A co-worker sent me the above link to a story about the lack of Blacks on TV this season. I'm a TV watcher. I've cut down and now I only spend about 12 hours in front of the tube on a given day. So, it troubles me that the days of diversity are gone.
Networks used to make an effort to put Blacks on TV. Let's see. When I was growing up, there were shows with majority-Black casts: "The Jeffersons," "227," "Amen," "The Cosby Show," "A Different World."
What happened?
Here's my guess. Upstart networks like WB, Fox, UPN started using "Black" shows to launch and pull in minority viewers, realizing Black TV viewers were thirsty for more minorities on screen. However, the shows they put on were garbage: "Homeboys From Outerspace," "The Diary of Desmond Pfifer,".... I could go on, but it hurts my feelings.
So, where shows with Black casts were once of quality and full of crossover potential, the new shows couldn't even draw their target audiences.
So, where shows with Black casts were once of quality and full of crossover potential, the new shows couldn't even draw their target audiences.
Unfortunately, that left Black shows with a stigma. They're automatically deemed of lesser quality, unlike the glory days of "Good Times" and "Sanford & Son."
So, how long will it be before we get some more quality programs with a majority Black cast?
If the new season's lineup is any indication, it won't be anytime soon.
That's not good for Black actors, and it's not good for young people, who can only look to reruns on TV Land to see their reflections on the tube.
Why is this still an issue in '08? How important is it for young people to see themselves on TV? Is there anything we can do to get more Black shows on TV? (The NAACP's pressure hasn't worked.) Should we even try, or is that the last place our focus should be?
2 comments:
The "Boob Tube" has gone silicon. Diversity trends in television has been the facelift of our generation---altered with temporary solutions for permanent gains with the same old motives: exploitation of minority groups.
Children are drawn to images. If network television puts it out there, chances are they buy into it. Even as an adult, I'm thinking of putting in a bid on Wisteria Lane just so I can be Gabby's shopping buddy.
Television influences and has a tantilizing factor. Were it not for youtube, discussing quality television shows would be like remembering the lost city of Atlantis. With that said, we're in trouble until we put value in our homes to mold our children to be proactive about the things they put in their minds, and train them to do better than us.
The question now is: where can we turn for now when our leaders in the black community can still be bought and sold like ancestors on the trading block. Our "idle" threats are quickly hushed with instant wealth.
Thanks for making us think. I'm going to catch that episode of "A Different World" when Kimberly Reese tells Shaza Zulu off when he calls her out for dating outside the race.
PEACE.
Its seems the faster "black" shows come the faster they go. I loved "Everybody Hates Chris" "Martin" but blame Tyisha Campbell for that, and my favorite "All of Us" which was denied another season.
Maybe we should take advantage of this opportunity and get our people into books, the tube is no good for us anyway. But remember as long as we continue to dominate sports they will never be able to get us off of their TUBE completely!!!!!!!!!
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