Positive%20Black%20Family%20Sitcoms:%20Where%20did%20they%20go?

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Positive Black Family Sitcoms Where did they go?
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Highlights

• History of Black men and women in television
• Stereotypes
• Portrayals of the Black Family
• Popular Black sitcoms
• The Cosby Show
• Sitcoms after The Cosby Show
• The effects on children
• Discussion Questions

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The History of Black men and women in television

• In the early years of primetime television Blacks
  were often seen in roles in Black situation
  comedies.
• Black situation comedies are programs that focus
  on gags, physical movements, and one-liners.
  These comedies are embedded with stereotypes that
  play off Blackness to create humor.
• Even though early situation comedies stereotyped
  Black men and women the presence of Blacks in
  these comedies was seen as a big thing because
  African American viewers were able to see
  themselves on screen.

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Stereotypes
The SamboBlack men on primetime television were
often characterized to be child-like, lazy, a
clown, crook, and always ready to perform. This
portrayal was seen often in shows such as Amos
n Andy and Goodtimes
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• The Sapphire
• One of the roles that were available for Black
  women was the sapphire. The sapphire was a woman
  that was loud, very opinionated, and was not
  taken serious.

The Mammy The mammy was the most common role
played by Black women. The mammy always appeared
to be a heavy set black woman who was always
happy, took care of the kids, and loved her white
family.
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Portrayal of the Black Family

• In the beginning of Black situation comedies the
  black family wasnt visible.
• Shows such as Leave It to Beaver promoted the
  idea that the white family structure was pure and
  wholesome.
• Slowly but surely the presence of a nuclear black
  family on primetime television came about.

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Popular Black Sitcoms

• The Beulah Show
• Idealized dream of a housekeeper
• Reinforced the notion of a African American women
  comfortable living with her white family
• Beulah was happy and unaware of her children but
  took care of someone elses

http//The Beulah Show
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• Julia (1968-1971)
• Single mother raising her son
• Family oriented, integrated environment
• Breath of fresh air

• Good Times (1974-1979)
• 1st written without a husband/father
• 1st time to show a black family with a mother and
  father
• Greatest potential- inner-city, solid family,
  real world issues relevant to African Americans.
• Downfall- elevated JJs role (buffoon, sambo)

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• Roots(1977)
• Power of family
• Showed black people being like any other
  immigrant
• Family saga
• http//Roots

• Franks Place(1987-1988)
• Diverse images of black people
• To real for Americans, white America cant handle
  the reality
• killed by ratings

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The Cosby Show

• New image of Black families in America
• Represents everybodys fantasies
• Nuclear family
• Emphasis on the family dynamic
• Ideal American family

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Black Family Sitcoms after The Cosby Show

• The Fresh Prince of Bell Air, 1990-1996
• Sister, Sister, 1994-1999
• Family Matters, 1989-1998
• Parenthood ,1999-2000
• Moesha, 1996-2001
• My Wife and Kids, 2001-2005
• Everybody Hates Chris, 2005-present

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The effects on children

• So with all this history behind Black Sitcoms and
• the number of family sitcoms that have come and
• gone how does this effect children in todays
• society?
• misrepresentation or lack of information can harm
  a childs social development.
• Can promote negative views of ones self or
  another group.
• If a child can not see themselves on television
  they tend to except another groups worldview.

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Effects continued.

• The Social Cognitive theory is the idea that
  people learn through interacting with and
  observing each other.- Albert Bandura
• Today the two of most popular Black family
  sitcoms is The Cleveland Show and Tyler Perrys
  House of Payne. Many critics have claimed that
  these shows reinforce old situation comedy
  buffoonery. Some also say that the families in
  these shows do not exhibit what they believe to
  be the Black family.

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• httpHouse of Payne
• //www.youtube.com/watch?vqD5Yf8kn3Wk

Images of minority groups that the cognitions
and emotions that the majority of white Americans
develop about people of color arise
significantly from mass media- Entman and
Rojecki
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Discussion Questions

• Do you agree with the criticisms from Spike Lee
  about Tyler Perry s show ?
• Are you familiar with the shows that were
  discussed?
• Do you agree with Entman and Rojecki that white
  Americans develop attitudes towards people of
  color through mass media?
• Do you think that black sitcoms can have an
  affect on a childs perception of the black
  family dynamics?
• Did this presentation change your perspective of
  how you viewed Black family sitcoms?