African American Television History

The introduction of television casted a wave of change in the lives of the American public. In Gary Edgerton’s The Columbia History of American Television, he described the uprising of television, “involved the most extensive and ballyhooed series of public relations events ever staged around any mass medium in American history. “ (Edgerton, p.1) The first presentation of television played a pivotal role on how the American public adopted the new medium of technology and communication. I will explore the grand manner of how television was presented to the American public during the early years by the direction of David Sarnoff, and televised special of the 1939 World’s fair. In addition, how this presentation of television generated the acceptation

Different cultures and race are also widely accepted in today's sitcoms. Sometimes, programs may show racial difficulties like we see in real life. In "Gilmore Girls" Rory has friends who come from different

Once Jim Morrison said that whoever controls the media controls the mind. This shows that he had recognized the immense power and influence that the media has in our day to day lives. The media plays a very important role in the society as the source of information for every person. Hence, it is very hard for the modern society to live without the media. As a result of the media being the major source of information in our society, it is an undeniable fact the media shapes people’s opinions, attitudes and actions on particular issues (Czopp & Monteith, 2006).

A sitcom is a situational comedy, which is when the same setting and same characters appear in every episode. In terms of sitcoms much has changed between time and a good example of that is, I Love Lucy and The Simpsons. I Love Lucy first premiered in 1951 and for television viewers of the fifties; Lucy and Ricky could have been well known neighbors from down the street. Many people are able relate to this young couple, the Ricardo’s, who were experiencing the hard times and trails of marriage as typical Americans were. They lived in a brownstone in Manhattan with common struggles such as paying the rent and affording household materials. The humor and jokes came along when ordinary situations were amplified as Lucy managed to get herself into trouble time and time again, and

At the beginning of the book, Jefferson sees himself as powerless in a white-dominated society. Following the Antebellum period in the South, laws made “separate but equal” legal and created the societal view that the black man is unintelligible, uncivilized, and only three-fifths of a man (Brown). The author can relate to Jefferson and uses him as a symbol for the oppressed people because he has also felt in trapped in a predominantly white society (Gaines). Jefferson tells Grant that he is “just an old hog they fattening up to kill for Christmas” (83). He views himself as just an animal waiting to be slaughtered. He cries when he thinks about the stereotypes that have been set by the society; however, the readers witness a reflectional moment when Jefferson says, “manners are for the living” (130). He is reflecting upon how his dignity has been taken away. He only eats his food “like a hog

Good Times and The Jefferson’s are well known sitcoms that premiered in the 1970s focusing on African American families living in poverty, while offering a comedic twist. The 1970s was in the heart of the civil rights movement, and these shows were based on the lives of blacks during this time (Deane, 2004). Both shows aired during the same timeframe, and it was evident that Good Times and The Jefferson’s aligned with the traditional stigma that society had of African Americans (there were often offensive stereotypical aspects present, such as mammy and sambo characters).

In most films, African Americans are also shown in a stereotypical manner that promotes notions of moral inferiority. When it comes to the terms of movie characters shown by race African Americans use more vulgar profanity than whites. African Americans are also being physically violent and restrained than whites. The despite history of African Americans in television, there has been improvement in some of the television and movie roles and portrayals. Improvement in media roles still needs to accurately reflect our diverse roles in society.

Through its inspiring start up with the Renaissance Harlem with that alone has produced a lifetime worth of culture and knowledge to Americans during the 1920s and early 1930s. Even with its downfall during the 1930s through the late 1980s and disowning from its very own golden child James Baldwin, Harlem grew old and unpleasant yet still held onto its own wisdom. Today, Harlem is a completely renovated area made possible by the rich and the famous and is constantly sought after by young families and businesses. Though it hasn’t been a pretty journey Harlem has provided so much value to America which is why even though Harlem has been through a lot of changes over the last century it is still a beautiful place and important to American

For in the early years of television, African Americans were characterized as servants, maids, custodians, and as uneducated individuals. Families were depicted as low income, unemployed, poverty ridden, single parent households, living in an

The 1900s in are seen as one of the most prolific in U.S. History time periods ever, from the Wright brothers to the first movie theater. it was especially meaningful for the African American People, numerous events took place during the 1900s that changed black culture, but the most influential of them all was the Harlem Renaissance.1 The Harlem Renaissance was a culmination of change in attitude and a shift from philosophy of white domination to demanding equal status and rights for blacks. The Harlem Renaissance was so influential in fact that it affects Generations today. “The best of humanity's recorded history is a creative balance between horrors endured and victories achieved, and so it was during the Harlem Renaissance.”

The difference between the earlier produced Sanford and Son and The Jefferson’s was that The Jefferson’s was based around a strong father figure compared to the drunken old man in Sanford and Son who was not ever there for his children. The Jefferson’s, although initially more racist like Sanford and Son, changed with the times and became less racist. As the show went on, there were signs of less stereotyping. Louise lost her afro and started speaking better, and George became less racist in his attitudes. This change reflected the less strained race relations in the early 1980s.

Thus, in the 1960's, the sitcom developed. Situation Comedies followed families experiencing common, everyday situations but adding humor to. Sitcoms gained popularity quickly and were unique to television. The most significant contributor to early television was Desi Arnaz with his sitcom I Love Lucy. The success of I Love Lucy is unparalleled in the history of television. The combination of Arnaz?s business skills and his wife Lucille Ball?s comedic talent swept the nation. The cinematic innovations of the I Love Lucy show made it very popular among producers. Arnaz made the decision to film it, rather than do it live, making it possible to have a high-quality print of each episode available for endless re-broadcasts, as opposed to the poor quality kinescopes of live shows.

The article “Television, Black Americans, and the American Dream” explained how Black Americans have been represented in the media and television. The media has shifted our understanding of racial inequality away from a structured process. This makes it seem as though racial inequality is “natural and universal rather than as result of social and political struggles over power” (Gray, p. 431). This is illustrated in the CBS News documentary The Vanishing Family: Crisis in Black America by following the lives of underclass, single parents. It highlights drugs, riots, and teenage pregnancy to show that

the other was the imbalances created in the televison between black and white community. it teaches young black to accept minority status as noticebely inevietable and even deserved. television also overrepresent and glamourize the elite occupation that sets up unrealistic expectations and largely neglects portraying the occupation such as farmers, factory workers and small businessman. On television 55% of characters are involved in the violent conforontation once a week in reality figure is less than 1 % creating a fear of crime. the way the race and the racial minority groups are represented in television they contribute to the overall racial climate.The historical results have been distinct and different groups have encountered unique forms of racial opression. Native american faced genocide , blacks were subjected to slavery, mexicans were invaded and asians faced exclusions. Films and televsions have been notorious in dissementing images of racial minorities which establish for audiences what these groups look like, how they behave and in essence who they are. Another important perhaps central dimensions of racial minority streotype is sex gender differentiation. women of color were sometimes treated as erotic sex objects. such a comment revelas an interesting aspects about myths and reality in american culture. the imporatance of race

America without blacks is a country with less culture, diversity and laws to enforce some standard of fairness and equality. The sole history of America’s core would be affected, for example, “without the presence of blacks, our political history would have been otherwise… No slave economy, no Civil War … and no Jim Crow system.” (Ellison). Like Ellison, one can infer that an America without blacks, would include no recollection of slavery which is a huge factor in the development of our society today. Post 1970s, African Americans have continued to create and influence our country through several means. For example, during this time rap music is on the rise, gaining popularity with Sugar Hill Gang’s, “Rapper’s Delight”. With the breakthrough of