Buck. The "Tom" was always insulted, but kept to his faith and remained generous and kind. The "Coon", which was the most used stereotype, was always lazy, unreliable and constantly butchered his speech. The "Mammy" was more distinguished than the Coon only because of her sex. She was usually big and plump and full of life. The "Tragic Mulatto" was fair-skinned, trying to pass for white. They were well liked and believed that their lives could have been enhanced if they were not born biracial. The last stereotype was the "Buck". He was the big, oversexed black man. All of these stereotypes were used to falsely describe most African American's in society.
Family Matters was a show that focused on a middle-class black family living in Chicago. Starting in early 70's, shows were premiering everywhere with black casts. In the late 1970s to the early 80s, there was a famous icon and saying that came form one Pint-sized little boy. There was a positive approach to family life, values and standards. They dealt with situations that happened to everyday people, from trying to make the cheer squad to burglary. "Good times" was one of the most original shows on television in its time. It introduced real African Americans on TV. Fred was satisfied with his little business. Their dying mother, a housekeeper for wealthy Philip Drummond, had taken from her employer the promise that he would look after her two boys when she passed away. He and his wife Clair, a legal aid attorney, had five children. The 90s perspective was different from how it was in the 1960s. However, the show's main goal was to abolish those exact stereotypes. shows like "I Spy" and "The Flip Wilson Show", which directed blacks as either the main characters or just the butt of the jokes. The real star of the show emerged halfway through the first season.
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Acceptance Essays
